I want to thank all of the nurses and nursing staff who are working during this difficult time. As I see the news about long term care and retirement homes I am reminded how hard the nursing staff works. It is very difficult on a “normal” day to keep these homes running smoothly and with COVID-19 it just got so much harder. I don’t think the general public really understands how hard your job is.

I picture a floor with dementia patients and 1 tests positive for the virus. Now your job has become impossible. How do you explain to someone who doesn’t understand or remember, that they have to stay in their room? Every time you turn around they are in someone else’s room touching things talking too close because really what is social distancing? (This is a new term that 6 months ago no one had ever used!) They don’t understand and are probably afraid of the people in protective gear. They may never have seen someone wearing masks and gowns or if they have it’s not a pleasant memory.

I read a statistic that has stayed with me, 80% of people over 80 have some form of dementia. That is over and above the number of people in these homes that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. All of the staff in these homes are being asked to do an impossible task. They are working in homes that are filled to capacity and they have to try to keep everyone apart.

For the residents their routine has been changed. The people they once recognized are now wearing masks. They no longer have visits from family and every time they leave their room someone is telling them they can’t. I don’t think most of the public understand how hard the job is. They wonder why the staff can’t just isolate the residents who get infected. Unless you have worked or spent time in one of these homes you just can’t understand what an impossible job the staff have.

If you thought your job was a challenge before it has become a whole lot harder. Please take some time to recharge and relax. Remember you have to take care of yourself so you can take care of others. And know that there are people out here who admire you for all you are doing.