From the early days of the pandemic, well over a year ago, it quickly became evident that long-term care homes were in the eye of this hurricane.

Personally and professionally, Julie Turenne-Maynard sees daily the loneliness and isolation amongst an aging population living at home or in long-term care facilities across Canada. 

OTTAWA -- The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the “heartbreaking” neglect that many elderly Canadians and other vulnerable people have been facing in modern Canadian society, but that exposure can also be an opportunity for Catholics and other Canadians to reassess our “values and lifestyle” in a meaningful way, say Canada’s Catholic bishops.

Catholics are getting ready to play a role in the post-COVID look at what went wrong in long-term care, but that response is divided between a walk-softly approach and others demanding radical change.

VANCOUVER -- As Canada tops 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, a distressing figure has emerged: more than 80 per cent of the COVID-19 deaths have been seniors living in long-term care homes.

The churches and other faith groups which run food banks, shelters and other social programs want the government to start fixing Ontario’s long-term care homes now, even before convening a commission to look at the system.

The 88-year-old godmother of palliative care in Ontario knows exactly what’s wrong with long-term care in the province. Much of it is motivated by profit.

Before reading this editorial, take a few seconds to return to the cover of this week’s issue. That tender scene of a senior in long-term care reaching out but not touching a loved one is happening daily across Canada.

I received the call about the COVID-19 outbreak at my father’s long-term care home during dinner.  A staff member had tested positive.

OTTAWA -- A new report by a faith-based think tank says the long-term care system in Ontario is failing those who live in long-term care facilities and the workers who take care of them.