Sisters, Pat and Betty-Lou, enjoy a recent visit.
Sisters catch-up at Maplewood
Living in different homes, women delighted with visit
Tuesday April 1, 2008 -- Camille Jensen
Betty-Lou becomes energized when she talks about a recent visit with her sister Pat.

“She looked really good,” says Betty-Lou, “We had a good visit – I hadn’t seen her for years.”

Spending an afternoon catching up and talking about family, the two sisters from different OMNI homes were overjoyed with a reunion, having not seen each other for more than two years.

Chris Charlebois, life enrichment co-ordinator at Maplewood says the homes had been planning a visit for some time but due to health conditions and travel issues, it’s been difficult to get the two sisters together.

“The weather wasn’t co-operating and then we went into outbreak and then they went into outbreak – so we’ve been working on it for a few months,” says Charlebois.

On March 26, Pat and other residents from Maplewood travelled from their Brighton long-term care home to visit residents at Burnbrae Gardens in Campbellford.

The other residents joined Maplewood for lunch while the two sisters spent time getting reacquainted. They were joined by a third sister who lives in Campbellford. 

“They were really happy about it,” says Charlebois about the visit. She says the two women come from a large family and are very close. The two sisters talk on the phone frequently and get updates from other family members.

The two homes also share the same physiotherapist, who keeps each sister updated on how the other is doing.

For more than an hour and a half, the two sisters talked and Charlebois says they really enjoyed the day. Since returning to Maplewood, Charlebois says Pat has been on the phone letting everyone know she got to see her sister.

The two homes are hoping that with spring more frequent visits can occur.

What other types of family reunions are happening at the homes? Share your stories, contact the newsroom at (800) 294-0051

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at (800) 294-0051 or e-mail camille(at)axiomnews.ca.