‘There’s so many ways we can connect’
The photograph grasped in Caroline Babin’s hands takes us back to our childhoods. A young child, her tongue outstretched, catches snowflakes as they fall from the sky. Her eyes are closed awaiting the magic. There’s a slight curl to her lips. It’s evident – she’s smiling on the inside.
The photo reminds Glenda Surette of her granddaughter and a photograph taken of her two years ago.
“She has her tongue out catching snowflakes, just like the picture. Actually, I am looking at it now on my dresser. The picture reminded me of my granddaughter,” she shares.
And just like that, a connection has been made – not just to the photo itself, but to the residents of the Nakile Home for Special Care facility in Yarmouth County.
This particular activity at the facility is all about reminiscing.
Pictures of residents holding photographs were posted onto Nakile’s Facebook page. Those viewing them were invited to choose a photo that resonated with them and to explain why.
Their shared stories, in turn, will be shared with the residents. By doing so, everyone gets to experience the memories of the photographs together.
These types of connections are being made more and more in longterm care facilities.
Social media – that didn’t exist for the majority of the lives of residents – is helping to bring the outside world into long-term care facilities.
“We’ve kind of gone from being novices at using Facebook posts, to
During the COVID pandemic tablets and Facetime have been used to help keep connections active at longterm care facilities across the province while visitor restrictions have been in place.
But when the pandemic ends, connections will continue.
“I think it’s important that people have an idea of what we do and that the residents are okay. It’s a struggle that they can’t have their loved ones in, but we do the best we can to make it an interesting day,” LeBlanc says.
And if they can make it interesting for others outside the facility, that’s an added bonus, because it helps people to see how the residents are living their lives and enjoying themselves.
“I’m picking this picture because as a kid I always remember running outside after a fresh snowfall with all my snow gear on just to be the first one to make a snow angel in the new snow!” shares Erin Fraser about a photograph being held by Nakile resident Sophie Bourque of a child making a snow angel.
Added Joanne Head, “Snow angels are like childhood’s footprints. I made many, many angels after a fresh snowfall. What a happy winter memory.”
Kaiser says it’s great to see people resonating and reminiscing with the residents.
“Some of our residents are regular Facebook users. Some of them are not connected with technology at all. But the thought that their own activity here at Nakile got shared and somebody responded back, I think it going to really resonate with them,” she says.
“It’s a 2022 rendition of something like pen pals. We’re connecting digitally,” adds Kaiser. “It’s not something that this generation grew up with, but there’s so many ways that we can connect.”