Maritime Quilters Bring Comfort to Long Term Care Residents in Riverview – New Brunswick | The Canadian News

A group of maritime quilters have put their skills to work to help comfort seniors in long-term care.

The Comfort Quilts for Grass Home project was started by Susan Delaney of Riverview, NB, whose parents are Grass Home residents in the city.

Delaney, who learned to knit from her mother Gloria Bourgeois, who is now 92, said she wanted to help provide some comfort to her parents and other older people living in the homes who have limited contact with their families due to the pandemic.

“It has been very difficult not being able to be by his side and have his hug and kiss,” Delaney said.

So he enlisted some of the quilters in the Greater Moncton Quilt Guild, along with some fellow quilters in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia to make and / or donate 60 quilts that are being distributed to two of the long-term care homes for people. older than Lynn Grass. in Riverview.

“I’m delighted that a family member took care of this and gave all the residents of the house quilts, which made everyone smile,” Grass said.

Delaney said 22 volunteer quilters participated in the initiative. Covered Bridge Quiltery in Riverview also donated supplies and helped make some of the quilts, he said.

“Everybody found out and said, ‘I’ll give you a quilt’ or ‘I’ll give you a quilt,'” he said.

Bourgeois lives at the Grass Home with her husband, Bernard, who celebrated their centennial in September. The couple have been married for 70 years.

“I know it makes me feel good to know that they are doing this,” Bernard said.

COVID-19 protocols are restricting visits and contact with family members at home, Grass said, especially given outbreaks in long-term care homes across the province.

Delaney and the volunteers hope the comfortable quilts will help ease the minds of older people, many of whom feel lonely and isolated, Grass said.

“It has been very difficult for the residents. Some of them might cry, ”he said.

Delaney said she looks forward to the day when she and others can wrap her parents in a hug. But for now, the comfort quilts are making people smile, he said.

Each resident was able to choose their own design, and Delaney said she hopes communities across the country will copy the same pattern.

“Everyone has a long-term care home in their community and I would love for people not to forget about these people who need a hug right now.”

See link »