Trespass Orders Are Being Used by Seniors’ Residences to Ban Visits From Family Members

According to CBC, a Quebec long-term care home threatened to ban and ultimately restricted Susan Macaulay’s visits with her mother to two hours in the afternoon for 18 months, until her mother died.

In Ottawa, a retirement home used sections of Ontario’s trespass law to prevented Mary Sardelis from visiting her 97-year-old mother for almost a year.

Jane Meadus, a lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly in Toronto, told the CBC she believes the homes are trying to try to control their premises. “Trying to stifle people from complaining and trying to stifle people from speaking out on behalf of these very vulnerable seniors, she said.”

If you receive threats or have restrictions placed against you or a family member by a Seniors’ residence, start by sending a registered letter asking for the specifics of the charges against you. Include in the letter a 10-day delay for the respond.

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