With in-house visits to long-term care homes being banned, people have resorted to seeing their family members in those facilities through the windows – and some visitors are doing so in creative ways according to the minister of health.

Health Minister Dr. John Haggie says the long-term care homes run by the regional health authorities aim to be consistent across the board as these types of visits have been approved.

His understanding is that all regional health authorities are allowing these types of visits, unless there is a particular safety issue.

However, Haggie says the decision to allow window visits in personal care homes is up to the operators and owners because they’re private businesses.

He adds that if there are issues with private personal care homes, it’s to be taken up with the owners and operators themselves.

Last week there was a pause in window visitations due to safety concerns after someone had shown up with a ladder to visit a relative on an upper floor.