.png)
By Pam Duerr & Peggy Reece, Encore Communities
While we are adjusting considerably to this season of caution and protection of our vulnerable population, every day still holds something special during this time of restrictions on gatherings.
Our staff has adopted this “mantra” and are encouraging our residents to live by this thought:
“Don’t wait for things to get easier, or simpler, or better. Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy right now. Otherwise, you’ll run out of time.”
Encore Communities includes three communities on our 13-acre campus in Silverdale and our Memory Care which is located just 2 miles up the hill.
At Country Meadows, our independent community, the staff and the residents manage to show acts of kindness and good will to each other every day. There are daily phone calls to the residents for a wellness check and to get the details for their dinner delivery. The residents have a “One O’clock Wave” standing at the end of their walkways greeting and encouraging their neighbors.
To help stay in touch, keep positive and active they will gather almost everyday weather permitting and observing social distancing to learn new dance moves. There is the Electric Slide, the Macarena, Rita’s Waltz and most recently the ChaCha Slide. There is a learning curve with most of these dance moves so there is a lot of mistakes and a lot of laughter.
The drive through “Cool Car Cruise” by the Kitsap Street Rods on the Saturday before Father’s Day was a huge morale booster for everyone, residents and cruisers alike. The warmer weather has inspired a few squirt gun battles and a beach ball toss.
At Clearbrook Inn, our Assisted living community, there is usually a weekly theme, sometimes a bit wild and wacky. There can be Pajama and Tie Dye days. Then there is Crazy Hair day, and if you haven’t seen a hairdresser since mid-March, that isn’t too difficult to pull off! There is the beloved (for some) Bingo now in 2 sessions to help with the social distancing requirements and movies and popcorn. A popular request from our residents is our sittercise program. A favorite of many are the Nature Walks with the staff. There have also been individuals who have come to play musical instruments and sing out in a courtyard.
At the Ridge, our Memory Care community, Smiles abound! With Spring upon us and Summer around the corner, the residents felt there was a lack of flowers. So to brighten their days the staff decided to paint flowers on the windows. Some of the residents joined in the window painting while others made paper flowers. There is a one on one activity to help fill the bird feeders with staff. For many watching the birds is both stimulating and peaceful.
A highlight in our Memory Care are the video calls with family members. It is uplifting for both the resident and the family members. The residents have noticed the care staff going the extra mile, and have reciprocated with personal cards of encouragement and a wonderful banner that hangs in the employee break room.
Our Short Term Rehabilitation Center, Northwoods Lodge, continues to carry on in a very cautious manner. All patients are admitting into our Admission Screening Unit for 14 days with dedicated staff. The Staff working in this area do not go into the other parts of the center. All staff are wearing Personal Protective Equipment including Face Shields while providing care. Staff’s temperatures are checked daily. Rehabilitation with our Therapy Staff is done one on one in their room or in the gym within social distancing guidelines.
As our Assisted Living and Memory Care communities provide full nursing services we are ensuring the highest level of safety for our residents on a daily basis. Our staff have their temperatures checked daily and all care is provided with the staff wearing personal protective equipment as well as Face Shields. We are also encouraging our residents to wear masks.
We are Happy to say all our communities are COVID free! It has been a challenge and a blessing to care for these beloved people in such an unusual time—you can be sure that when our patients and residents smile—or laugh, or squirt each other with squirt guns—we smile, or laugh, or squirt them right back. They have been a centering point for us during the quarantine and we would have it no other way!
Pam Duerr
Community Outreach Director
Encore Communities
2333 Schold Place NW
Silverdale, WA. 98383
360-692-1228
Peggy Reece
Director of Social Programs
Country Meadows
12169 Country Meadows Lane NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
Comments