Heron Terrace transforms family apartment into lounge for safe visitation

The new lounge has been ‘full of laughter, lots of conversation, smiles and some happy tears’
8/7/2020  - Deron Hamel
Pictured above, Heron Terrace residents and their families are having safe and comfortable indoor and outdoor visits.  

In an effort to maximize the experience of indoor visits for residents and family members amid recent changes to visitation rules, Heron Terrace team members have remodelled the Windsor long-term care community’s family apartment into a special lounge geared towards safety and comfort.

Indoor visits at Ontario long-term care homes were suspended in March when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. However, on July 22 the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care eased restrictions to allow indoor visits at long-term care homes with safety protocols in effect.

Under the new regulations, up to two family members may visit a resident at a time. Visiting family members are screened and must “verbally attest” to having a negative COVID-19 test result within the past 14 days. They also must wear face masks and follow social distancing regulations.

The revamped lounge is air-conditioned and has a table with a Plexiglas barrier between the residents and their visiting family members.

Starting July 23, Heron Terrace residents’ families were able to safely visit with their loved ones indoors.

Prior to starting indoor visits, family members were able to provide their feedback and suggestions for the room during a Zoom meeting.  Families were given a virtual tour of the visiting areas and a detailed explanation of the process.

The indoor visits have been praised by family members, and the Heron Terrace team has also slightly modified “porch visits” to occur under the “spacious and cozy” tent for those residents and families who wish to have their visits outdoors.

“We moved another step closer to our new normal,” says one family member.

“The setup in the family apartment with air conditioning was perfect, and, even better through the Plexiglas barrier, (because) I got to see my buddy Jack and tell him how much I loved and missed him.

“We are one big family at Heron Terrace.”

Heron Terrace social worker Monica Coelho has experienced the resident-family visits first-hand, and says residents and their loved ones have been enjoying the visits in the comfort of the lounge.

“The room (has been) full of laughter, lots of conversation, smiles and some happy tears,” she says.

Heron Terrace administrator Amy Sworik agrees.

“It was so wonderful to see the faces full of smiles on our residents and their loved ones – even behind the mask – and eyes lit up,” she says.

“I received some wonderful e-mails, voicemails and phone calls from our families so appreciative of the cozy setup, indoors and outdoors, that provides safety, comfort and welcoming areas.

“A few residents personally came to thank me, their words of gratefulness and what it meant to them brought tears of happiness to my eyes,” Amy says.

“This is our purpose to serve our seniors with quality and dignity. We are grateful and happy to make their days brighter.”

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