Jonathan

Now that we’re through the worst of the pandemic (knock on wood), the side effects continue in many ways we don’t typically think about. For example, we’ve all heard about postponing elective surgeries. But what I found most alarming are the statistics around disease screening, including cancer.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so it’s the perfect time to talk about breast cancer screening. Breast cancer is becoming so common, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Early detection is critical. Screenings can discover cancer when it is most treatable and before it has a chance to spread to other parts of the body. In fact, breast cancer has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers when caught early – 99% of localized breast cancers can be cured.

So here we have a common disease that is easily cured when caught early through screening. Yet so many women – our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters – succumb to this terrible disease every year.

COVID certainly didn’t help matters. Breast cancer screening dropped dramatically during the pandemic. Dr. Connie Lehman, chief of breast imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, said that breast cancer screening there dropped by 90% in April 2020, the month after COVID hit. When screening drops by that much, the reality is there are many women with breast cancer who don’t even know it yet. The tragedy is that it would be much more treatable today than it will be tomorrow if they did.

Screening and early detection save lives. Book your mammogram now, so you have peace of mind. Give yourself the best chance for a long, healthy life.

A Q+A with Copley Activities Director, Cheryl Woodward

As we emerge from COVID, activities are getting back to full swing. It’s the perfect opportunity to hear from our Activities Director, Cheryl Woodward. In this Q&A, Cheryl reveals the challenges that came with COVID, and what’s to come in the future.

2020 must have been challenging for you in terms of creating engaging activities for Copley residents while maintaining social distancing. What activities were you able to do with the residents?

First and foremost, I have to commend my Activity Assistants. As a team we worked together to bring activities to the residents in their rooms. We took some of the basic day-to-day programs such as coffee hour, trivia, bingo, Pokeno, etc. and adapted them so residents could participate in the safety of their own rooms.

We visited all residents each morning offering coffee, tea, hot chocolate, assorted baked goods etc. We ran trivia contests, distributing packets to the residents to complete, later collecting them and providing prizes. Bingo & Pokeno players were given their own bingo/Pokeno cards and chips to keep in their rooms and staff called out the numbers with a microphone as residents played from doorways. Painters remained engaged in painting, but in a one-on-one capacity.  They were able to complete a 60” by 140” mural for the lobby. We even entertained by singing karaoke; that is until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Health said indoor singing was not allowed.

We spent a lot of time just visiting with residents and assisting them with reading cards and letters, organizing their belongings, assisting with phone calls and just being a friend. We offered recreational supplies for independent use such as cards, music, puzzle books, books, magazines, adult coloring, specialty foods for religious holidays, etc. 

What were the biggest challenges to overcome?

I have faced many challenges over the years, but 2020 was definitely the most challenging year in the healthcare industry, actually in all industries. Who would ever think the world would go through a pandemic, especially in our lifetime? This was a very scary time. This was a time of great loss for many of us, our residents included.

People need socialization. They need a connection, something to live for. In the beginning, families were not able to come in to visit their loved ones. As much as we tried to keep spirits up and to be there for our residents, it still wasn’t the same as having your loved ones with you. As employees, we were able to go home every night. Our residents did not have that option. 

Were there any differences between programming activities for residents in the nursing home side versus those in the rehab side during the pandemic?

In the beginning we were not able to provide group activities. Residents spent time in their rooms. We went room to room with puzzles, word games, refreshments etc. We spent time visiting residents one on one and as time went on and restrictions slowly started to ease, we were able to begin activities with residents participating from their doorways. 

Now that we are able to gather for group activities, we have one activity calendar of events for the entire care center. All residents are welcome to participate in group activities. Some residents here for short-term care are receptive and enjoy coming to group activities, while others prefer to focus on therapy and return home. 

In general, how were everyone’s spirits? How are they now?

It has been a rollercoaster ride with ups and downs, sometimes spiraling out of control. Everything is fine and running smoothly and then COVID happens. Spirits were low. Family members weren’t able to come in to visit. We did window visits in the beginning, which brighten their day for a short period of time. As the weather got warmer, we were able to schedule outdoor visits. Eventually we were able to set up an area inside for family visits as the weather started to cool. Of course these visits remained supervised for social distance and to make sure all protocols were being followed. The best day during all this was the day I was able to tell family members and residents they could have a brief hug before leaving. I saw many tears of happiness as they embraced, something they hadn’t been able to do in months. Everybody needs a hug. 

Unfortunately, right before the holidays, we had to close our doors to visitors again. It’s painful to see families apart, especially for the holidays. As much as we tried to make their holidays enjoyable, it’s not the same. We did Zoom calls and FaceTime calls. Residents opened gifts as their families watched on the other end of the video call. We continued social distancing activities from resident doorways and did our best to keep spirits high. 

Now we have a full activity calendar again. Fully vaccinated family and friends are able to visit in resident rooms. We are gradually getting back to pre-pandemic routines. Residents who have been here prior to the pandemic are enjoying previously enjoyed programs. Some of our residents who arrived during the pandemic are just starting to discover new talents in our painting and writing classes and develop new friendships within groups. Resident spirits are uplifted with every visit they receive from their loved ones. 

Were there any surprises – any silver linings in terms of the pandemic and activities? (For example, a silver lining for some was learning to connect via Zoom and other technologies, something they wouldn’t have learned otherwise.)

Yes, in some ways this pandemic made us stronger. Balancing supervised visits, one-on-one visits and doorway activities improved organizational and time management skills. Thanks to our more tech savvy employees we learned how to use some of the modern technologies such as Zoom and FaceTime. Some residents learned how to use their own electronic devices.    

Are activities back to full swing now? What precautions do you still need to take?

Thanks to the vaccine and the decrease in COVID cases, we have been able to reintroduce group activities. Our groups started out small but are growing with consistent encouragement from staff. We have weekly entertainment scheduled in the courtyard. Religious services are being offered. Fully vaccinated family members are now able to come in to visit. It’s starting to look like old times, better times. 

Masks are still being worn by all staff in resident areas. Fully vaccinated residents wear their masks while traveling to and from activities, but are able to take their masks off during the program. 

How great is it to be outside now?

It’s great to be outdoors again, especially because that’s the only place we can have musical entertainment programs at this time. So, all entertainment programs are weather permitting. Residents also just enjoy sitting outdoors on nice days. 

Did you start any new activities during the pandemic that will continue into the future?

Yes, we started a creative writing program. The residents create short stories as a group. We have a few stories completed. Our goal is to create a book of short stories. We also started a daily chronicle with a quote of the day, a trivia fact for the day, three moments in history that occurred on that day, and a mini-biography about a famous person born on that day. 

What advice would you give to other activity directors? What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned?

As Activity Professionals, we rise to the occasion. It’s very easy to get caught up in the chaos. Step back, take a breath and do the best you can do. If you’re not sure, seek answers before you act. If you can go home at night and know in your heart you did your best, you’ve done well.  

Now that Copley at Stoughton is opening up, we are able to book live music events for our residents and their guests on our outdoor patio. Our Activities Director, Cheryl Woodward, is scheduling performances at least once a week. In my mind, this is not just another step but a significant milestone, as music provides much more than entertainment for our residents.

Studies show that music is like a super fruit for the brain at any age.
It can easily improve your mood, is uplifting, can get you moving, and for some, religious and patriotic music can be particularly inspirational.

But music is also social, especially at Copley. Our live music events encourage everyone to get together, reducing isolation and boosting social contact. Everyone greatly appreciates this after such a long time of reduced contact!

Music can also do a surprising number of other things, such as boost creativity, improve language skills, manage pain, and even help people recover from illness or injury faster.
The overall snowball effects of music, socialization, and physiological benefits are reduced stress, better sleep, better overall health, and a brighter outlook. In turn, that leads to a better quality of life – and for many a longer life, too.

It’s been said that music heals the wounds that medicine cannot touch. It is so uplifting to again see residents and their guests singing along with their favorite entertainers. I’m so glad this is back!

Copley at Stoughton recently celebrated National Nurses Appreciation Week (May 6 to 12) here as we do every year. Now that we can schedule visits and accept new residents, we can take a little breath of relief. And while this is a welcomed turn of the corner, I can’t help but reflect on what a difference our nursing staff made during this year of the pandemic.

You’ve all heard that nurses were literally on the front line of the pandemic. And “front line” is such an appropriate phrase here. They put their lives at risk to ensure the health and welfare of our residents. We took every precaution we could to reduce the risk of COVID at Copley. But all of us in healthcare were well aware that this insidious virus can sneak in through any crack. Our nurses lived with this frightening prospect every day. We – and most importantly, when I say “we,” I mean our entire nursing staff – had to be constantly vigilant.

What amazes me most is despite this fear, our nurses remained cheerful and upbeat on the outside, no matter what they might have been feeling on the inside. That, I can tell you, was tremendously uplifting for our residents. Nothing was normal this year. But our nurses were leaders, showing that we could still look on the bright side, no matter how bleak things looked during quarantine. I know many of our residents felt reassured that everything would be okay eventually, based solely on our nurses’ positive attitude and a familiar face to see every day.

That’s how dynamic and invaluable they all are – providing care in a way that goes above and beyond.

I want to give a public “Thank you!” to our entire nursing staff, who bravely, professionally, and with a smile on their faces helped us through the worst healthcare crisis of our time. Next time you’re visiting, please think about giving our nursing staff a special thank you.

Art can be therapeutic. Copley at Stoughton’s lobby mural is an excellent example of that. Not only does it provide a creative outlet for our residents, but it also brings brightness and happiness to our hallways and a great way to greet visitors.
Normally, with the help of our incredible activities department, residents change the mural with the seasons, a symbol of constant rejuvenation at Copley. It’s sort of like a garden in that sense, bringing a fresh perspective every few months or so.

Of course, that’s one of the many things that changed with COVID. Restrictions meant our residents couldn’t gather to paint their beautiful murals. The last mural had to be done one resident at a time. But now, with vaccinations finished, we can start our in-person activities, with safety protocols in place, of course. So, the summer mural is now in full swing, with residents meeting in small groups, painting, and socializing with their friends, all for the common good!

If “COVID” was the theme for 2020, then I hope “back to normal” will be this year’s theme. As I’ve reflected in this blog, every month, we seem to get closer to the way things used to be, and life, in general, is getting a little bit lighter.
Spring is always a time for transformation, but it’s particularly significant this year. For me, this year’s summer mural will be one of the most important symbols for that change and rejuvenation.

I’m not sure we will ever truly get back to the way things used to be. But then, what garden looks exactly the same, year after year? Even if you put the carrots in the same place and the peonies and the tomato plants, the garden still looks slightly different than it did last growing season. Sometimes you even get good little surprises sprouting up.

That’s what I’m hoping for this year: good little surprises. Our newest mural will be a symbol of this too.