This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.
Let me begin with a story. Back in 2009, a flood threatened the nursing home where I worked as an RN, and it forced us to evacuate the premises. A few residents were able to stay with family members, and many more temporarily moved to other nursing homes across the state.
Fifty of our residents went to a more unique setting. A nursing home in a tiny town 150 miles away had recently closed. The owner graciously offered to let us use the building until the threat of flooding passed.
Employees able to be away from their families signed up to work at the nursing home for a week at a time. Housing was provided at a nearby hotel. As managers, we also took turns working at the nursing home. We slept on mattresses on office floors so we would be available to our staff at all times.
As I waited for my turn to go, the positive reports I heard from the first onsite managers intrigued me. They spoke of all departments pitching in and working together. And, they shared stories about the fun activities they were doing with the residents.
I’ll admit that I was a bit nervous about going to stay at the nursing home. Yet, I was also excited to see what sounded like an ideal setting in action.
Then my turn came, and I traveled to the nursing home. To my surprise, I discovered something much different from what I expected. Instead of finding happy, busy residents, I sensed an attitude of somber waiting. As I walked around greeting the residents, I heard similar comments over and over. “I want to go home,” they said. “Do you know when we can go home?”
While I found the employees smiling and enthusiastic as they worked with the residents, behind the scenes, I heard another story. Comments like, “This needs to end soon; I’m exhausted,” and “I can’t take this another week,” were common.
At first, I felt puzzled and disappointed by what I witnessed. But then I realized what was happening. When the flood first threatened our nursing home, everyone banded together to fight this common enemy and protect our residents. We were high on adrenaline, and it gave us energy and kept everyone running at full speed.
But this couldn’t last forever. Employees worried about their families back home and the uncertainty of a possible flood. Living and working in an unfamiliar environment became exhausting. The negative aspects of this setting were becoming apparent, and personalities began to clash.
I think what we’re going through with COVID-19 is very similar to what we experienced in 2009. When coronavirus first threatened our nursing homes, adrenaline kicked in. We banded together and made the necessary changes to protect our residents. But now it’s dragging on.
The uncertainty of the future leaves us feeling stressed. We’re tired of the monotony of social isolation, and we’re sick of working short-staffed. Wearing PPE grows tiresome. We wonder if life will ever return to normal.
That’s why today, I want to offer some words of encouragement to help you cope with these challenges at the nursing home.
This, too, will pass
While it may feel like this pandemic will never end, I assure you it won’t last forever. Every other pandemic in the history of humankind eventually ended. This one will, too.
It’s true that life will never again be exactly as it was in the past. COVID-19 will bring some long-lasting changes to our routines. But, eventually, we will settle back into a comfortable new normal.
Look for the positives
It’s easy to focus on all the unpleasant things brought on by the pandemic. Yet, many positive changes will come out of COVID-19, too. I addressed just a few of them in this previous article.
I think it’s essential to sit down as a team and consider what you’re doing during the pandemic that you would like to carry with you after this finally ends. Perhaps it’s the new resident activity programs you’ve developed. Maybe it’s the new roles your employees have taken on. Or perhaps it’s a creative way of scheduling your employees.
Don’t let this experience go to waste. Use the lessons of the pandemic to make life even better for your residents and your employees.
Take care of yourself
I know. You’ve heard this one many times before. But, please bear with me because this one is so important.
We must take good care of ourselves throughout the pandemic. While it may be tough right now to focus on exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep, these behaviors are crucial. And it’s not just for our own good. We take care of ourselves so we can better care for others, including our residents and our families.
When the pandemic finally ends, we can come through it with an extra 15 pounds, an out-of-shape body, and a stressed mind. Or, we can make our health a priority and come out on the other side in better shape than ever before.
Care for each other
No one is untouched by the pandemic. Each of your co-workers carries some kind of burden related to COVID-19. One might worry about bringing the coronavirus home to their child. Another might feel overwhelmed by changes at work. Yet another faces financial struggles because their spouse lost a job.
Now, more than ever, we need to care for each other. Check in with your co-workers and find out how they’re really doing. Look for new ways to have fun at work. Go the extra mile and help a co-worker who’s struggling with their workload. Show grace when someone irritates you. If you’re a manager, find additional support services you can offer to your employees.
Smell the roses
It’s easy to become so distracted by the pandemic we forget about the beauty that remains in our world. The sun still rises in the morning and creates gorgeous sunsets in the evening. Ice cream still tastes delicious. Flowers still share their wonderful scents. The sound of a child’s laughter still brings joy. Please don’t let a day go by without looking for these gifts and experiencing gratitude for your blessings.
Now, back to my original story. I’m relieved to report that although the flood damaged some areas of our city, it spared the nursing home. It was a thrill for me to be a part of the employee team that finally brought the residents home. We learned a lot from the experience—lessons that stayed with us for many years to come.
Just as we survived the flood, I know we’ll all make it through the pandemic, too. Let’s use this time as an opportunity to become better people and to provide even higher quality care for our residents.
What can you add? How are you coping with the pandemic? Please let us know in the comment section.
Leave a Reply