by Stephanie Jonsson, PhD candidate in Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies at York University
Abstract
In Ontario, over 1,800 seniors have died of COVID-19. What is not being documented is how social isolation and loneliness are plaguing seniors living in long-term care (LTC). Social isolation and loneliness lead to anxiety, stress, melancholy, and suicide when unmanaged. Due to social distancing measures residents have become prisoners in LTC homes. They are left unattended for unknown periods of time, as caregivers are stretched thin and focused on preventing the spread of COVID-19. Person-centred support services are not built into the current Ontario LTC system. Current policies and practice overlook the need for social interactions and community engagement. Concerns related to social isolation and loneliness increase for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (2S-LGBTQ+) seniors who rely on smaller support networks and informal kinship ties. 2S-LGBTQ+ seniors may conceal their gender or sexual identities to administrators and staff because of fears of discrimination and harassment. As a result, their needs are unmet and their concerns are unheard because their voices are silenced within LTC homes. This paper explores how social distancing measures impact senior’s experiences with social isolation and loneliness while living in LTC with a nuanced overview of its effects on 2S-LGBTQ+ seniors.