Nicole Brambila’s post, “Death at the Gardens” (Jan. 17 Sunday LNP | LancasterOnline) presented some alarming information and facts about COVID-19 and nursing homes.
I would like to insert another viewpoint with regards to the Gardens at Stevens. My dog, Nora, and I are a pet remedy crew volunteering by means of Keystone Pet Increased Therapy Products and services. Right before COVID-19 forced many amenities to shut their doors to outside visitors, we visited the residents and staff there weekly for over a few years. All through that time, I acquired to know the citizens and personnel individually.
The total personnel, operating as a staff, treats the citizens with kindness, persistence, concern and respect. When a resident dies, the staff mourns the resident’s passing. When a resident is not experience perfectly, bodily or emotionally, the team spends added time with that resident. When a resident is currently being hard, the team functions to calm them and engages the resident in beneficial actions.
In the course of our visits, normally a staff members member would direct us to a resident who necessary some more pet treatment time — somebody who wanted some cheer in their day or ease and comfort.
Operating in a nursing household is not an simple career. It usually takes commitment, compassion and an internal toughness for a individual to stroll by means of the front door of a nursing and rehabilitation facility just about every working day with a constructive mindset.
I am really sorry for any person who has individually knowledgeable the devastating outcomes of COVID-19. But I believe that that it is significant that we not reduce sight of the difficult posture the working day-to-working day caregivers at nursing and rehabilitation amenities are placed in.
Maggie Savory-Posselius
West Earl Township
