Surprise ‘window visit’ a touching moment for Burnbrae resident, his family and staff

“We will talk to you soon. Please remember that we love you and you’re always in our thoughts.”

That was a message on a hand-made sign Fred Hobbs and his wife held for Reg Hobbs, Fred’s dad, to see from outside the window in his room at Burnbrae Gardens on April 17.

Team members at the Campbellford long-term care home helped Fred and his wife organize their “window visit” with Reg. The couple also talked with Reg through the closed window, and since Reg is hard of hearing staff members helped convey the messages to him.

Burnbrae Gardens, along with OMNI Health Care’s other 17 long-term care homes, is closed to everyone but essential visitors to protect residents and team members during the ongoing global COVID-19 crisis.

This means residents and their families are missing their regular visits, which are an important part of life in long-term care homes.

Burnbrae Gardens administrator April Faux says Reg’s window visit – which was a surprise for him – was a “very touching moment for all.”

“This is just one of the ways to brighten our days,” she tells The OMNIway. “Reg was pretty happy, and staff were pretty emotional. …

“There were lots of smiles, inside and outside.”

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