Multigenerational households face challenges during COVID-19 pandemic

Rei Ge's grandmother used to greet her with a big hug whenever she came home from school, butthe two of themhavea new routine these days.

"I'll usually put my book bag down and I'll wash my hands really quickly and I'll make sure to take off my mask and maybe change my clothes. My grandma will usually stay in her room until that's sorted out and then she'll come out and then she'll ask me how my day has been," Ge, a Grade 11 student in Victoria told host Kathryn Marlow on CBC's All Points West.

Ge's grandmothermakes upthe eight per cent of seniors in British Columbiawho live in multigenerational households, according toIsobel Mackenzie, B.C.'s Senior Advocate.

"We're a little above the national average in B.C. ... and we have an older population here than many parts of the country," she said. "So, yeah, we've got to think about this."

Mackenzie said for members of these multigenerational households, considerations need to be made for the most high-risk member in the household around daily interactions.

"The highest probability of contracting it, we now know, is in that close personal contact where the droplets are transmitting directly to you," she said.

"So if you're living with elderly people, you want to think about keeping your contacts small."

As COVID-19 cases in British Columbia continue to increase, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has asked for residentsto tighten their social circles once again, especiallywiththe school year nowunderway and more people back at workplaces.

For multigenerational households, that means preventing the spread of the virus between generations, especially to those who are elderly or have other medical conditions.

Health guidelines recommend frequent hand-washing, separating people in the household who are sick and limiting visits to or from the home.

Mackenzie says it'sabout finding a balance and a way of livingwith the virus.

"For these people who have grandparents living in the home and the kids [who] have to go to school, we've got to figure this out," she said.

Ge's grandmother has her ownseparate room andbathroom,and the family iscareful about not sharing cutlery and other utensils. AndRei has also changedthe way she spends time with her school friends in order to protect her grandmother.

"Now whenever I want to talk with my friends, I usually do it either over the phone or I text them. Sometimes, we'll have an online meeting using Zoom," she said.

Her mantra to get through the pandemic aligns fairly closely with Dr. Henry's.

"I do say, 'stay strong, be calm, be kind, and this isn't going to last forever.'"

Listen to the segment on CBC's All Points West: