Lockdown has meant residents of aged care homes have not been able to enjoy visits from family and friends the way they once did.
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So staff at Boort District Health organised a surprise this week for their 25 residents, as well as seven acute care patients.
On Monday afternoon, the residents and patients were taken outside under the pretence they were simply going out to enjoy the sunny spring weather.
But instead they found a parade of family, friends, community members and staff began to pass by, waving and saying hello.
Nurse unit manager Mubarak Meera Sahib said staff began to contact family and friends via text message on Saturday with the idea, which came about after support service staff member Sue Dunne saw a video of something similar in the US.
Being a small community, he said, word of the plan got around quickly.
By Monday afternoon, they were ready to go ahead.
Mr Meera Sahib said the staff first thought no one would come, but soon both roads to the hospital were full of cars.
"Donna [Doyle, director of clinical services] and I were amazed by the response of the community," Mr Meera Sahib said.
The residents and patients loved the parade, he said.
Mr Meera Sahib said residents had been able to video call family and friends, or partake in "window visits" through the windows of their rooms, but were missing out on face-to-face contact and outings in the community.
Mental wellbeing during this time was a big concern, he said, not only for the residents, but for their families and for staff.
But he said the parade gave everyone a boost in morale and was "really good for the community".
"That was wonderful," Ms Doyle, the service's director of clinical services, said in a video of the event.
"I can't thank the community enough for coming out and giving us all a wave.
"Just what we needed."
Mr Meera Sahib also thanked the staff members for going with the flow.
He said there were hopes to hold another similar event for residents and patients in the future.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
