Staying connected while social distancing

Guest Column
By: 
Leann Herman
Monticello Nursing & Rehab Campus

Things are changing everyday regarding the Coronavirus and what that means to Monticello Nursing and Rehab, our staff, our residents, and their families.  As you know, we have restricted visitation and only medically-essential individuals and staff are allowed.  We continue to screen staff members every time they enter, asking a series of health questions and taking temperatures.  We are also practicing social distancing inside our walls, creating extra space with dining options and offering activities in individual rooms.  For example, for Spa Day, instead of having residents gather together, we go room to room and paint nails.  We play bingo over the overhead page, have residents sit in their doorways, and staff help in the hallways.  We are doing our best to keep residents safe and healthy.

We are also doing our best to keep residents engaged and happy.  The card shower has been amazing and we have received so many cards, letters, coloring pages, jokes, etc from so many wonderful people and groups throughout the community.  Reading these uplifting messages with the residents brightens our days too.  I have been contacted from a college student about starting a Pen Pal program with residents.  Many families and friends have sent videos and messages to our Facebook page.  Sharing all your comments with the residents lets them know that you are still thinking about them, even though you can’t be physically present.  FaceTime and Skype have become such blessings to all of us.  Video chatting with someone is so uplifting… being able to say ‘Hi. I miss you. I love you’ and to hear those sentiments returned has been absolutely beautiful for all of us here!  So please, keep those loving messages coming.  Family and friends have also visited at the window.  We bring a phone to the resident and call the visitor who is outside the window.  Some (who really like to talk) have even brought their lounge chairs! 

The news has reported the likely shortage of PPE or personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns.  The CDC has issued guidelines that a reusable fabric mask may be used when others are unavailable.  If sewing is your hobby and you would like to make a donation to Monticello Nursing and Rehab, please bring the masks to the front door for drop off.  Thank you to Janet McDonell who has already made a generous donation of masks!   

Did you get a chance to view the House Hunters post about the ‘hearts in the window campaign’.  If you look at Monticello Nursing and Rehab page, I shared the news report about it.  The residents are cutting a bunch of hearts out for the windows and we hope the entire community joins in and decorates their windows with hearts to spread love, not germs!

Category:

Subscriber Login