October 12, 2021 • 5 mins
There are many, many tragic stories that have come out of this pandemic - not so much from the deaths themselves, although they are undeniably sad for the families concerned.
But it's the people desperate to get into NZ who can't because of our MIQ system.
It's those who haven't been able to be at the births of their children, or to be at the bedsides of family members who are sick or who might be dying, and its being denied the opportunity to grieve together as a community when a loved one does die.
Unless you're a gang member and that seems to be OK.
But the stories that have broken my heart and keep breaking my heart are the stories of couples who being kept apart because of restrictions at aged care facilities.
You may have heard some of the callers on my show or some of the emails I've read out from men and women who have been married for fifty and sixty years - who are each other's soul mates - one is in an aged care facility, one is not.
And despite the fact both parties are double vaccinated, despite the fact that the pain of being apart is causing physical decline, Health Department rules mean they are denied access to one another.
And now the boss of a retirement village operator is calling on the Government to allow aged care residents to reconnect with the people they love. Oceania Healthcare boss Brent Pattison says the current restrictions are playing havoc with the mental health of residents, especially when they know outside of the homes, restrictions have eased.
Anyone who has an elderly parent or older friend know that isolation and loneliness is as much a killer as Covid.
If the healthcare operators believe they can allow visits safely, for goodness’ sake, let them.
They know what they're doing. They know one slip up and it’s their residents at worst and their reputation at best that suffers.
Please, show some humanity, and let these poor people who have been isolated and cut off from their family and friends get the opportunity to be with those they love before it's too late.
But it's the people desperate to get into NZ who can't because of our MIQ system.
It's those who haven't been able to be at the births of their children, or to be at the bedsides of family members who are sick or who might be dying, and its being denied the opportunity to grieve together as a community when a loved one does die.
Unless you're a gang member and that seems to be OK.
But the stories that have broken my heart and keep breaking my heart are the stories of couples who being kept apart because of restrictions at aged care facilities.
You may have heard some of the callers on my show or some of the emails I've read out from men and women who have been married for fifty and sixty years - who are each other's soul mates - one is in an aged care facility, one is not.
And despite the fact both parties are double vaccinated, despite the fact that the pain of being apart is causing physical decline, Health Department rules mean they are denied access to one another.
And now the boss of a retirement village operator is calling on the Government to allow aged care residents to reconnect with the people they love. Oceania Healthcare boss Brent Pattison says the current restrictions are playing havoc with the mental health of residents, especially when they know outside of the homes, restrictions have eased.
Anyone who has an elderly parent or older friend know that isolation and loneliness is as much a killer as Covid.
If the healthcare operators believe they can allow visits safely, for goodness’ sake, let them.
They know what they're doing. They know one slip up and it’s their residents at worst and their reputation at best that suffers.
Please, show some humanity, and let these poor people who have been isolated and cut off from their family and friends get the opportunity to be with those they love before it's too late.
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