This past year has been challenging individually, and collectively, as it was necessary to refrain from our usual lifestyles and adhere to the guidance of national, state and local officials. This is the story of our developing village.
Due to changing health needs, I left my country home in West Tennessee where my deceased husband, John, and I lived in retirement to transition from independent living to assisted living. As I taught elementary school for 30 years in South Florida, I wished to return and enjoy Florida living again. While visiting relatives in Northeast Florida, I fell in love with the area, and thus, fate led me to The Palms of Ponte Vedra, an assisted living facility located in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
I was welcomed into the facility by a most competent and compassionate team who exemplified their mission, “To provide an environment where our residents will better thrive because loneliness and isolation are behind you and where your family and friends will be able to visit you, and whose goal is to provide exceptional services to residents and their families.”
The transition was smoothly facilitated by The Palms’ attentive and caring staff.
On arrival in late January, I was quickly ensconced into my four-room apartment with many favorite possessions. The unanticipated pandemic materialized in early March bringing mandated CDC guidelines and many changes to daily life. Restrictions to the outside world differed in that assisted living and nursing facilities were placed in a “lockdown” mode. Prior to the pandemic, residents enjoyed social activities in-house, including a beauty/barber shop, ice cream parlor, billiards and a 32-seat theater. It was necessary to restrict movement inside, including meal service in our apartments instead of the spacious dining hall, and curtailing of most social activities. Residents were unable to have visitors except “window” visits, and electronic visits via Zoom, phone, etc. Families who experienced a death were unable to participate in usual fashion.
The Palms became a real “village.” The leadership team utilized creativity in adapting activities of daily life to the mandated guidelines of personal safety while negotiating new ways to maintain socialization. Individual apartments took on new meaning as our primary existence occurred within their confines.
Our “village” is comprised of adults who require different levels of care based upon their health status. Life within this micro-system of collective personal histories continued to flourish. With limited accessibility to the outside world, encounters between residents and staff gained more importance. When possible, residents were eager to share their hobbies and earlier lives.
My great passion in life for horses began in childhood on the family farm where I first learned to ride. While living in South Florida, I had a thoroughbred gelding that I stabled and rode at every chance. Later, John and I realized our dream of breeding Tennessee Walking horses in Tennessee and were successful in raising the national champion filly at the National Celebration yearling halter colt category in 2003.
I rely heavily on my computer and correspondence with family and friends. As the pandemic raged on into the summer, fall and now into the new year, every opportunity for social contact took on new importance. As some restrictions where relaxed, window visits became possible which lessened feelings of isolation.
I celebrated by my 85th birthday this year, and the day was brightened by balloons, singing of “Happy Birthday” and congratulations by staff and residents.
Residents social-distanced on the portico for a religious service provided by a local minister. Weather-permitting, we often went out for sun and fresh air. One beautiful spring day, an eagle’s nest with newly hatched eaglets peeking out was spotted at the very top of a 50-foot pine tree that had lost its upper branches. We watched until they gained enough courage to try their wings. Hopefully, she will return next spring and raise more chicks.
The entire staff has displayed an amazing attitude under difficult circumstances. Each department attacked the pandemic with solutions for the health and safety of all and deserve our heartfelt thanks for their diligence and concern. A huge benefit was the constant and ongoing positivity demonstrated by the staff. The attitude of “we are in this together.”
Mr. Rogers said, “Want you be my neighbor?” We have found ways to share and enlarge friendships. Each resident apartment is integral to our village as each contains a lifetime of personal experience. What makes a “village?” I would attest that having common goals; i.e., based upon the previously referenced organizational goals and well as in the current timeframe of health safety is the backbone of our focus.
Our village is thriving. We are receiving our vaccinations and looking forward with great expectation toward a return of normalcy.
