It’s been a long year for residents and staff at the Drew Nursing Home.

The nursing home has been mercifully spared from any COVID-19 outbreaks, not even a single case, but residents have suffered long periods of isolation throughout these past 12 months.

Visitors are only allowed in during the yellow phase of COVID-19 restrictions, which have been few and far between this year.

Executive Director Linda Shannon is relieved that all residents remained well physically, but doesn’t deny that there has been a toll on mental wellness due to isolation.

“We haven’t had our families and visitors in… it’s been very lonely for the residents,” says Shannon. “When we’re in the red [or orange] phase, we don’t have any visitors at all. So it’s only when we’re in the yellow phase that we have socially distanced visits, as well as a designated support person program where their families can come in and visit. So it’s been it’s been a long, tough year.”

The home has fallen into a routine over the course of the year.

Last March, when Shannon and staff were constantly learning new information about the COVID-19 virus, changes in procedure had to be made nearly every day.

Thankfully, the home now has a consistent “new normal.”

“At one point staff were changing the uniforms when they came in,” Shannon recalls. “We were all learning things. So now, a year later, a lot of the things are… I hate to use the word ‘norm,’ but people are used to doing certain things.”

Shannon and nursing home staff organized activities, digital visits, and distanced community engagement for residents even during red phases.

It’s the small things, she says, that residents really appreciate.

The home received iPads from the government so residents could FaceTime their relatives, which Shannon says was helpful.

Staff have also been creative, and try to make holidays special. They handed out Valentines and prop roses for Valentine’s Day, and are planning an Easter routine in the coming weeks.

Most residents and staff have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and are anticipating their second shots in a matter of weeks.

Shannon is considering the future of the Drew Nursing Home’s future week by week, and is keeping an eye on the COVID-19 variant cases popping up around the province.

She hopes that in due time, with enough of the population vaccinating, the Drew can resume its open-door policy.

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