Dear families of Shelburne Long-Term Care,

June 1st marks the beginning of Seniors’ Month in Ontario, and this year’s theme is Stay Safe, Stay in Touch.

As our province continues to address the challenges presented by COVID-19, especially in the long-term care sector, staying connected to family and loved ones has never been more important.

We know that many of our outbreak response measures, including quarantining residents in their rooms and limiting access to our home to essential personnel only, have created new obstacles in maintaining personal interactions. But over the past couple months, we’ve seen families develop new and creative ways to keep these important connections strong.

Whether it’s through a FaceTime chat, visiting at the window, participating in drive-by parades or posting signs with messages of love around the home, the families and wider community have helped keep the spirits of our residents high and cheerful.

As we continue to navigate these challenging times, we want to remind everyone that we are here to help keep families united and together through phone calls, emails, text messages or video messaging. For assistance in arranging one of these options, please contact Sarah Ricci at [email protected] or phone us at 519-925-3746.

Families and friends who are interested in celebrating a special senior in their life can also reach out to the following to request a message:

  • Her Majesty the Queen: for Canadians celebrating birthdays of 100 years or more and for couples celebrating wedding anniversaries of 60 years or more (at five-year intervals)
  • Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – for Ontarians celebrating birthdays of 90 years or more and for couples celebrating wedding anniversaries of 50 years or more.
  • Prime Minister of Canada – for Canadians celebrating birthdays of 65 years or more (at five-year intervals) and for couples celebrating wedding anniversaries of 25 years of more (at five-year intervals).
  • Premier of Ontario – for Ontarians celebrating birthdays of 80 years or more and for couples celebrating anniversaries of 40 years or more.

More information on how to request a special message, as well as programs and activities arranged by the provincial government to celebrate Seniors’ Month can be found at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/celebrating-seniors-ontario#section-1.

As we look forward to celebrating Seniors’ Month in Ontario, we hope you will join us in continuing to support our elderly residents.

Sincerely,

Stacey Rooyakkers
Executive Director