A woman in Toronto, whose identity remains confidential due to legal disputes over her mother’s estate, has shared a distressing experience involving a long-term care facility where her mother was residing.
Reflecting on the special bond she shared with her mother, the woman recounted how she had initially arranged for her mother to receive care at a long-term facility in Scarborough, as her own caregiving became challenging with her mother’s advancing age.
Soon after settling her mother into the care home, the woman was shocked to receive a call from the facility informing her that she was no longer permitted to visit her mother, citing instructions from her sibling who had power of attorney.
Feeling devastated and helpless, the woman’s attempts to communicate with her mother were also blocked. It took the intervention of a lawyer to finally secure restricted visitation rights, albeit for a limited duration.
Despite being granted access, the woman’s time with her mother was abruptly cut short during one visit, leaving her feeling distressed and disconnected from her mother’s final moments. Tragically, her mother passed away just before they were to spend an entire day together.
Instances like this one are reportedly on the rise in Ontario, according to Jane Meadus from the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE), who emphasizes the need for better education among long-term care staff regarding visitor rights and legal boundaries.
The woman, sharing her harrowing experience, questions why she had to resort to legal intervention to exercise her basic right to see her mother, emphasizing the need for awareness and advocacy in such situations.
Keyphrase: Long-term care visitation rights