There is a way to work around visiting restrictions in long-term care facilities. Cochrane’s Villa Minto and Matheson’s Rosedale Centre are using it.
They’re looking for donations of used electronic devices, so that more of their residents can connect with family and friends.
Director of care Jennifer Emond calls it “virtual visitation”.
“It’s opened up a new way of allowing family members from across the world, essentially to visit with their loved ones at any point in time,” she says.
Any used device is used, including a laptop.
“However,” Emond notes, “knowing that there’s different cognitive levels in our residents, it would be really great if we can get tablets, or even I’ve gotten some cell phones – anything that can be as easy as possible to access.”
Emond says screen time with loved ones is good for a resident’s spiritual and emotional wellbeing.