The Foster Group has donated 13 smartphones to local care homes to enable elderly residents to stay in touch with family and friends while visits to the homes are restricted during the COVID-19 crisis.
Car City manager Taylor Foster delivered the phones to Ministry of Community Affairs Chief fficer Teresa Echenique last week.
According to a press release, the devices, chosen for their wide screens, will allow seniors to take part in WhatsApp calls and video chats.
The donation will benefit residents in self-isolation at the Department of Children and Family Services’ Golden Age Home, Maple House and Kirkconnell Community Care Centre residential facilities, and also those at The Pines Retirement Home, operated by the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.
The phones will continue to be used in the facilities even after the restrictions end, to encourage close ongoing contact between residents and families.
“In times like this, with so many things going on around us, it’s important that we don’t forget our elders,” Foster said. “With help from FLOW, we were able to find a solution to help keep them connected with their loved ones while maintaining social distance. FLOW has also agreed to assist by enhancing the bandwidth speed at each of the homes.”
Echenique, in the release, thanked the Foster Group for supporting the ministry on such an important initiative.
“In an effort to ensure the safety of our seniors, visits to care home facilities in the Cayman Islands were suspended last month, in line with the government’s shelter-in-place provisions. While giving them some measure of protection against COVID-19, it has isolated the elderly, who look forward to seeing weekly visitors. This donation is truly ‘Cayman Kind’ in action and for this we are most grateful,” she said.
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