Photo courtesy of L'Arche Saint John.
COVID-19 restrictions have been especially tough on those living in long-term care homes.
Since March, members of L’Arche Saint John, a live-in community that supports individuals with disabilities, have only seen family members for short, physically-distanced visits.
Recent changes allowed long-term care members to add designated support people, including family members, to their personal bubble. This change allowed L’Arche members to go visit their families overnight for the first time since the pandemic began.
Zoël Breau, the community leader for L’Arche Saint John, says the new regulations were a huge source of joy for the community members.
Breau gave the example of L’Arche Saint John member Stéphane, who was ecstatic to visit his brother in Bouctouche.
“Driving from Saint John to Bouctouche, he was just high,” Breau said. “He (couldn’t stop talking) and so excited, because he was going to spend two nights with his brother. I could feel how he couldn’t wait to arrive.”
The same was true for Patrick, another member who immediately wanted to visit his parents again after getting back from his trip.
“Patrick went right away for the weekend to his parents and came back and his parents said they wanted him to come back the next week because it was not enough time,” Breau said.
It’s been a long six months of COVID-related restrictions for the community, who typically visit family monthly.
One of the toughest parts was watching life start to go back to normal for other New Brunswickers.
Breau says the community understood the idea of doing their part during the pandemic, but that became more challenging once they could see other people eating on patios, or sitting at the boardwalk.
“It was a reminder of their vulnerability in a way,” Breau said. “It was about protecting people, but they felt second-class at that moment, where I could go visit my family in northern New Brunswick but they couldn’t.”
