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Window notes for Smithfield Lodge resident

Her great-grandchildren wanted to remind her they miss her
WES Eleanor Harder
Eleanor Harder, who is isolating like all the other residents at the Smithfield Lodge, got a nice surprise April 6 when her great-grandchildren left all those notes in her window.

WESTLOCK – Eleanor Harder is under strict visitation policies at the Smithfield Lodge, but last week she got a window-full of affection from her great grandkids.

Last Monday, Chelsey McDonald packed up the car and drove up with her kids, Camryn and Oliver. They took full advantage of the fact that Harder’s window is right on the ground floor and plastered some brightening messages on their great-grandmother’s only link with the outside world.

They wanted to remind her to stay health, and that they miss and love her.

“She was thrilled. We hung the signs up on her window, she didn’t even know we were there at first, so I phoned her. I just talked to her on the phone while she was looking out of the window. She was really surprised and so excited to see everybody,” said McDonald.

For her part, Harder says it’s very boring these days; she can watch TV, but there’s little else going on.

“I’m not the most social but I do go to a crossword puzzle group,” said Harder.

Since there’s no group activities anymore, she’s got a puzzle or two in her room.

Usually, Camryn, the youngest, will go with her grandmother to the lodge, where Sarah Greenfield holds a music learning group with kids and seniors. That’s during normal times, when Camryn can safely go to the lodge.

Eleanor’s designated visitor is McDondald's father, who lives in the area. He’s still working, she said, and has been talking with Harder over the phone.

“We haven’t visited her in person at all since that whole thing went down,” said McDonald.

Restrictions to lodges are very strict now. Since April 7, no visitors to continuing care centres and group homes are allowed. This puts seniors, the group most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, in the position of also being the most isolated.

Eleanor has been doing okay, said McDondald. She spends a lot of time on the phone now with her sister and three generations of family, from kids to great grandkids.

“The people who work (at the Smithfield) are fantastic, they do their best,” added McDondald.

Andreea Resmerita, TownandCountryToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @andreea_res

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