Visits for the Moms on a unique Mother’s Day
Due to the universal pandemic, Mother’s Day had a different look to it this year!
Here at our Home, we came up with an idea – to have “window visits” for 4 members of each family with their Mother. (Some Mothers had so many children; we had to have two slots for them!) An invitation went out; the families responded with their preferred time slot, and the Resident received her invitation to join her family “at the window” at a certain time. Of course, with many families involved, we needed a 2-day time period, so on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10 from 1:30-4:30, we welcomed several families.
It started in a nearby parking lot, where the family was greeted, questioned and their temperature was taken by our Social Worker Deborah, who volunteered for the task. Well suited up in PPE, she took no chances and made sure none of our volunteers or other family members were exposed to any danger in this situation. Once “temped”, they were guided by volunteers to the 6-foot apart waiting area, until their turn was called by our Activity Director Brenda, who, along with Deborah, had spear headed the whole affair.
Once their Mother was seated at a particular window (we had two stations), the families went down the ramp and had 15 minutes with their mom. A cell phone on the inside (with the phone number displayed for the families) was available to the Resident to hear their families better.
Then, because of the need for proper disinfecting techniques, everything was wiped down after the family left, before the next family came forward to see their Mother at the window. On the inside, the areas were cleaned between each resident and the cell phones disinfected. Also disinfected were any boxes or gifts the families had brought to their Mother (which were handed in to activity staff or sisters on the inside.)
A volunteer had created corsages for each of the Residents to wear, and staff members went out of their way to do hair and nails to make sure “Mom” looked really good for the visits! (Remember, hairdressers and barbers are “non-essential” according to the government. We disagree, but…)
It was a strange, but absolutely fun day for all, especially the Residents.
One male Resident asked “what’s going on? Is there an activity today?” We told him we’ll do the same for the men on Father’s Day, if we’re still in lockdown! In the meantime, thanks go out to everyone who helped with this “event” and made our Residents happy!!
