A new program designed by the Brightwater Care Group to boost the wellbeing of residents in their nursing homes has been met with an overwhelming response.
The Brightwater Buddies initiative is a remote volunteer program that provides an opportunity for residents at homes (such as the group's Mariners Cove facility) to connect with the community through a variety of ways including chats, sing-a-longs, story time over the phone, hand-written letters, drawings and artwork.
Since it's launch on March 27, the program has been inundated with more than 500 registrations.
Brightwater chief executive officer Jennifer Lawrence said the support from the community has been tremendous.
"I want to thank everyone who registered to take part in Brightwater Buddies, the massive uptake so far is more than we ever imagined," she said.
"We are currently working with all of our sites to match Brightwater residents with community volunteers, and encourage anyone who is interested to sign up to the program, but please bear with us as we work through all of the registrations."
Ms Lawrence said the program was designed for residents to build connections with people in the community.
"It is times like these that remind us how important human connection can be," she said.
"Social wellbeing is a vital component of our overall health and our residents love our regular volunteer program, so we wanted to make sure we could replicate those relationships in the current situation."
Brightwater provides aged care and disability support and accommodation services across 22 residential homes, and in clients' homes, in the Perth metropolitan area.
For more information about the program visit brightwatergroup.com/brightwater-buddies/
