What happens when everything you know has changed? Communities like Lewis Memorial in Springfield have had to make many adjustments to assure the safety and wellbeing of their residents and staff.
It all began with restricting visitors, then before long the entire campus was closed. From social dining and group activities to meals and all activities restricted to residents’ rooms. Nothing is the same right now. The Activity Department has been creative keeping these sweet folks busy and interested while helping them maintain some sort of everyday normalcy. However, nothing is the same right now.
We have had staff dancing down the halls singing into Karaoke machines, remote control racing, bingo played in rooms, church services over the intercom, devotionals over the intercom, daily snack carts and more games from activities, but nothing is the same right now.
The nursing staff have adjusted to taking vital signs on every resident to three times a day to assure that we are monitoring all for their best health and safety. The nurses are having to spend more time with each resident to keep them comfortable and to provide them a sense of security. And yes, nothing is the same right now.
Executive Directors and Directors of Nursing are spending countless hours educating and monitoring all staff to assure follow through of the ever-changing guidelines from the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Christian Horizons own policy changes. Containment units for potential COVID-19 residents are in place and education and training are being provided daily for all new and readmissions to Lewis Memorial that are admitted to the unit for the 14 days of appropriate Isolation. You got it; nothing is the same right now.
Staff have been trained and provide all residents assistance with Facetime, e-mail, Skype, and Facebook. Many of our sweet residents are doing a great job with these communication tools that are somewhat new them. And for them, certainly nothing is the same right now.
While some might reckon this has been a difficult time, a time where all had to adjust, many have put their concerns and trust in Jesus. He is the one true constant, the one who remains THE SAME! The same place where residents, staff, family members find their peace and strength in abundance. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7.
“I try to keep their spirits up, pray with them and say, ‘everything will be OK’, A Michigan Certified Nursing Assistant. She has been a CNA for 19 years in a Michigan nursing home. Nothing in her past even comes close to the fears and anxiety of this pandemic. The heartbreak of watching residents under her care begin to fail is depressing. But she insists on being there for them. Overcoming family concern and personal fear are a daily battle. She like many has already taken a stand in the face of what Vincent Van Gough said so well: “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” For her and thousands of others like her, there is a price to pay for courage….” a lot of us (when this is over) are probably going to need to seek counseling because the people at the nursing home are just like family”. The apostle Paul’s own anguish leaned into courage with these words: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage…. for me to live is Christ and to die is to gain.” Paul’s faith and hope in Christ, NEVER CHANGED! Philippians 1:20,21
Terry Davis, Director of Major & Planned Gifts, Lewis Memorial Christian Village (to post 5/24/20)
