Keeping Active - Nashwaak Villa

When the COVID-19 pandemic entered New Brunswick, Jenna Whitlock noticed a change in the behaviour of residents at Nashwaak Villa Nursing Home in Stanley.  

“There was more depression and loneliness,” says Jenna, the nursing home’s food service manager and community development and wellness coordinator. “When the pandemic hit, seniors were one of the most vulnerable populations, especially those living in long term care or living alone.” 

Staff at Nashwaak Villa, an award-winning 30-resident nursing home, sought ways to ensure that residents’ quality of life was not drastically impacted by the pandemic. 

The Fredericton Community Foundation supported those efforts by granting the nursing home $10,500 from the Emergency Community Support Fund, a $350-million funding program from the Government of Canada and administered in collaboration with the Community Foundations of Canada. 

Nashwaak Villa Nursing Home used the funds to hire a second activity coordinator on a part-time contract. With residents’ family members and community volunteers unable to visit the nursing home due to the pandemic, the two activity coordinators were kept busy planning events and booking virtual and window visits to boost residents’ spirits.  

“We were able to counteract some of the loneliness and isolation our residents were feeling,” Jenna says. “We are really grateful for this support. It came at the perfect time and I don’t know what we would have done without it.”