OHCA The Oregon Caregiver Spring Summer 2021

www.ohca.com SPRING/SUMMER 2021 The Oregon Caregiver 11 FEATURE Dave and Mary Fitz, residents of The Springs at Greer Gardens, dance together at the post-vaccine clinic celebration. The Springs at Greer Gardens threw an After the Rain Comes a Rainbow party for staff and residents after a vaccine clinic, celebrating hope. Most importantly, senior healthcare lead- ers marked noticeable improvements in their staff and residents’ mental and physical well-being following the vaccination clinics. The ability to wholly connect with someone with a hug or a smile, and to engage with one another in group activities again made a significant difference. The feeling of relief and the figurative communal exhale after the first dose was telling. “The day those vaccines came to our facilities, it felt like overnight, things were just brighter, better, and hopeful. Within the first couple of weeks, cases started to drop. It was significant, so you can’t tell me that vaccines don’t work, that they’re not important because they are,” said Cook. While data suggests the vaccines are working, the long term sector is not out of the woods yet. COVID-19 still poses a dangerous threat, especially to seniors in congregate settings. Long term care communities are still taking precaution- ary measures while regulations start to ease. Leaders in these communities have their systems dialed in. “I’m just excited to get back to what I love—leading teams, caring for the residents, and providing quality of life, having activities again in group dining and outings—these things bring me so much joy when I come to work,” said Cook. The vaccines revived the passion that was buried inside caregivers for the past year and reaffirmed their reason to keep going. Hope is here to stay, one dose at a time. “I’m just excited to get back to what I love—leading teams, caring for the residents and providing quality of life, having activies again in group dining and outings—these things bring me so much joy when I come to work.” – Joscelyn Cook, Former Administrator, Marquis Newberg