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WINNIPEG – The pandemic has changed the way Canadians grieve and deal with the deaths of loved ones. George Bradley knows this firsthand – his mother is among more than 1,100 Manitobans who have died with COVID-19.
In October 2020, George recorded a video of his mother Elsie for the rest of his family. The smiling 92-year-old told her family she was fine, but it would be the last time George could visit his mother in person.
Elsie contracted COVID-19 and died from the virus in December. George said he had to make the tough decision to say his last goodbyes to his mom on FaceTime.
“Unfortunately, that’s how it turned out,†George told CTV News.
Months earlier in May 2020, due to public health restrictions at the time, George would visit his mother through a fence in his personal care home.
George told CTV News that in the six months since his mother’s death, he has leaned on his family to cope with the grief. He said the lingering emotion is disappointment.
“She wanted different things, I couldn’t give that to her,†he said.
“After the death of mom; now what are you doing?
Dr Harvey Chochinov, a prominent professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba, said the pandemic had removed all control that dying patients and their families had in recent days. He said many people have died alone, leaving family members with feelings of regret and helplessness.
“The emotional toll that COVID takes on the dying process is astronomical and is not something we have been able to examine closely. “
Chochinov is leading a series of national studies on dignity and care during the pandemic. He said the studies are focused on understanding the experiences of patients, family members and healthcare providers.
“If we can understand what people have been through and what they are going through, we will be in the best position to know how we can be responsive to their unmet needs.
The national study is looking for participants. Those interested can visit the study online or call 431-336-6266.
