The “LTC Strong” bi-weekly blog series highlights the amazing work of LTC homes during COVID-19. You are heroes and we want to help spread your shining moments in dark times.
As Intergenerational Day approaches on Monday (June 1), we want to take a moment to celebrate the way communities across Ontario have been keeping connections between young people and LTC residents alive in the midst of social distancing. For example, residents at LTC homes in Simcoe County have been receiving letters from students across the county, as part of the Letters to Seniors Pen Pal Program.
Children across the province have taken to creating art to share with LTC homes. Residents at Miramichi Lodge have been receiving brightly coloured artwork with inspiring messages from ‘A neighbour in Renfrew county’. Residents from The Grove Long Term Care Home have been receiving letters, notes and artwork from children as young as 2 years old in the community.
Christine Wilkinson, coordinator of Niagara College’s Recreation Therapy program, has been working with local LTC homes to support residents and team members. It started with Wilkinson’s own daughters, who wrote letters to residents in the area homes. Residents enjoyed the letters so much that they wrote back! The family then started a “Chalk the Walk” campaign, where community members joined Wilkinson’s daughters in writing thank-you messages in chalk outside LTC homes. Learn more about their efforts in this article from Niagara College.
We know that connections between young people and older adults can have benefits for seniors and our communities alike. We hope these examples inspire more communities to action. Stay tuned for a special post for Intergenerational Day on Monday where we showcase the activities that the Ontario CLRI at Bruyere has pioneered in their community to keep intergenerational connections alive in LTC homes during the age of COVID-19.
Grove residents have been delighted to receive hundreds of drawings and notes from local children (a young as 2 years old)! In addition to the beautiful art pieces, kids share what they have been up to and include happy messages for residents. @arnprior pic.twitter.com/c79k6DdZO0
— Arnprior Regional Health (@ARHArnprior) April 21, 2020
#DYK before each letter arriving @ the County’s #LongTermCare homes, through the #LetterstoSeniors #PenPal program is shared with a resident, it spends 3 days in isolation?
Jean from #GeorgianManor & Ruth from #SunsetManor, were excited to receive theirs. #strongertogether pic.twitter.com/jGf24boCq5
— County of Simcoe (@simcoecounty) April 5, 2020
Check out these pictures from a ‘neighbor in Renfrew County’ whose children made these lovely pictures for our residents. Have you ever seen bigger smiles?! #RenfrewCountyStrong #Community #CORCOVID19 #ItTakesAVillage #BrighterSide ??@RenfrewCounty @AdvantAgeOnt @DrFullertonMPP pic.twitter.com/wJcfb72ORU
— COR Long-Term Care Homes (@CORLTCHs) March 25, 2020
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Looking for additional information on supporting residents or team members? Visit our COVID-19 resources page: <a href=”http://clri-ltc.ca/covid19″>clri-ltc.ca/covid19</a>