Nursing homes get creative to keep residents, families in touch from afar
Isolation from friends and family can be hard on a person, but when a global pandemic forces nursing homes to close their doors to personal visits, staff need to get creative to keep residents safe and happy.
All over the country, there are stories of nursing homes closed to visitors as a precaution to the hundreds of residents who call the facility home.
Send some cheer
A Facebook post that is circulating is asking that students, who are currently out of school due to the governor closing all schools for two weeks, send nursing home residents letters, cards and drawings during this trying time.
For any student who would like to draw a picture, make a card or send a letter to a resident, here are addresses for several nursing homes in the area. Items should be addressed as follows:
• Resident, Hometown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 149 Lafayette Ave., Tamaqua, PA 18252
• 5th Floor Resident, St. Luke’s Miners, 360 W. Riddle St., Coaldale, PA 18215
• Resident, Maple Shade Meadows, 50 E. Locust St., Nesquehoning, PA 18240
• Resident, Mahoning Valley Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 397 Hemlock Drive, Lehighton, PA 18235
• Resident, Heritage Hill Senior Community, 800 Sixth St., Weatherly, PA 18255
• Resident, Weatherwood Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 1000 Evergreen Ave., Weatherly, PA 18255
• Resident, Summit Nursing & Rehab Center, 211 N. 12th St., Lehighton, PA 18235
• Resident, Pleasant Trees Personal Care Home, 65 E. Lizard Creek Road, Lehighton, PA 18235
• Resident, Kimmel’s Personal Care Home, 10 E. Second St., Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
• Resident, Getz Personal Care Home, 1026 Scenic Drive, Kunkletown, PA 18058
• Resident, Mrs. Bush’s Personal Care Home, 302 Kunkletown Road, Kunkletown, PA 18058
• Resident, Brookmont Healthcare and Rehab Center, 510 Brookmont Drive, Effort, PA 18330
• Resident, Pleasant Valley Manor, 4227 Manor Drive, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
• Resident, Gluco Lodge, 1127 Kemmertown Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
• Resident, The Village at Palmerton,
71 Princeton Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
• Resident, Pond View Manor, 1115 Myrtle Road, Walnutport, PA 18088
The Times News area nursing homes and assisted living facilities have all taken these precautions but are thinking outside the box when it comes to keeping the residents in touch with their loved ones and helping them stay happy during times of uncertainty.
In Heritage Hill Senior Community in Weatherly, Rachael Timm, marketing director, said that staff is working to engage residents daily and even received artwork from the Weatherly Pre-K students as a way to brighten up their days.
Kaleena Neff, admissions coordinator at Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, said that staff is increasing one-on-one visits with residents and also helping them FaceTime or Skype with their families.
“We have gotten a lot of feedback from both our residents and our families,” Neff said. “We understand this is a difficult time for everyone and we are trying to safely keep everyone connected as much as possible.”
The nursing home in Mahoning Township is also accepting cards, pictures and letters from area students who want to cheer residents up.
In Schuylkill, the Hometown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is aflutter with activity for the residents in the hopes of keeping them busy, said Alicia Silliman, nursing home administrator.
She said the nursing home has been accepting cards, drawings and letters from students, and that has helped residents greatly.
“One student actually painted two matted pictures, a ballerina and another with birds,” Silliman said. “The residents loved being remembered.”
Staff and their families are also preparing spring and Easter cards to share in the upcoming weeks, and puppy visits from outside the facility, where a puppy was brought to each resident’s window, happened to much delight.
In addition, Silliman added that the facility purchased two iPads that are being used for FaceTiming with family, friends and neighbors.
The business community has also rallied around the facility, supporting the staff by dropping off a free meal, and for residents who are allowed to have a little alcohol, staff hosted “Shots on Wheels” for a little pick-me-up.
Many other nursing homes are also accepting help during these dark times.
If you would like to see what you can do to for an area nursing home, many of the facilities have Facebook pages, update their websites regularly or could answer questions by calling their facilities.