Jessica Micallef
Residents at Warrina Aged Care in New Gisborne are helping to brighten the lives of local children during the coronavirus pandemic.
The aged care windows have been decorated by the residents with different themes and games for children to look at and play along with as they walk past the facility.
Nursing director Tara Chandrasegran said the residents were concerned how the recent rise in COVID-19 cases would affect children.
“The idea is when children are going for a walk or are on their way home from school, they can stop by and have a look at the windows,” she said.
“At the moment we have a space theme, a superhero theme and at our main door we have got dinosaurs.
“As part of our craft program, they are coming up with different window [themes]. We have a football one coming up and a food one where you have to guess the ingredients.”
Due to the recent rise in virus cases and many aged care facilities across the state being exposed to COVID-19, the New Gisborne aged care is not allowing visitors into the facility.
However, residents can still see their loved ones through “window visits” and online video calls.
“I think they [the residents] are coping much better than the first time,” Ms Chandrasegran said of reintroduced lockdown restrictions.
“I think they know that the support of the staff is there and that the window visits are still there.
“The residents are hearing about the risk of COVID-19 getting into aged care facilities so I think they are welcoming of having less people here.”
