Put in place to save their lives from a deadly infection, the confinement of seniors during the pandemic generated a lot of psychological distress, and about forty of them ended their lives.
• Read also: More than 1,000 seniors died of a fall in two years, accidents often preventable
• To read also: She dies of an avoidable fall in CHSLD at 96 years old
Forty Quebecers have taken their own lives in their seniors’ residence or in a long-term care center (CHSLD) since the start of the pandemic.
This data was compiled by Le Journal, which read 1,297 coroners’ reports following deaths in these locations, since March 2020.
When life has no meaning
During the first wave, seniors were confined to their apartments or bedrooms. For several weeks, they could no longer eat in the cafeteria, walk around the residence or receive visits from relatives. They were even prevented from taking their car.
“The fact of being isolated, confined with strict rules, of not having contact with the family, it is certain that this has worsened their situation in terms of mental health”, deplores Lucile Agarrat, psychologist specializing in elders.
For many, this isolation has generated frustration, anguish and distress. A dozen residents ended their lives by jumping from their balconies.
• A 67-year-old man jumped from the seventh-floor balcony of a seniors’ residence in March 2020. “[Monsieur] was confined to his apartment and felt a great sense of isolation, wrote coroner Amélie Lavigne. The context of COVID-19 is one of the contributing factors to death. »
• In October 2020, an 88-year-old woman took her own life at the Domaine des Pionniers residence in Val-d’Or. She was returning from a hospital stay, and was confined for 14 days. “Ms. […] had reacted emotionally by saying that she was locked up because she had been in the hospital,” writes the coroner.
Coming out of the desert
After two years of the pandemic, geriatrician David Lussier notes that several elderly people have suffered a great shock.
“It’s as if we see someone coming back from crossing a desert,” compares the doctor. They aged a lot more than they should have in two years, it’s really obvious. »
“Now it is more difficult. They are under pressure to start dating again, he adds. Some are very anxious to resume normal life without measures. »
According to Dr. Agarrat, psychological support services are far too rare in CHSLDs.
“There are hardly any services,” she says. It deserves continued support. »
In addition, dozens of seniors have developed “sliding syndrome”.
“This term designates the condition of a person whose life has just changed because of an acute episode and in whom the refusal to drink, to eat, and a generalized disinterest in everything around him and the environment sets in. expression of a desire to die,” wrote coroner André Cantin.
The mortality rate due to this syndrome is 80% to 90%, according to one report.
“Slipping is a bit like committing suicide at the height of one’s abilities”, underlines Francis Etheridge, researcher in gerontology.
Never put them through this again
Quebec must learn from its mistakes and never again revive such drastic confinement for seniors, plead several specialists.
All the experts contacted by Le Journal are unanimous: the spring 2020 confinement had devastating effects on the physical and psychological health of seniors.
“Now that we see happiness returned to the residence, that people are happy to regain their freedom, we say to ourselves: we must never experience this again. They are full citizens, who have the same rights and freedoms as anyone in society, ”argues Isabelle Nantais, president of the board of directors of the Quebec group of residences for seniors.
“I understand that in the context, people thought they were making the best decision possible. With hindsight, we know that it was not the right decision, ”she adds.
Not just covid
However, at the time, health measures aimed to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus as much as possible. To the detriment of everything else.
“Everything revolved around the covid, we had no more time for anything else”, summarizes Philippe Voyer, researcher at the Center of Excellence on Aging in Quebec.
“Once the residents were vaccinated, more latitude should have been offered, also believes Francis Etheridge, researcher in gerontology. What residents want above all else is to have meaning in their lives. […] The residents are ready to take risks, because on average, we do not live very long in a residential center. »
According to Ms. Nantais, the psychological impacts on seniors in RPA have been greater than infections with the virus.
“It was a long time before we addressed mental health, it was very focused on the virus. […] But it was perhaps not the worst of enemies, says Ms. Nantais. There are many more people who have been affected by mental health than by the virus itself. »
“People felt like their time was being robbed,” she says.
The distress caused by the pandemic
The Journal has compiled 1,297 coroners’ reports following deaths that have occurred in seniors’ residences and CHSLDs since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. In total, 40 seniors have taken their own lives. Here are some excerpts from the reports that show the impact of confinement on their psychological distress. What follows may be confusing to some readers, we would like to warn you. The Journal has chosen to publish these sad excerpts in order to illustrate in a concrete way the tragedies experienced by many seniors in forced isolation during the pandemic.
An 87-year-old man killed himself by jumping from the ninth floor of the residence where he lived, in Montreal, in October 2020. In his farewell letter, the man “mentions that he does not want to go to die at the CHSLD of Covid,” the report read.
too anxious
A 74-year-old lady who had access to matches managed to end her life by setting herself on fire at the Logis d’Or residence, in Beauce, in April 2020. The woman was responsible for lighting the candles during the religious celebrations. So he was allowed to keep a pack of matches.
“In the two weeks prior to her death, Mrs. […] constantly watched the news where there was talk of COVID-19, which had the effect of increasing her anxiety. She talked about it a lot, ”wrote the coroner.
“Mandatory confinement to the bedroom, the end of group religious activities has exacerbated the anxiety. »
victim of loneliness
An 88-year-old woman ended her life in July 2020, in her residence for the elderly. “For the past few months, she had been complaining of loneliness and sanitary measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as she could only have telephone consultations with her doctor, which were limited, according to her. She felt isolated and experienced a lot of loneliness,” the report said.
“She refused any psychological help, claiming not to be crazy,” wrote the coroner.
Destabilized by confinement
A 67-year-old lady killed herself after compulsory confinement in her residence for the elderly with cognitive disorders. In October 2020, a case of COVID-19 was detected and residents were isolated in their rooms.
The woman “who was already a little anxious was completely destabilized by these measures. In the evening, she came out of her room several times saying she wanted to go smoke, and the staff had to bring her back each time, ”it reads.
She had managed to hide a lighter in her room, and killed herself by setting herself on fire.
He is bored at the CHSLD
A 67-year-old man who did not like living in this residence ended his life in December 2020, at the CHSLD les Tilleuls, in Laval. The man does not “want to stay there and he does a lot of manipulation with the staff and his family alleging that he is going to kill himself if he does not return home”, we read.
“He says he is bored at the CHSLD, having no activity, and because of the pandemic, he is restricted in his movements. »
COVID-19 anxiety
A 79-year-old man jumped from the balcony of the 7th floor of his residence, in March 2021. He was to be confined to his return from the hospital in his residence, and he had presented depressive ideas for several years. “More recently, he was very anxious with the containment measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. »
Bereaved by COVID-19
An 88-year-old lady ended her life in April 2021, in her seniors’ residence in Thetford Mines. She was returning from a stay in the hospital after a fall, and she “did not want to use a walker for the rest of her life”, according to her relatives, indicates the coroner. She had also been affected by health measures related to COVID-19, and had recently lost two loved ones due to the disease.
” Let me die “
A 90-year-old senior suffering from severe anxiety committed suicide by jumping from her balcony on the second floor of her Beauceville seniors’ residence. The fall into the void did not kill her, however. She was banging her head on the concrete pavement while repeating “Let me die,” according to the coroner’s report.
Five floors instead of suffering
An 82-year-old man with various health problems threw himself into the stairwell on the fifth floor of his residence for seniors in Saint-Jérôme. He wanted to “save himself suffering in the hospital and thus spare his loved ones from having to go to the hospital every day. »
Quebec Suicide Prevention Line
www.aqps.info
1-866-CALL (277-3553)
Quebec government help line
Social Info 811
Canada Suicide Prevention Service
www.crisisservicescanada.ca
1-833-456-4566
