The report of the Bizkaia Bioethics Commission on the impact of the pandemic on nursing homes has denounced the restriction of residents’ freedom and the need for greater freedom.

They have recognized that the epidemiological criteria used during the pandemic have been effective in controlling contagion, but have sought to focus on the changes in living at home. The daily life of the residents has changed, there has been no possibility of being together, or of moving outside the residences and the residences. They stressed the times at which the isolations had to be carried out, as residents have spent many hours in the small classrooms without the possibility of stimulation or mobility. The committee has emphasized that this situation has caused "loneliness and lack of freedom" to residents, as it has had a "serious psycho-emotional impact" on residents.

They have not been able to take part in decision-making that directly affects them and have not been able to decide freely whether or not they intend to comply with the rules as the rest of the population. The Commission notes that they have been particularly vigilant and conditioned, and that many have not fully understood what was going on.

The report points out that it is not yet known what the consequences of vaccination will be, "but we should not seek absolute certainty, because the urgency of recovering what was lost and curing the damage caused by the pandemic to people's well-being does not allow the current situation to extend beyond what is strictly necessary. In the meantime, we must prepare to begin to recover at least part of the freedom of people living in residences and improve their interaction and quality of life, while taking care of their health. Surely there will be risks in this journey, but with the protection that vaccines can provide we will have more resources to cope with."

The Commission proposes to begin to make the protocols more flexible as evidence of vaccine effectiveness is gathered and makes two concrete proposals: On the one hand, more visits can be allowed, more frequently or with more than one person; in addition, the outputs of the users (individual or accompanied) can be longer and with greater mobility. On the other hand, the possibility of re-establishing relationships among users can be studied, expanding the coexistence groups and allowing their permanence in common spaces. The duration of isolation periods must also be reassessed and equated with those established for the rest of the non-residential population, revaluing diagnostic techniques and protocols for detecting suspected cases (reducing the level of specificity but increasing well-being and good treatment, always based on the evidence that the simple person can provide to assume reasonable risks).

Changes in Bizkaia

In the residences of Bizkaia the measures will be quieter as of Monday. According to these new rules, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia will extend the possibilities of receiving visits and leaving the residence. As of Monday, each resident will be able to receive visits from a maximum of two people and besides being face-to-face, video calls will be maintained. In the case of departures, therapeutic walks will be preferred, with a maximum of two people and twice a week.

Hygiene, protective measures and distances shall be maintained and the temperature measured to visitors. If residents have problems carrying the kiss for a long time, it will ensure that the distance is maintained and if possible outdoor visits will be made.