When COVID-19 swept in and brought the world to its knees, care homes and health authorities had to re-evaluate engagement strategies to communicate with seniors and keep them active, engaged and safe.
Social isolation among seniors is an ongoing area of concern across Canada. Loneliness can lead to chronic illnesses, such as mobility issues, depression, cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia. Long-term care facilities are home to seniors that most often depend on their loved ones for social companionship. During a pandemic, those connections and regular communication are significantly reduced or gone.
Bria Communities operate four senior living homes in the Lower Mainland with capacity for 828 residents. According to Janice Miller, Marketing Partner, Bria moved quickly to address the communication and engagement needs of their residents and families when the pandemic hit, while still keeping them safe.
Under the advisement of the Provincial Health Officer, Bria, like most care homes, implemented “essential visitor” policies. These policies included restricting access to only care aides involved in the personal care of residents and designated family members who assist a loved one with daily activities. These strict policies impacted the amount of face-to-face interaction seniors had with the outside world.
To improve communications and engagement, each Bria home purchased iPads and trained staff on how to use Google Meet, a video-chatting service designed to let users chat over video and text. This investment allowed staff to coordinate online meetings between residents, their friends and family members.
Bria also facilitated numerous window visits, posting messages of hope and love in their windows, and updated their website regularly to make it easier for family and friends to follow what was happening across Bria Communities.
The company also encouraged loved ones to drop off “timed care packages.” These packages are filled with gifts or messages to be delivered to residents, on specific days, such as birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or other special events.
As well, Bria took steps to allow the celebration of milestone moments. For example, Marjory Keeper, living at Sunridge Gardens, was able to celebrate her 99th birthday during the pandemic from her second floor balcony, while her family and friends sang, dropped off gifts and visited her from the patio below.
The Province’s Health Authorities also ensured the physical and mental well-being of seniors during the pandemic.
There are 146 long-term care/assisted living homes within the Island Health Region on Vancouver Island. These residences have capacity to house up to 6,400 residents.
According to Mark Blandford, Executive Director, Primary Care & Seniors Health for Island Health, “Visitor restrictions is not something any care organization wants to do, but it’s been necessary. Our care homes have invested in iPads and other technology to facilitate virtual visits between residents and their loved ones.”
Blandford continues, “Community organizations, businesses and our health-care partners, including foundations and auxiliaries, have also made generous donations of electronic devices to help support virtual interactions between our long-term care residents and their family and friends.
According to a report on social isolation among Canadian seniors in 2018, over 44 per cent of seniors in residential care have been diagnosed with depression or showed symptoms of depression. This data suggests that care homes and health authorities must work hard – and together – to ensure senior engagement is a top priority.
Other things seniors can do to stay engaged with the outside world when faced with any isolation period includes:
- Schedule virtual visits with friends and family using Zoom, Google Meet or other technologies.
- Download online word games, like Sudoku and puzzles.
- Watch live concerts and events online; many organizations have posted listings of free online performances.
- Take an online class.
- Browse YouTube tutorials, Ted Talks and other learning videos, which provide a broad range of information on a variety of topics.
- Join an online club, discussion group or book club.
- The 50plus-Club Chat is a free chatroom, dedicated to bringing seniors together to share insights on life, family, friendship, travel, arts, culture, music, the economy and just about anything. www.50plus-club.ca/chat/
- Over the coming months, the “Connecting with Compassion” team at UBC will deliver iPads to long-term care homes across the province in hopes of facilitating virtual visits and connections among family and friends. The iPads will arrive preloaded with videoconferencing programs, like FaceTime, Zoom and Skype.
“Seniors and their loved ones are making big sacrifices right now, and we recognize how difficult it has been for everyone,” says Kathy MacNeil, President & Chief Executive Officer for Island Health. “We know seniors are healthier when they are actively engaged and able to connect with family and friends. Island Health is committed to continuing to support the physical, mental and spiritual health of all seniors in care, and we will continue to explore new and safe opportunities to improve their well-being.”
Both Bria and Island Health say they are working closely with the Provincial Health Office and making policy and operational changes as required to ensure BC seniors are safe, engaged and actively connecting to the world and loved ones in meaningful ways
For more information on Bria Communities
https://briacommunities.ca
More information on Island Health
www.islandhealth.ca
Island Health Voices From Families initiative: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7157218
UBC’s Connecting with Compassion:
www.med.ubc.ca/news/combatting-social-isolation-during-covid-19/
Photos by Janice Miller, Bria Communities
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