Nursing homes navigate COVID-19 pandemic
For Monday, March 1, 2021
Since the coronavirus made its way into Ohio and the surrounding area nearly a year ago, a lot has changed and nearly every place has faced challenge in one form or another.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities were no different.
“Just not having the families inside, I think that’s affected everybody,” said Vancrest Administrator Sarah Vordermark. “We miss having the normalcy of that.”
Melissa Smalley, executive director of Otterbein – St. Marys, said one of their biggest challenges was managing residents that tested positive for COVID-19 on their campus.
“They have to be in a separate location and cared for separately,” she said. “I think that’s been a huge challenge for us because we then have to move them from their home and their room, to another location to care for them during that time.”
Smalley said the long period of isolation for the residents hasn’t been good for their overall well-being.
“I think with COVID-19, our elders have had to isolate and that isolation has been very detrimental to their health,” she said. “We’re humans that require touch and require fellowship and love and with that isolation, health decreases during that time. Statistics show that. I think people are depressed and heartbroken because of not having the loving touch that they need. I also believe that us not being able to have visitation at our homes has been detrimental as
well to our elders.”
When nursing homes and assisted living facilities were ordered to lockdown by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, Vordermark said they tried to lay out the facts of what was happening so the residents would have a better understanding of what was happening.
“We had a lot of facts in front of us where they could find the guidelines and I think that helped,” she said. “I think their frustration came with not seeing their loved ones. At first, I think they were understanding and as the year went on, they were like, ‘OK, really?’ We basically bring it back to what the governor says and we follow CDC guidelines. They were able to be more OK with it when we were able to direct them to where the regulations were and set up FaceTime visitations, or Google Duo or Zoom so they could put eyes on their loved ones when they wanted to.”
Smalley said it’s taken a lot of counseling and educating residents and it remains difficult even now.
“It’s taken a lot of counseling, educating and comforting them through this time. Because they just so badly want their family to be here and be able to go out and they want the freedom they so enjoyed before,” said Smalley. “It’s been an ongoing process to really explain and note what’s happening with them. Many of them have struggled through this time. It’s been very difficult on our industry.”
While visitations are allowed again, both facilities said they had to get creative with their programming to keep residents engaged.
“We really tried to have more parties and activities going on, socially distanced of course. We did hallway bingo, where everybody sat in the doorway of their room,” said Vordermark. “We did trick-or-treat around the building. Residents could see them out their window. We had people come in during the snowstorm and built snowmen all around our building. That was great. We have singers that come by and they stop and windows and sing at different windows. We had parades when it was warmer where people would drive by with signs from their loved ones. There was a lot of different things that we did, but it doesn’t make up for the families not being able to come inside but it helped a little bit.”
Smalley said Otterbein was able to utilize what’s called IN2L, which is a multimedia program that can be used throughout their campus.
“That system travels throughout our building, giving them music, games, trivia, spiritual activities, exercise. We’ve tried to social distance them to do different things. We’ve done creative bingos. We’re also very fortunate to have a television station that’s specific to Otterbein so we have done a lot of virtual activities through that station. We do Bible study virtually and exercise virtually.
Smalley said that technology has been a tremendous help when navigating the restrictions.
“We try to keep them engaged as much through technology. Technology’s been our friend through this pandemic,” she said. “We’ve also done many FaceTimes and Skype and Zoom calls with families so they can interact with their loved ones.”
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
This is a great day to begin your week! Conversations with partners and close friends will be friendly and upbeat. Even relations with members of the general public will be positive. Yay!
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
Work-related travel might be in the picture for some of you. All of you can benefit by working with groups today and sharing your knowledge and expertise. (Many hands make light work.)
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
This is a fabulous day to socialize with others. You will enjoy the company of children, romantic partners and anyone in the arts or the hospitality industry. It’s a great day to have fun!
CANCER (June 21 to July 22)
Family discussions will go well today. Ironically, although you feel friendly with everyone, you might be just as happy to hide at home and enjoy your privacy.
LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22)
You will enjoy socializing with others today because you want to enlighten someone about something. You want to share an issue that is important to you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)
This is a great day for business and commerce. All financial transactions will go well today. It’s a great way to start your week!
LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)
Today the Moon is in your sign dancing beautifully with both Mercury and lucky Jupiter. This makes you charming, optimistic and upbeat in all your conversations with others.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)
You feel quietly peaceful today. Without question, as this week begins, you have a warm feeling in your tummy. Of course, this is a playful, relaxing time for you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)
Group activities and interactions with friends will be upbeat and positive today because people are happier.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)
This week begins in a fortunate way for you because you are noticed more than usual. The good news is you look admirable! You can use this positive influence to advance your agenda.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)
This is a great day to make future travel plans or plans to expand your world through education, publishing, the media, medicine or the law. Anything is possible!
PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20)
In a discussion about shared property or inheritances, you will come out smelling like a rose. This is also a good day to discuss matters with the government or anyone who can affect your wealth and assets.
YOU BORN TODAY
You are giving and compassionate. You are very persuasive, and you know how to follow your dreams. This year, let go of what is no longer relevant or useful and move on to something new and different. This is not a time of loss. Au contraire! You are lightening your load to make room for new beginnings!
Birthdate of: Justin Bieber, singer; Ron Howard, director; Lupita Nyong’o, actress.