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Wow, what a year we just finished! The challenges of 2020 were different for each of us, but the pandemic left no one untouched. Yet, despite the many challenges, you stepped up to the plate and did your best to protect and care for your residents.
Many of us feel like slamming the door on 2020 and forgetting it ever happened. But I hope you’ll take some time to consider the good things that came out of this tough year. (To help you get started, I added a brief assignment to each of my categories below.)
Because of 2020:
- We stretched ourselves beyond what we ever thought possible.
Did you ever imagine that you could find the strength and courage to overcome the obstacles of 2020? Over and over, I hear examples of how you worked long shifts with less than ideal staffing levels and not enough PPE. Risking your own health, you came to work to protect the residents you love.
Many of you crossed departmental lines and pitched in wherever they needed you. Even if tasks were unfamiliar or unpleasant, you did your work to the best of your ability for the sake of your residents.
Somehow, you figured out how to be there for your residents and co-workers while also keeping up with the many other demands in your lives. And sometimes you did this while encountering unhappy family members and negativity in the media.
Assignment: Make a list of all the ways you went above and beyond during 2020. Better yet, post a list at work and invite your co-workers to add their ideas. Then host a little celebration and read the list aloud. I hope you follow this with cheers and loud applause because you deserve to be proud of the work you’re doing.
- We learned to count our blessings.
Each of us experienced different blessings in 2020. One of my blessings was good health. While COVID ravaged many parts of our country, none of my immediate family members or close friends caught the virus. I humbly realize that this isn’t the case for most people.
As I journeyed through 2020, I also realized how many activities I take for granted in my life. I think about all the events I routinely take part in throughout the year, and now I miss them so much. As the world reopens, I know I’ll carry a newfound appreciation for every one of them. And I hope I remember 2020 and never lose that sense of thankfulness as the years go by.
Assignment: Take time to jot down your blessings for 2020. This is also an excellent gratitude exercise to do with your residents. At first, we might only recall the bad things brought on by the pandemic, but once you get started, I know you’ll discover lots of blessings, too.
- We developed an even deeper appreciation for our families and friends.
In the past, we’ve often taken for granted the ability to spend time with our loved ones at the nursing home. And sometimes we haven’t visited as often as we should. Now, we long for that hug, kiss, or even being able to hold their hand.
I hope this season of social distancing will inspire people to spend more time with their family members and friends at the nursing home once the pandemic ends.
Assignment: Sometimes people avoid visiting their friends and relatives because they feel uncomfortable in the nursing home setting. Get a team together and brainstorm ways you can help visitors feel welcome when the pandemic ends.
- We became incredibly creative.
As you tell me about the work you’ve done in your nursing homes over the past year, I’m astounded by your creativity. You’ve come up with an incredible array of ideas to support residents at risk for loneliness, boredom, and discouragement.
You also developed novel ways for families to keep in touch with residents, despite social distancing. And you created innovative staffing protocols to ensure you can meet the needs of your residents. I know the programs developed during 2020 will provide a better quality of life for nursing home residents long after the pandemic finally ends.
Assignment: Don’t keep your amazing creativity to yourself. Please let me know what you’re doing to enhance the lives of your residents during the pandemic. I would love to share your ideas with other senior living communities around the world. You can contact me at: NursingHomeVolunteer@gmail.com
- We realized the need to take better care of ourselves.
The pandemic taught us more than we ever wanted to know about infection control. We scrub our hands, sanitize our surroundings, and no longer pressure people to come to work when they’re sick.
I believe the habits we developed in 2020 will remain with us and help us stay healthier in the years to come. Besides COVID, this will mean fewer cases of influenza, antibiotic-resistant infections, norovirus, and other illnesses in our nursing homes.
On the flip side, some of us let our healthy habits slide in 2020. Whether because of stress, social isolation, or some other reason, we’ve added a few pounds and inches during the pandemic. But after feeling the effects of our behavior, we have a newfound determination to get back into shape.
Assignment: Develop a 2021 wellness challenge with your co-workers. You might focus on exercise, weight loss, stress management, smoking cessation, or whatever priorities your co-workers identify. Let’s help each other come out of the pandemic in better health than we went in!
What other good things came out of 2020? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!
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