The best gift you can give this Mother’s Day is distance

This article was originally published on Route 65.

For most of us, this Mother’s Day will be different than any other we have experienced. As British Columbians have adjusted to living in a new COVID-19 reality, avoiding close contact with people outside of our households, especially older adults, has become a new normal. Overall, we’ve risen to the occasion, opting for virtual visits rather than in-person ones, connecting through windows and finding countless other creative ways to stay socially connected, but physically distanced. As we approach Mother’s Day, however, the thought of not being able to visit moms and grandmas is proving to be stressful for many.

As visitors in long-term care, assisted living and independent living continue to be restricted, seniors care operators continue to ask the public not to visit. Your cooperation is currently crucial to keeping seniors and staff safe. This being said, there are alternatives to face-to-face visits:

  1. Speak with staff to arrange a virtual visit or phone call, you may be asked to consider doing this on a day other than Sunday, depending on demand and the availability of staff.
  2. Deliver a card or gift. Call the residence in advance so that you understand their process for dropping items off – often there will be a quarantine process for gifts.
  3. Some, but not all independent living homes are allowing short, outside, socially distanced visits. Speak with the staff about whether this would be appropriate.
  4. Create a montage video of your family’s Mother’s Day wishes.
  5. Visit window-side.
  6. Decide as a family to postpone the holiday to a day where you can observe the holiday as per your family’s traditions.
  7. If your family member has dementia, consider speaking with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. for advice and suggestions.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you look for creative ways to mark Mother’s Day:

  1. It is best to speak with staff in advance, as they can help you determine the best time and way to celebrate.
  2. As always, please do not visit, even to drop something off, if you are feeling under the weather.
  3. While your family might be willing to take on some risk to celebrate this important holiday, it is important to remember that your choices affect everyone who lives and works in your parent’s seniors living or care setting.

Route 65 is wishing you all the best as you look to celebrate Mother’s Day differently this year.