While the pandemic has affected all Australian lives, one way or another, with nursing homes also experiencing the effects of an altered reality, Fronditha Care takes pride on the fact that its residents “haven’t been short of entertainment nor struggled to find something to do” over the COVID-19 period.
“It’s a strange silver lining,” the organisation states in a media release about their response to the coronavirus outbreak, which included having to restrict visitation with exemptions for exceptional circumstances.
Executive General Manager of Residential Services, Jim Scantsonihas said the measures were necessary to protect the residents falling under the cohort of the most vulnerable to the disease.
ALSO READ: Heartwarming generosity for the aged amid coronavirus panic
“Residents couldn’t see their loved ones, our volunteer program was suspended and incursions and excursions were cancelled, so we knew we had to step in and increase our lifestyle and activity program to maintain socialisation and connectedness during this time,” Mr Scantsonihas said.
Photos: Supplied
Technology came to the rescue to fill in for the lost face to face connection for residents with loved ones, with video calls and calls arranged with family members and volunteers.
Meanwhile, extra hours of operation during the evenings were added to the lifestyle activities run across Fronditha’s five residential aged care facilities, with a full program on weekends.
“We’ve done a lot of things that we ourselves haven’t been able to do at home,” Support Services Coordinator Vivi Michailidou explains.
“We got to decorate and take the Epitaphio out for Easter and have a full Easter Sunday feast.”
“We’re a family here too, so it was fitting that we could mark such an important celebration together,” Ms Michailidou says adding that a number of staff also volunteered their time to share the occasion with residents.