Reginans show support for Parkside residents and staff

An online effort to show support for staff and residents at a long-term care home in Regina is manifesting in the real world.

Parkside Extendicare is the site of the city’s worst long-term care home COVID-19 outbreak to date. As of last Thursday, 141 residents and 58 staff at the home had tested positive for COVID, 12 had died after contracting the virus, and an additional 30 staff members were self-isolating.

There were 25 residents moved to Pioneer Village, another care home; 19 of them later tested positive as well.

Angie Owens and Shawna Borsa wanted to bring some positivity and support for residents and staff impacted by the outbreak. They decided to create the Hearts of Hope for Parkside Extendicare Facebook page in hopes of figuring out different ways to provide support.

Whether it be decorating the trees outside or gathering Christmas and gift cards, the community response has been incredible, according to Owens.

“The support has been overwhelming to say the least. Messages and comments are coming in from people offering all sorts of support, from gift cards to cash donations that we will use to purchase more gift cards from local businesses,” she said.

“We have people going out and decorating the trees around Parkside with decorations and lights, all sorts of things that are really brightening the spirits of the residents and the workers.

“We’ve been told the residents are getting very excited every time they see a group of people show up to decorate the trees. It’s really heartwarming.”

More than 100 gift cards and more than $1,000 have been donated since the group was made on Friday, with dropoff locations being set up throughout the city.

“We just thought this could be a small thing we could do to brighten the spirits of the workers and the residents,” Owens said. “We thought it was definitely worth taking on this initiative to reach out to the community and see what kind of support we could get.

“People are thinking of them and hoping that things will get better soon so that residents will be able to see their families again.”

Borsa says it’s important that everyone at Parkside knows the city is rallying behind them.

“We just wanted a way to show that we support them during this time,” she said. “They need it.”

Donations are accepted up until Friday. People interested in donating are being asked to comment on one of the posts in the group, where a dropoff location can then be arranged.

Owens says despite the stress so many people are dealing with, she hopes this can be one way people can be there for one another.

“I think it’d be difficult for all of us to imagine being in long-term care and not being able to see your family, then you add the stress health-care workers are dealing with,” Owens said. “The tension is really high for everyone right now.

“I think this will kind of give that extra boost to get through the holidays and give them some hope that this will be over soon.”