Aged care moves online for virtual visiting hours

AGED care homes in lockdown are using the wonders of modern technology to keep residents and their families connected during the coronavirus crisis.

In recent weeks, Glenview Community Services at Glenorchy has ramped up its virtual visitor program in response to restrictions from COVID-19.

Glenview chief executive Lucy O’Flaherty said the residents at the home were embracing the opportunities to stay in contact with loved ones.

Staff were assisting residents to facilitate the calls through Skype, FaceTime and video conferencing facilities.

“Families have been loving it and residents have been very excited,’’ she said. “We have about 10 appointments a day where families are able to spend time with their loved ones.”

For Toni-Lee Taylor, the initiative enables her to stay connected to her grandmother Margaret Hills. She dials in every couple of days, with her daughter Mikylah, 3, and son Cooper, who is four months old.

“We don’t know when we’ll be able to see her again [in person] so it’s important for her to see familiar faces,’’ she said.

“I love taking screenshots of the video calls because she’s got this big massive smile on her face.

“It’s nice to see her happy and know that she’s safe during this time.”

Glenview had already gone into a voluntary lockdown prior to Premier Peter Gutwein’s announcement on Tuesday that visits to the state’s hospitals and aged care homes would be banned. Under the rules, exceptions will be made for partners at the birth of a child, a parent visiting a dependent child sick in hospital, or for compassionate and end of life reasons.