Community connects with seniors

Photos by Jonathan Jain

Doors are closed for visitors at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but children in the area are doing what they can so that the residents know they aren’t alone.

In order to protect residents from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country have temporarily prohibited visitors. Families are relying on phone calls and video chats to communicate with their loved ones. In Kennett, the community is supporting the residents by sending them artwork and positive notes to cheer them up during this tough time.

Residents have had difficulties in coping with the sudden change of not having visitors. “Some of them have dementia, so they forget the reason and that it’s even a thing. They have to be told more than once, so they have to get mad about it over and over again,” said Shannon Temples, an employee at Southaven Assisted Living. “But, on the whole, I’d say that everybody is doing okay.”

Although families can use phone calls, video chats, or other types of social media to connect with residents, they still miss face-to-face contact. Some family members have even sat outside of the facilities’ windows just to see their loved ones.

“Most of them miss it. They miss their families, the ones that have them,” said Vicki Emmons, a worker at St. Francis Park Assisted Living. “They’ll be glad when [the coronavirus pandemic] is done and it’s over with.”

Some people in the community recognize the hardships that the residents are facing and are stepping up to provide comfort and emotional support. For example, children in the area are sending notes and pictures to the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Kennett. St. Francis Park Assisted Living has a “cheer up wall” that showcases artwork and positive messages for the residents. “Oh, they love it. They really enjoy it,” Emmons said.

Christi Roberts and her two daughters, Analeigh and Lexi, are working on pictures to send to the different nursing homes and assisted living facilities. “The girls are drawing pictures and writing messages to send to residents that might be feeling isolated and missing their loved ones,” Roberts said.

Roberts shared that after seeing her daughters arguing, she told them that they should be thankful that they can be together. After explaining that the residents of the nursing homes would love to be with their families, it spurred her daughters into action. “The girls wanted to send them cards to keep them from feeling sad and alone,” Roberts said.

When asked why it is so important for the community to care for each other in times like this, Analeigh and Lexi said, “It’s very important, because they aren’t able to see their families. It might help make their day a lot better to know someone cares about them and is thinking of them.”

Below are addresses for nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Kennett. Sending a picture, note, or letter would only take a few minutes, but the impact that it would have on the residents is incredible.

Heritage Nursing Center: 1802 St. Francis St.

NHC Healthcare: 1120 Falcon Dr.

Southaven Assisted Living: 612 South Bypass

St. Francis Park Assisted Living: 1806 St. Francis St.