Letter to the editor - Time we will never get back at Northern Montana Care Center

Editor,

We’ve seen letters from parents advocating the school district to go back to in-school learning. They’ve expressed how their kids are suffering from the lack of social contact with teachers and friends. These parents are defending their kids because they can’t do it for themselves. I’m writing to defend Northern Montana Care Center residents because somebody has to stick up for them, too.

Imagine how the residents are feeling with this isolation. The main reason many of them have for living is to see their families. As the ability to do that has been stolen from them, think how depressed they must be getting. We all know the effect depression can have not only on a person’s mental health, but physical health, as well.

It was mid-March when COVID-19 struck. When things settled down a bit, NMCC was allowing 15-20 minute outside visits if a 6-foot separation was maintained, along with wearing masks. That seemed to be working OK until somebody broke the rules. At that point our “privilege” of visiting loved ones was taken away by administration even though other care centers were still allowing outside visits at that time.

Northern Montana Care Center stated the reasoning behind the no visitation policy was to protect our loved ones from being exposed to COVID-19.

We’ve all seen the headlines; COVID-19 has found its way into the care center.

So what good did it do to keep family away from their loved ones? We are losing valuable time and NMCC has made minimal effort to find a solution. Despite numerous emails and phone conversations with NMCC staff and administration urging them to allow visitation with masks and social distancing, nothing has changed. Nine months have passed and we are still no closer to a solution. Why couldn’t a visitation room be designated that is equipped with a Plexiglas barrier and speaker system to allow for communication — the problem would be solved.

Northern Montana Care Center will state that they allowing Skype visits, phone calls and window visits. As winter is here, my last two window visits have been a little chilly. This letter is to make people aware of the situation at NMCC in an effort to convince them to show some compassion and construct a visitation room.

Let’s not force our loved ones to spend their remaining time alone!

Terry Wright

Havre