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Mineral Springs Hospital calls on Banff to show its heart to long-term care residents

“Their activities and meals have been adjusted and many don’t understand why. Their faithful volunteers and families can’t visit right now and many don’t understand why.”

BANFF – Banff residents are opening their hearts to elderly residents of St. Martha’s Place at Mineral Springs Hospital.

Launched this week by the hospital’s community board, a new initiative calls on Banff residents to wave pictures of hearts from outside the building to boost morale for residents in the long-term care facility.

With St. Martha’s Place in lockdown to try to keep residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, board members say there’s concern they may feel socially isolated, or lonely without the usual visits from family and friends.

Marlo Reid-Gibson, chairperson of Banff Hospital Community Board, said St. Martha’s residents “need some love” and “need a little pick-me-up.”

“Their activities and meals have been adjusted and many don’t understand why,” she said.

“Their faithful volunteers and families can’t visit right now and many don’t understand why.”

The public is encouraged to draw, paint, or colour a big red heart and hold it up to residents from outside of Mineral Springs Hospital by the solarium window.

The best time for people to come by is at noon or between 4:30-5:30 p.m. – healthcare workers will be on the lookout for people.

Reid-Gibson said she hopes the initiative brings residents some happiness in these tough times.

“Hopefully it doesn’t confuse them, but gives them a little bit of happiness, a little bit of warmth inside,” she said.

“What’s really important is they don’t get sick, and laughter and happiness helps build immunity.”

This idea was inspired, in part, by a Facebook post shared by Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen of her husband Carsten visiting with his 89-year-old mom Edith, who has been a resident of St. Martha’s for a few months now.

With the lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis, the Sorensens have had to be creative in how to stay in touch with Edith. They communicate with Edith from outside her window.

“The staff have been phenomenal. They hold a phone to her ear so she can hear – she’s non-verbal so can’t speak and mostly uses hand signs,” said Karen.

“She lights up. I think she understands why we can’t come in, but there’s many at St. Martha’s who don’t understand,” she added, choking back tears.

“It’s heartbreaking. You do it because you love them and because you want them to know you are thinking about them.”

Edith’s three grandchildren also sent voice recordings to Karen and Carsten to play for Edith.

“We played all those for her and she knew it was all the kids,” said Karen. “She was smiling.”

Karen encourages the community to take part in the hospital board’s initiative.

“Many of the people in St. Martha’s are iconic, people who built this community,” she said. “It’s so important to give back to them and show them they are loved and appreciated.”

Banff Community Hospital Board is encouraging people to take a photo of themselves with their hearts and share it on social media with #togetherwecan. Photos can be emailed to [email protected] or texted to 403-763-7554.

Meanwhile, anyone wanting to make a financial donation to the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, a Covenant Health facility, can visit covenantfoundation.ca/donate-online. If you’d like to donate to Alberta Health Services, you can email [email protected].

For physicians or health professionals, if you’re able to volunteer, email [email protected]. Any external physician support offers can be directed to [email protected] and any donations of health equipment or services can go to [email protected].

 

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