Happy to be together

Sydney nursing home residents excited to have visitors again

SYDNEY — Anne Currie was happy to be singing songs with her sister and friend during their first visit in three months on Tuesday.

Although the wind at times gave her a little chill, the MacGillivray Guest Home resident didn’t let it bother her as she belted out verses to a war-time song “Two Little Boys.”

“Anne has always been musical. Since she was four years old,” said her sister Helen Capstick who admitted it was hard not being able to visit.

“It was terrible. I really missed not coming. I used to come pretty much every day, didn’t I, Anne?”

Currie, who sat in a wheelchair more than six-feet apart from her sister and her friend, Ginger Hogan, nodded.

“I missed her too,” she said. “Her not checking in on me every day.”

Monday was the first day that long-term care facilities could allow residents to have outdoor visitors with friends and family, as long as provincial public health guidelines are followed. This includes visitors wearing a face mask for the duration of the visit, staying at least six feet away and not hugging or touching the residents.

Tuesday was the first day the MacGillivray Guest home opened up their visiting hours, which are from 1-4 p.m. weekday. Each visit is scheduled for 30 minutes and facility administrator Jody Gentile said they’ve been busy with calls from families eager to see their loved ones.

“It was terrible. I really missed not coming.”

Helen Capstick

• 4:52 p.m. – New Victoria Volunteer Fire Department called to the scene

• 5:25 p.m. – Man removed from under the debris and placed in ambulance

• 5:45 p.m. – Man transported to Cape Breton Regional Hospital from scene