Assisted living facilities prepare for Mother’s Day – quarantined-style

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While the COVID-19 pandemic still has most areas in isolation, assisted living centers across St. Johns County are preparing for their Mother’s Day celebrations, honoring residents and their families, quarantine-style.

“Residents are fine,” said Marylee Lewis, Life Enrichment Director at The Palms at Ponte Vedra. “But it’s been hard on the families. We got through Easter. Now we have Mother’s Day, and with most residents being in their 90s, it’s going to be hard because they need to see their family.”

Lewis said although medical procedures are crucial to follow for both residents and staff, socializing is also needed to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.

But according to Lewis, each task to accomplish both aspects has felt like 10 extra steps have been added to them, which has put weight on some of the staff, but residents and their families have been more than patient.

“I spend my whole day counseling on the phones, emails and text messages,” she said. “Our families are so loving and kind. They sometimes send employees food or send wonderful cards.”

At Vicar’s Landing, employees are the ones making and sending out the cards, according to the director of health services Kendall Bryan.

“All group activities were canceled, of course, but the activity staff has been doing a great job to prevent the feeling of isolation,” Bryan said. “We’re doing one-on-one visits, we’re making corsages and gift bags, we’re working to coordinate Zoom and Facetime meets and making Mother’s Day cards.”

Starting Wednesday, the Starling at Nocatee is hosting “beauty week” for their guests, to get ready for Sunday.

“Since we can’t have stylists come in, we’re helping them get their hair washed and nails done in-house,” said Isabelle Miranda, executive director at the Starling.

Miranda said families of Starling residents shot a video in Nocatee that went “viral” in the area.

“So we’re taking that idea and we’re going to be making a video to send back out,” she said.

Starling residents will be filmed decorating the facility, writing signs for the windows, making cards and “sending the love back.”

“We’re hoping to have a drone on Mother’s Day,” Miranda added. “We’re thinking of making time slots for families on Saturday and Sunday and the director will videotape it all.”

While the staff members of these communities wish they could do more to reunite their residents, they are staying positive and already planning for future celebrations.

“Our spirits are high and we’re holding up well,” Bryan said about the Vicar’s Landing community. “When all this is over, I’m sure we’ll have a second celebration where everyone can celebrate together.”