Friends and family members concerned about lack of visitation with their family members inside nursing homes held a protest in front of Batavia City Hall on Saturday morning.
Over a dozen people held signs pleading with the powers that be to allow them to visit loved ones locked down in nursing home facilities since March, the beginning of the pandemic.
“My mom is in a nursing home in Buffalo, and we have not been able to see each other in six months, I mean I see her through the window. She also attempted suicide two weeks ago because she is lonely and does not want to live like this anymore,” says protester Laura Coriddi.
Organizers Beverly Noody and Dana Kelley met each other during a window visit with their families outside of Premier Genesee.
The two quickly became friends, sharing their stories, Beverly’s mom in the Skilled Nursing Facility and Dana’s Father in Genesee Senior Living. After many Zoom meetings with others around the country dealing with the same lockdowns at nursing homes, they decided to organize a protest about the harsh living conditions that seniors have been placed in . Leaving them in isolation and lockdown, suffering from loneliness and depression.
“March 10th was the last day I saw my mother,” says organizer Beverly Noody.
“She has since been moved from assisted living to skilled nursing, I don’t know any of the staff, I have never seen her room , I don’t know anyone that works there, I don’t know her roommate, because I haven’t seen her.”
Some say they are considering applying for jobs at the facilities to be able to see their family member.
“I can’t quit my job and go to work there, but am considering working there on weekends, Mary did it in Florida, maybe that’s what we need to do here,” says Coriddi.