St. John's retirement home hopes to combat loneliness with 'tea and a yarn'

Residents at retirement homes across Newfoundland and Labrador are largely cut off from the outside world as the Omicron wave rages on.

About 80 residents at Bishops Gardens, a personal-care home in St. John's, are stuck in their rooms for another week due to a COVID-19 exposure. That means long, lonely days especially for those who are unable to connect with family and friends over the phone or via the internet.

On Friday, the home began recruiting community volunteers to participate in virtual visits with residents through a program called Tea and a Yarn.

"We're hoping to connect residents by telephone with people in the communityso they'll have someone chat with," said Edwin Richards, a Bishops Gardens resident in quarantine.

In an interview with CBC News, Richards said connecting with family and friends is essential while self-isolating.

Volunteers can sign up through the Bishops Gardens Facebook page and will be assigned a resident to have a Tea and a Yarnwith over a video call.

Richards said the visits will not only help lonely seniors but will lift the spirits of the volunteers, too.

"They get to know their experiences and [have] someone to chat with, and hear stories, hopefully uplifting stories that will cheer them up," he said.

A need for socialization

In a statement Friday, Eastern Health said there are outbreaks of COVID-19 at 24 congregate living facilities in the region, including eight Eastern Health-run long-term care homesand 16 privately run personal-care homes, community-care homes and assisted-living facilities.

All residents at Bishops Gardens have tested negative for COVID-19; the home has avoided an outbreak like the ones seen in other facilities. However, as per public health guidelines, residents have to quarantine for the full two weeks.

Mike Powell, president of Fort Amherst Healthcare, which owns Bishops Gardens, said while some residents have a support structure of friends and family, others rely on their community within the home, and are missing out on that social interaction.

"There's a great need for any sort of socialization or mental health support that we can provide as a community," he said. "It's a really great chance for us as people just to rally around our elders and try and support their mental health as much as possible during a difficult time."

Though Tea and a Yarn started at Bishops Gardens, the company is rolling out the program at its home in Corner Brook and its other one in St. John's.

Powell said they're looking for volunteers from all walks of life, and he suggested it may be a good classroom activity, too.

"We look forward to seeing what kind of relationship development comes out of this," he said.

Meanwhile, Richards said he's been keeping busy while quarantined and he has advice for those in similar situations.

"Watch a comedy on TV, turn off negative news," he said. "Read a book, tell a joke and most of all, keep in touch with family and friends and have hope that COVID restrictions will be eased a little bit."

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