NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nearly a year of isolation has been detrimental to most people in long-term care facilities.
MJ Fleming lives at home, and her husband, Dan Fleming, is at a long-term care facility in the Bellevue area. He's been alone for almost a year.
"I think it’s worse than being incarcerated or anything. It’s unfair. It’s inhumane. It’s criminal,” Fleming said.
She’s distraught without Dan too. "I feel imprisoned. I shouldn’t feel the mourning,” Fleming said. “I talk to God all the time, I know there are things I can’t control, I’ll turn it over to him, and I wonder, can he hear me?"
She's praying that public officials will lift visitor restrictions at nursing homes.
"I’d like to see more compassion from our state officials, their words are just… they’re empty," Fleming said.
Fleming is heartbroken because her husband's health is deteriorating. "The only thing that can help is love, human contact, genuine caring," Fleming said.
She will do anything to see him in person, especially because their anniversary is coming up on Valentine's Day.
"I want to see some light at the end of the tunnel," Fleming said.
Fleming has already been vaccinated. Many families had hoped that with vaccinations underway at long-term care facilities, that people would be able to visit, but that hasn't been the case yet due to community spread in most areas.
An advocacy group is holding a vigil on March 13 regarding their concerns with isolation.
