CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —
Cyndy Reeves always relished the visits.
People dropped by with great regularity.
Seldom a day would pass without at least one family member popping in to see her at the Garden Home in Charlottetown.
Reeves, 72, has a small army of close relatives who have made a well-worn path to the seniors’ home where she has lived for almost five years.
Five siblings, a son and a daughter and two grandsons all made a point to stop by for a good chat.
Not anymore. At least not for now.
Nursing and long-term care facilities on P.E.I. have been closed to visitors since the middle of March in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19 strain).
Reeves understands the need for the dramatic measure, but the emotional toll has been quite heavy to date.
“It’s been pretty rough, really it has,’’ she says.
“I miss the contact with them, of course."
In a phone interview earlier this week, Reeves is quick to note she has plenty of good friends at the Garden Home. She also praises the facility for providing a good deal of entertaining activities.
But nothing – nothing at all – can replace a visit from a loved one.
“As I say, I do miss seeing them," she says.
Fortunately, Reeves and many other residents of senior care facilities in P.E.I. are now being given the opportunity to feel a little closer to family and friends while the closures remain in effect.
A program spearheaded by Steven Dowling has the Community Foundation of P.E.I. and the Department of Social Development and Housing joining forces to put 100 computer tablets in more than 30 senior care facilities.
“The next best thing to being in the same room for the grandkids’ birthday,’’ says Dowling.
“This particular video-chat technology, a lot of people are taking advantage of just to keep family connected … and I am really heartened that the staff in the senior care facilities are prepared to provide this."
Jason Lee is CEO of P.E.I. Seniors Homes, which consists of Whisperwood Villa and Garden Home, both located in Charlottetown, and Lady Slipper Villa in O’Leary. He says each of the homes was seeing as many as 100 people come in to visit residents in a single day.
When that came to an abrupt halt over two weeks ago, notes Lee, there was a need to find ways to allow the residents to stay connected with family.
“The families are feeling a great deal of anxiety being away from their loved ones, and the residents are feeling loneliness and isolation and that can lead to depression,’’ he says.
He hopes the tablets prove to be a good tonic.
“I would expect that the tablets would be used every day," he says.
“It’s just really nice to see how people have come together … everybody has gotten behind this (project), and I think they see it for what it is: one small step that a lot of people can take to make a bad situation a little better."
Reeves plans to use a computer tablet as much as possible. She knows many fellow residents share her enthusiasm to tap into the technology, some on their own and others with the assistance of staff.
“There are a lot of people in here who really, really miss their family … everybody is looking forward to it," she says.
“I hope it will help residents get in touch with their families, be able to see their families face to face."
Distribution of the tablets began earlier this week.
Dowling says they will serve a great purpose now and well after the doors open again to visitors in senior care facilities across the province.
“We hope that this is a long-term benefit," he says.
“The need existed before the pandemic and it will exist long after. It’s not only for the seniors but it’s for the family members."
