A task easier said than done as half were either deaf, had mobility issues, or were in various stages of dementia. It was from here I would begin the morning ritual of calling each resident on my floors and taking their breakfast, lunch and dinner orders for the next day.
The furnishings were extremely sparse consisting of a couple of chairs, a table, and a telephone. All pod teams assigned to floors were designated an empty suite to serve as break room and office, Our particular suite was a two-bedroom located on one of the upper floors. (aka PSW) I was fortunate enough, to be assigned as the server for Andy’s floor. One housekeeper, one server, and one (sometimes two) Personal Support Workers. And my, how Andy liked to socialize.Īfter the Dining Room closure, the building was divided into ‘Pods’ and for every two floors, there was a team of staff assigned. But for Andy and most of the others, it was a chance to socialize. For others, the mere act of getting out of their suites and having somewhere to go provides a chance to dress up or at the very least, have a reason to get out of bed. The Alzheimer’s Society states that “ regular routines or rituals will help support feelings of security and mitigate confusion and anxiety”. For many, particularly those with dementia, its a lifeline. Now you have to understand, the Dining Room in a retirement home is more than just a place to go to eat. It too, promptly shut down as all residents were confined to their suites. I think hardest on all was the closure of the Dining Room. Gone were Crafts, Outings and Indoor Concerts attended by all.
No more Swimming, Movies, or ‘Gentleman’s’ Afternoons’ in the lounge. The Retirement Home had ceased all social activities.
It was because of COVID– 19 that I came to develop a closer relationship with him. Not too soon, indeed. Old Andy passed away at the age of 94. “ Not too soon raccoon!” he would shout back at me as I made my way down the hall to the elevators. “ In a while crocodile”, I would reply while closing his door. “ See ya later alligator!” he would always say as I left his suite.
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