A devastated daughter claims she was robbed of the chance to say a ‘final goodbye’ to her dying father because his care home was on coronavirus lock-down.
Karen Jones, 47, raced to see her ailing father, Aubrey Sibley, as he received end-of-life care at Elm Tree Home in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex.
But despite her desperate pleas and offers to wear protective gear, she was turned away.
Wracked with guilt she was not at her 87-year-old father’s bedside, Ms Jones has since turned on the care home, whose uncompromising ban she branded ‘disgusting’.
Ms Jones said: ‘They wouldn’t let me in but my father was dying.
‘I was so upset because I wanted to be with him and I was absolutely fine – I wasn’t ill at all and I just couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t let me in.
Karen Jones, 47, raced to see her ailing father, Aubrey Sibley, as he received end-of-life care at Elm Tree Home in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
‘I told them I would do anything for them to allow me inside, whether that was wearing gloves or a mask or anything.
‘They could have made an exception for me – I knew dad didn’t have long left and I knew what was going to happen.’
The following day Ms Jones was called by her brother who gave her the devastating news that their dad had died.
She said: ‘I was so sad when I found out because I never got to say goodbye to him and I feel so guilty about that.
‘Those who are dying should still be allowed their relatives by their side in their final moments – it is disgusting and what has happened it absolutely wrong.
‘Where and when does it stop and when will people be able to see their loved ones again?
‘My father was a very lovely and loving man and we were very close – I will really miss him dearly. I am heartbroken over this.
The care home said Mr Silby’s wife was told about the lock down and had agreed with the policy.
A spokesman also suggested Ms Jones hadn’t visited her dementia sufferer father since he initially arrived on February 21.
‘We made the decision to close the care home to relatives and non-urgent inspectors. We have to put this in place because our residents are vulnerable and elderly.
‘It is a difficult decision to have had to make but it is the right decision.
Wracked with guilt she was not at her 87-year-old father’s bedside, Ms Jones has since turned on the care home (Elm Tree, pictured), whose uncompromising ban she branded ‘disgusting’
‘We need to safeguard our residents as much as we possibly can.
‘On Thursday, Mr Silby’s wife spent the day with him and she was informed of what was going to be happening.
‘She said her goodbyes knowing he was terminally ill. His daughter hasn’t visited the care home since he arrived here.
‘The family were fully aware he was receiving end of life care.’
Despite the difficulties facing the care home, bosses have looked at ways the home can continue to run as smoothly as possible.
‘We have iPads with Skype so people can still communicate with loved ones.
‘We are also putting a creche in one of our free rooms so staff who work here can still work by bringing their children in if schools close.’
Although the government has not yet enforced a blanket ban to care home visitors, many are unilaterally shutting their doors to protect their vulnerable residents.
It came as the over-70s prepared to self-isolate for four months to protect them from the disease which has infected 1,950 and killed 71.
Simon Prestney, chief executive of Age Concern Colchester, said the charity has 130 ‘befrienders’ who support isolated people with a home visit every week.
He said: ‘Indeed we have a further 100 people who are vulnerable and are looking for befrienders to connect with them.
‘If this situation galvanises people into action then they can apply at ageconcerncolchester.org.uk. There is a fine balance between supporting people who are in poverty and isolation and ensuring their safety.’