Elderly revolution: seniors call for change

Shortly after the pandemic took hold in our lives, the CHSLD tragedy broke out. Shocked, disturbed and sad, Quebecers were looking for answers to events that had never been seen before. How to explain the incomprehensible?

‍

‍

‍

Only a few words are enough for Lucille Nadeau-Brunet's wisdom, accumulated over the course of her 96 years of existence, to invade the small living room of her apartment in north Montreal.

Shocked by the massacre caused by the pandemic in long-term care hospitals (CHSLDs), she made it her duty to say out loud what, in her opinion, was wrong. In an open letter that went viral after being published on Facebook, she called for a “third-age revolution.” Fully autonomous, she laments that “we don't ask” elderly people what they want as a way of life.

‍

“The elderly person is marginalized, and they are not integrated, or very little, into the major decisions affecting the future of society, even less in those that concern them”, explains the lady in a soprano voice marked by the passage of time. She believes that the dramatic situation that has been highlighted in Quebec's CHSLDs is only a symptom of this phenomenon, which means that these people are considered as “too many people.”

‍

To ensure that contagion was limited, the government put in place draconian measures that often left people in precarious situations where they lacked the support provided by their families.

‍

To prevent such a tragedy from happening again, Ms. Nadeau-Brunet calls for the establishment of an “aging policy”: “It is important for Quebec to have one and thus officially recognize the place and role of seniors, as well as the services that should be attributed to them.”

‍

‍

Small cares that are worth a lot

‍

‍

Also 96 years old, Thérèse Taschereau has lived with her daughter, José Taschereau, and her husband in the suburbs of Quebec for almost 10 years. An extension of their home welcomes him and allows him to maintain a certain degree of autonomy, which, according to José, would not be possible in CHSLD. “She makes breakfast, does some dishes, collects the dog's hair on the floor,” explains José, who is well aware of the importance of these small tasks that allow his mother to feel valued in their family nest.

‍

The testimonies from the CHSLDs contrast with the reality that Thérèse is experiencing in these times of pandemic. Although her weekly hairdresser appointment was cancelled for several weeks, the daily life of the woman nicknamed “Gangan” remained largely the same. José is aware of how lucky his mother is to live with her: “I think that not all people can stay at home until the end. [...] It is not possible for everyone. I am happy to do it, but the winning conditions must be in place for it to work.”