B.C. health officials says changes to the rules around visiting loved ones in long-term care homes are coming.

Its as family members across the province are raising concerns that they haven’t been able to visit their friends and family for months. Dr. Bonnie Henry says that is an issue that has been top of mind for many month.

“We have been working as you know very closely with the Seniors Representative,” she said. “We’ve been discussing the results of the survey that she did. We will be in the coming weeks making some adjustments to support families and people who are living in care.”

Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie’s says her office was trying to gauge if there should be a minimum standard for care home visits in the province. She was due to release the results of the survey this past Wednesday, Oct. 28, but a scheduling conflict meant it was delayed to Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Speaking on Thursday, Health Minister Adrian Dix says the government is committed to increasing the amount of visits that take place, though he notes the risk of COVID-19 in long term care homes continues to exist.

“B.C.’s performance in long term care against other jurisdictions has been very good. We have to continue to be prudent to keep people safe and we will be,” he said.

Care homes visits in British Columbia were restricted back in March to limit the spread of COVID-19, though things were eased slightly at the end of June to allow one designated visitor for each resident.

“Now that we are well along the road of hiring additional staff to support long-term care homes…we have sufficient stores of personal protective equipment, we will be in the coming weeks making some adjustments to support families and people who are living in care,” Henry added.

Dix noted the province will report next week on new hirings in long-term care to allow for expanded vists.

“It’s an extraordinary effort,” he noted.