Perfecting Distanced Relationships
JEFFERSON TWP — Peggy Massart of Cabot enjoys her visits with her father, Robert “Coondog” Shearer, 87, a resident of Schwalm Hall, one of the long-term care units at Concrodia Lutheran Ministries, 134 Marwood Road.
She used to come daily but now she sees her father once a week for 30 minutes. They haven't had a falling out, it's just COVID-19 protocols have limited the number and the duration of their visits.
“Before the lockdown I was here almost every single day bringing him munchies. He's got to have his munchies,” Massart said.
Shearer still gets his snacks, but now his daughter drops them off at the front desk.
Their weekly face-to-face meetings take place when the weather's good at a six-foot distance on a back porch of Schwalm Hall in an area designated a “safe visitation” area.
A wooden barrier enforces the six-foot rule, Shearer wears a face shield and his daughter wears a face mask.
At other times, Massart said her visits consist of her waving to her father in his window,“I talk to him at the window via our phones,” she said.Today's visit, even at a distance is better, she said. “I actually get to see my father full body.”Since March 15, Concordia has implemented a “no visitor policy,” except for patients/residents in end-of-life situations, according to Brandy Muth, the director of activities.“It happened literally overnight,” said Muth of the COVID-19 lockdown. “Unless their relative was in hospice or actively passing, guests don't get past the front desk.”Anyone entering a building for any reason, including staff, will be screened for temperature, signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and quizzed about recent travel destinations, and contact with someone with a confirmed or potential case of COVID-19. They will also be asked whether they reside in a community where community-based spread of COVID-19 is occurring.Muth is responsible for setting up the weekly appointments for meetings between residents and relatives. This day she had 15 visits on the books.Massart and her father were meeting outside under a bright blue August sky, but Muth said there were other ways to connect residents with families.Concordia has proved to be adaptable when it comes to special occasions.A table is set up for birthdays. Balloons and presents are acceptable as long as guests and Concordia residents stay mindful of the social-distancing rules.Birthday cake, however, is a no-no.“You have to take your mask off to eat it,” Muth explained.Newborns get their first look at grandparents or great-grandparents over a computer screen or through a window.“Part of our reopening plan calls for an indoor neutral visitation area for use in inclement weather,” she said.“Families will need to be screened and have their temperature checked,” she said.Muth said she has drafted other departments into helping residents use iPads and other devices to have virtual meetings with their loved ones.“Human resources, administration, the IT department are all helping,” Muth said. “A lot of people said they've never had so much interaction with the residents.”“We've been using iPads. A family donated an iPad and we received a grant to buy another iPad,” she said.She said the residents have taken to FaceTime and Zoom rather easily, but “we're finding it harder to teach family members.”Virtual meetings are also limited to a half-hour once a week.Muth said Concordia has a few ground rules about virtual visits with the residents.“Keep the conversation light, happy,” she said. “They have enough concerning them.”If bad news has to be given over a virtual visit, Muth said, Concordia will have a social worker standing by to help the resident process the news.In addition to scheduling real-life and virtual visits, Muth is also responsible for scheduling games and activities for the 142 residents in skilled nursing units.“There's bingo and all kinds of games which we are learning to play in safer ways and in smaller groups,” she said.“The situation keeps evolving. We are figuring out what works and what doesn't,” Muth said.
