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While they may be unable to feel the touch of their loved ones, a group of Ozcare residents has been spreading a sense of hope from their aged care home via heartfelt videos and message boards.
A 95-year great grandmother is among the seniors from Ozanam Villa Burleigh Heads Aged Care Facility on the Gold Coast who filmed videos, hand-wrote messages and poems and even worked on art to send to families.
Ozcare’s Diversional Therapist Breanna McMaster said the seniors had embraced the form of reminiscence therapy as well as regular access to Skype and phone calls with their relatives and friends.
“Today’s activity was all about sharing the stories of the happy memories they all have and to let their families know that they are happy and healthy,” Ms McMaster said.
“It is allowing our residents to express what makes them happy so we have been spending a lot of one-on-one time with them and writing cards and letters to their loved ones.
“We have always included individual activities as part of our therapy programs and our focus remains on the person-centered care of our residents.
“All of our usual activities like going on group outings have made way for a lot of one-on-one time between staff and residents so they are feeling supported.
“We are having good quality time, sitting and talking together. Although they may miss being physically present with their families, it is really uplifting to see the positive impacts from simple things like looking at photos and remembering those moments and the stories that flow.”
Ozcare continues to uphold highest health and safety standards for its staff and residents during this unprecedented time.