We want to thank our team of Visitation Hosts for their assistance in connecting long-term care residents with their loved ones throughout the pandemic when it was not possible to meet face-to-face. The impact of this team was felt in every building on our campus. Starting in January 2020 they delivered 3,011 Messages of Love and facilitated 7,481 Zoom calls. They met each visitor at the door and explained the COVID guidelines – some of which changed daily or even hourly. In a season that was confusing and sometimes scary they were calm, knowledgeable, and welcoming.

Garry Janzen, Life Enrichment Coordinator, had this to say as the team completes their task:

The visitation hosts first came to Menno Place during the challenging early days of the COVID pandemic and quickly became an integral part of the team here. As we moved through the different types of visiting they were the friendly faces at the door helping each family and resident workout each new process as it came.

With the end of the pandemic we were fortunate to get to keep them on campus for a time where they have had their hands in more projects than I could count. I have appreciated their hard work, their adaptability, their flexibility and their warm hearts.

We will certainly miss them as this program comes to an end. Thank you, for everything.

With the pandemic behind us the government of Canada is officially ending the Visitation Host program effective April 30. Before the hosts go we wanted to give our staff, residents, friends and family, the opportunity to send their thanks and well wishes to this incredible team.

Please use the form below to send your thoughts and we’ll make sure they get to the team.