Congratulations to Runner-Up winner Leah K. from Anaheim, California.
321 Days. This has how long it has been since some seniors have gotten to hug their loved ones! As a caregiver and manager of a small senior home we are the lifeline to the families now—through the phone, emails or video calls and socially distanced visits. We are also their gatekeeper and advocates like we’ve never been before. I am proud to say that six caregivers and six residents have remained COVID-19-free during this period of isolation. We have been the mask police for visitors (family and medical) and we’ve been super-cleaners. I should have my scrubs customized with a pocket for a can of disinfectant spray! By Day 100 we had to adapt, research, and find new sources of entertainment. Puzzles, coloring books and sing-a-longs got old. We celebrated “Un-Happy 100 days of COVID-19”. We volunteered to bake dog treats for a local shelter. I made requests for volunteers to send mail, perform music and more. Overall, COVID-19 has made everyone stronger, more adaptable, more drained, more sanitized…and more appreciative. As we get closer to the second course of vaccines and something like normalcy is on the horizon, I know that this is where I was supposed to be in 2020.
Winners were selected by a panel of independent judges: Margarita Bermudez, the Manager of Professional Training and Healthcare Services at Alzheimer’s Los Angeles; Leigh Ellen Key, Executive Director for Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, South Texas and Louisiana/Mississippi Chapters; and Kelly Sparks, a retired CWOCN from Dignity Health. Click here to learn more.
