OHCA Oregon Caregiver Spring Summer 2020

www.ohca.com SPRING/SUMMER 2020 The Oregon Caregiver 9 FEATURE “I have a great staff, I really do. I know some people have used the term, ‘heroes,’ but that’s our job; that’s what we love to do.” – Rebecca Nork, Activity Director, Marquis Plum Ridge “I’ve found that it’s not only for the residents, but the family is reassured that their loved ones are being taken care of and getting the quality of care that they should be receiving,” said Nork. “These calls, I was really sur- prised to see. They seem like mini reunions, so we do a lot of calls with loved ones from all over the United States and with some family members that residents haven’t seen in years. I thought that was really touching to be able to see that and connect that.” Nork also created a “COVID-19 Positiv- ity Board” with residents’ names attached with a funny joke or words of wisdom to lift spirits. In addition, Marquis Companies, which operates Plum Ridge, started the Send Seniors Love campaign, where members of the community send letters or cards to seniors to show them they haven’t been forgotten. Nork says about 200 letters have been delivered to her facility since its inception. “We receive little cards and sometimes kids draw on them and just say, ‘We are thinking of you. We love you.’ It’s awesome,” said Nork. On holidays, her staff find creative ways to make each resident feel special. On Mother’s Day last month, they arranged flowers for every woman in the facility. Nork says her staff goes above and beyond on a regular basis to make residents comfortable. “I have a great staff, I really do,” said Nork. “I know some people have used the term, ‘heroes,’ but that’s our job; that’s what we love to do.” While the changes have not been easy for residents, they have been equally challenging for the staff. Nork makes sure caregivers are comfortable, offering delicious baked goods and relaxing dress codes. At Oak Lane, Reid is acknowledging her staff ’s hard work by increasing their pay rate by two dollars an hour. She also regularly buys them Dutch Brothers gift cards and creates gift packages custom- ized to the individual to show how much they are appreciated. “They are amazing; they are my heroes,” said Reid. “They’ve had to learn fast, they’ve had to change habits, but they know they can always come to me. I have an open-door policy, plus, I’m available 24/7 by phone, so even if it’s their personal or professional lives, they always know they can come to me and I will help them in any way.” Other facilities are faced with the challenge of outbreaks. Sandy Pate, a licensed practical nurse at Marquis Marian Estates in Sublimity says the local community rallied together for the seniors and staff at her facility after several of them tested positive for the coronavirus. A city council member headed a mask drive that resulted in a delivery of about 250 handmade face masks to the facility, and families and community members often send gifts, cards, and letters to seniors that have effectively cheered them up, helping them on the road to recovery. “It is so amazing. They were so sick at one point and it’s so good to see them come back to their normal selves,” said Pate. Westcare Management oversees both state veterans’ homes in Lebanon and The Dalles. While the Dalles facility remains free of COVID-19, the Veteran’s Home in Lebanon was the first commu- nity in Oregon to face a COVID-19 positive case. These veterans have a need for speed! They get to race toy cars at the Veterans' Home in The Dalles. CONTINUES » Caesar the No Drama Llama put big smiles on residents' faces when he visited the Veterans' Home in Lebanon.