With residential aged care facilities closed to visitors since the ACT lockdown began on 12 August, Goodwin in Farrer pondered how to cheer up the residents and allow for safe visits from their loved ones, within Covid restrictions. The solution? Drive-through wave stations.
Residents sat by the entry this afternoon as their families, and sometimes pets, drove through in their cars, stopping to wave and chat. Masks were worn and social distancing maintained.
Goodwin’s resident extrovert, Fran, arrived at the home on 20 June this year, and couldn’t have been more excited to see her daughters in person for the first time in weeks.
Fran migrated to the Capital from NSW with her husband, who responded to the ACT’s callout for teachers in the 1970s. They fell in love with the community and raised their three daughters here.
As the years went by, Fran’s husband briefly stayed at Goodwin, while she lived two minutes away in independent housing. She was able to visit every day before he passed. Now she lives in his former home.
Fran chose Goodwin for the gentleness of the staff. “They’re so kind, so caring. Always there for us when we need them. They’re very special people. We’re looked after here.
“Well-fed,” she chuckled.
While Fran hasn’t been at Goodwin for long, she’s already known among her peers for being a good chat.
“I come from a large family,” she explained. “I learnt to be heard.”
Among the array of activities offered at Goodwin, her favourites are the exercise sessions and walks around the lake.
“We get to see other people’s gardens, and the fish. We enjoy our gossips … not that we do much of that,” she smiled.
However, despite the peace the home allows its residents, Fran is thankful to see the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel.
“I’ll be very pleased when it’s over. The gardens are so lovely, the blossoms are out … I wait for my daughters to be able to come and take me for an outing. Not being able to see our families was the hardest part for most.”
Fran perked up at the mention of the drive-through, which had its second run today.
“I loved it! It’s been great to see my girls.” Her two daughters in Canberra, Lynn the youngest, and Jane, a Darwinian trapped by the borders (much to Fran’s delight), handed their mother a little package at the drive through. As of now, Fran hasn’t opened it, but has a keen idea of what it is.
“I was a little bit upset that they didn’t bring Teddy [the family dog] and hold him up to the window.”
Today the drive-through was adorned with festive headgear on staff, residents and visitors, for Rotary’s Hat Day, to help ‘lift the lid on mental illness’.
Among the hats covered in plumage, and painted gold, Fran had the most conservative (“tasteful!”) hat – a nice beanie.
Her grandchildren were not able to come through the drive-through today, but Fran hopes the next time she sees them they will be coming through the doors, into her waiting arms.
“Also, I want to go to a garden nursery. I love plants,” she was sure to add.
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