Residents at a local seniors home unable to get out in the community due to COVID-19 have been treated to a sweet surprise by staff who have created an in-house drive-through for frozen desserts.
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that some services have had to be curtailed at nursing homes run by Island Health for the safety of staff and residents. At Aberdeen Hospital, a publicly subsidized long-term care facility with 100 units, that has meant the cancellation of therapy food services — a treat of a special lunch or some baking instead of the usual institutional fare.
The staff at the hospital came up with a sweet alternative — the Aberdairy Queens (no relation to the chain with a similar name), a mock-up of a drive-through complete with a menu, order “window” and “drive-by” frozen treat pick up.
“Our biggest role as recreational therapists is to provide residents with programs that improve their quality of life,” said Jenna Buckham, a recreational therapist who joined the Hillside Avenue facility last year.
“Our role is to see a person as a whole. We try to build a strong relationship with residents to discover social programs that meet their needs. We also try to find out what activities people enjoyed in the past and how they see their role in long-term care.”
She encourages residents to participate in light exercise, mental stimulation groups and take part in recreational activities, such as live entertainment, games and crafts.
But due to restrictions to safeguard residents from contracting COVID-19, forays into the community have been cancelled.
Buckham and her colleagues came up with a fun alternative. “We thought that if the residents were not able to go out to the community, we would bring the community to them.”
The first Aberdairy Queens event was in April and it has run monthly since. Two floors of the care home — about 70 to 80 residents — take part. The kitchen staff have pitched in by sourcing frozen desserts from outside of the regular food supply chain.
The patient-care staff at the care home designed their own uniforms, with hats made out of paper. The order window at the mock-up drive-through window hides a walkie-talkie. Residents can order their favourite frozen treats and pick them up at the next window.
To add a little flair, Buckham and rehabilitation assistant Amie Aniban wear face masks adorned with giant smiles while serving the residents.
“We have had a lot of positive response from residents — we have even gotten a like on social media from somebody at Dairy Queen,” Buckham said.
