Uniting Mingaletta Port Macquarie is ensuring residents can still connect with their loved ones during a time when the aged care centre is in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The aged care centre introduced window meetings on Tuesday, April 7 for families, so they can interact with their loved ones with a safe barrier of a glass between them.
Uniting Mingaletta leisure and wellness coordinator Tracey McInnes explained the concept and said it's a way for family members of residents to share news and see their loved ones.
During the meetings a resident sits on a chair inside the centre, while the family member/s are outside. They can see each other through a window.
The parties each have mobile phones so they can talk to each other while the meetings take place.
Shona Bobbins and her sister Meryl visited their mum Gwen Woods via a window meeting.
Shona said the initiative is lovely and especially important at Easter time, which they usually spend together.
The aged care centre staff are wonderful, Shona said and doing everything they can to ensure residents are cared for.
Tracey said it's lovely to witness the faces of the residents and their family members during the meetings.
"It's emotional for us (staff members) too," she said.
The aged care centre has put a halt on visitations for two and a half weeks, which Tracey said has been hard on families as they miss the contact with the residents.
There are still lots of activities happening inside the centre, where residents are playing bingo and participating in Easter-themed games. They come together in small groups and abide by correct social distancing practices.
Tracey said the residents at the aged care centre are in great spirits and are already very resilient, after many have lived through world wars and other hard times.
All the staff at Mingaletta are onboard with the initiative and they have been giving their mobile phones to the residents, so they can chat with their family members through the window meetings.
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