Crestwood Nursing Center’s administration Stephanie Showers says that can’t happen until phase 3. She says they’ve been following all the guidelines.
“Our team has decided that even in our lifestyle at home we try our best to follow CDC regulations at all times in order to keep ourselves in good health in order to come here and take care of our residents,” says Showers.
Gladys Burnett is a resident at Crestwood. Her younger sister, Jane Black, used to see her sister twice a week, but that has changed.
“I would really like to go see her more because I really do miss her,” Jane Black says. “I used to take her out to lunch and everything. As soon as this is over I’ll be able to pick her up and take her out to lunch”
“She had a birthday May 3. They brought her down and they pulled the curtains back. When I brought her present, they took it for me and put it inside and the lady got on the telephone,” Jane says.
They’re able to keep in touch in creative ways, like the window birthday surprise, and by talking on the phone. Showers says using the phone is a form of speech therapy for many of her residents.
Showers says it is hard to see everyone isolated from their families. “Trying to work through that and hold back your emotions as a professional, that is very difficult,” she says.
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Crestwood is having a parade of families on Friday so residents can see their loved ones from a safe distance. Showers says they are working with the city of Palatka and local law enforcement to make sure everyone is safe.
Showers says restrictions have helped her nursing home stay healthy. She tells First Coast News that everyone at the facility was tested and came back negative for COVID-19.