With fewer people being able to visit their loved ones by virtue of COVID-19, the Prince George Hospice Society is looking to provide stronger, meaningful connections in other ways.
The non-profit is getting a boost from Paziuk and Associates Private Wealth Management, who has donated iPads to help admitted residents stay in touch with family as the pandemic continues, while meeting the public health guidelines and maintaining physical distancing.
Executive Director Donna Flood says this is a big step forward for Hospice during a time of uncertainty and trying to keep in touch with Prince George as a whole.
“We’ve worked really hard in the last two years to take what we do in the house and extend it out into the community because there’s a lot of people suffering at home whether it's the caregiver who’s alone and unsupported, people who have a life-ending illness, but aren’t at the Hospice, and just people that are grieving loss,” she says.
Three devices with custom covers are set to be used in multiple ways and have face-to-face conversations virtually.
“Three is amazing,” said Flood when asked by PrinceGeorgeMatters if that’s enough to accommodate the Society’s current needs.
“Three will certainly allow us to get people participating and one in the house for visitations is ample. The others will be used to connect people.”
Prince George Hospice Society is about to step up its virtual connectivity for patients & families during COVID-19 with the donation of 3 iPads & $2,000 from the local Investors Group 📱 | #CityOfPG @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/sL7kmDdIuc
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) June 26, 2020
Patients, caregivers and residents going through the struggles of grieving in the midst of COVID-19 will be able to use the iPads to connect with loved ones, and Program Director Shawn Smith explains there are more useful tools to use in addition to video calls.
“One of the other things that’s super-useful is that if somebody is unable to communicate in a traditional fashion, then we have an app. People can touch an icon that represents their needs and we can communicate with them or they can communicate with their families as well. So there’s multiple uses and it’s a real benefit to the folks here at the home.”
Paziuk and Associates Private Wealth Management is also donating $2,000 to allow Prince George Hospice to buy a tent and provide another method of connectivity during COVID-19.
Flood says it’s very important for those who’ve lost a family member, succumbed to the virus or otherwise, to have a grieving process instead of waiting.
“Funerals are different, celebrations of life are different, so during COVID-19, and maybe even moving past COVID-19, we can offer that to some people. If you don’t have that moment to pause, remember, talk and share stories, it’s really hard to get the rest of the grief journey going.”
The tent will also be used as a place for families to wait before entering the Hospice House to visit a family member.
