Uplifting idea: Cranes reunite families in corona crisis

Care home residents in Belgium have been able to see loved ones lifted to their windows

Bernadette Focant stands at her third floor window after a visit by crane platform from her sister, Terry Focant, at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Jean-Claude Van Heule (left) receives a visit by crane platform from his brother, Omer Van Heule, at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Martine Escoyez (right) and her friend Michelle Ullens wave goodbye after visiting their friend Parvine Djazayeri via a crane platform from a fourth floor window at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Michelle Ullens reflected in a window visits her friend Parvine Djazayeri via a crane platform from the fourth floor window at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP Photo

Tristan Van den Bosch, an operator of mobile platforms, saw his equipment stand idle because of the coronavirus pandemic and realised too many families could not see their locked-up elderly in care homes. Two problems created one solution and Van den Bosch has been driving his cranes to care homes in several towns across Belgium to lift the spirits of all involved. AP

Martine Escoyez (right) and her friend Michelle Ullens visit their friend Parvine Djazayeri via a crane platform from her fourth floor window at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort. AP

Two problems created one solution and Van den Bosch has been driving his cranes to care homes in several towns across Belgium to lift the spirits of all involved. AP

Terry Focant (right) rides on a crane platform as she prepares to visit her sister Bernadette Focant on the third floor of the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Tristan Van den Bosch, an operator of mobile platforms, saw his equipment stand idle because of the coronavirus pandemic and realized too many families could not see their locked-up elderly in care homes. AP

Bernadette Focant waves goodbye from her third floor window after receiving a visit by crane platform from her sister, Terry Focant, at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Bernadette Focant, waits at her third floor window as she receives a visit by crane platform from her sister, Terry Focant, at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Shadow of two people on a crane platform visiting relatives on upper floors is visible on the facade of the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Bernadette Focant (left) stands with a nurse at her third floor window as she waits for a visit by crane platform from her sister Terry Focant, at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Eve Putseys rides on a crane platform to visit her deaf aunt Suzanne Putseys, waiting in her upper story window at the La Cambre senior living home in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium. AP

Something he saw as he drove to work one morning gave Tristan Van den Bosch an uplifting idea.

“I saw a man shouting at his mother,” said Mr Van den Bosch.

Not unusual — except that the man was on the ground and his mother was three stories up. She was, like many seniors, locked down in a care home to avoid the Covid-19 virus. But as days have turned to weeks and months, families like this one have struggled.

“We can help this man!” Mr Van den Bosch thought.

As operations manager at Group-f, a cleaning and maintenance company, Mr Van der Bosch had a problem. The pandemic had reduced business to a trickle, leaving many of his cranes standing idle in the depot.

Why not use those cranes to lift people, so they can see relatives on the upper floors of homes for the aged?

Since then, Mr Van den Bosch has been driving his cranes to homes in several towns across Belgium. A platform carries families to their relatives’ windows. A daughter or grandson waves, and worries vanish from faces creased by age. No internet connection does as well.

Eve Putseys didn’t quite know what to expect as she was lifted up to see her 88-year-old aunt, Suzanne, at the La Cambre care home on the outskirts of Brussels.

“It’s been seven long weeks since I haven’t been able to see her,” she said. “It’s all quite emotional.”

Afterward, Ms Putseys was all smiles.

“I got to see her – and that was great,” she said. And on top of that “she looked very happy to see me.”

The anxiety of families with relatives in nursing homes is well placed; of the 8,843 confirmed and suspected cases who had died of the virus in Belgium, 4,538 were in such facilities. Their families are left feeling helpless, fearing they will not see each other again.

Little wonder Van den Bosch had no trouble filling his platforms for this special kind of joyride.

The La Cambre home prepared the facility, the families and the elderly to make sure everything went smoothly.

“It has been hard work but quite rewarding,” said La Cambre director Thibaut Chevrier. “We only saw emotions through the eyes of the residents and the families.”

Soon, Group-f officials expect, the platforms will again be used to clean up facades and office fronts. But in the meantime, they have been put to good use.

“Yes, OK, it costs money, the operators cost money but the machines are all used,” Mr Van den Bosch said. And in the end, “we’re happy that we have been able to help people.”