Alberta nursing student helps long-term care residents stay connected with family members

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Lethbridge College nursing student Carl Abellana decided to pick up more shifts at the long-term care facility where he usually works part-time. They put him in charge of their internal pandemic protocols, which unfortunately includes restricting visitors to the facility’s residents.

When Abellana realized that what residents needed most was to connect with their loved ones, he made a Facebook profile where relatives can contact him to book a time for a video chat or FaceTime call (using his own equipment) with their resident family member. Abellana says the seniors are “amazed” and comforted at being able to see the faces of their families on the phone or tablet.

In the first two weeks of his efforts, Abellana was able to facilitate approximately 60 video calls between residents and their families.

Source: Lethbridge College