“How is your mother doing? And how are YOU doing? ” Because I work with adult children, and I’ve come to love them and their parents, I typically ask.those questions.
Gary smiled. “Last Saturday after nine months of covid lockdown, I finally was able to hug and kiss my mother. The 35-minute appointment went by quickly. I was able to hold her hand and tell her I loved her.”
The backdrop to the story: Gary’s mother’s health began to fail several years ago. She moved from independent living to assisted living, and finally to the nursing home. At 98, she is cognitively aware of her surroundings. When covid hit, she understood he reason for isolation. So did her children, but it was still hard, very hard for all of them.
Nine months is a long time for a 98-year-old. Even with two devoted children. Gary and his sister each visited once a week, peeking through the window and trying to chat. Fortunately on Saturday the door to her room room was available, much to everyone’s delight.
Over the months I’ve heard stories of courage on the part of adult children. Some were able to take their parent’s to doctor’s appointments,only to drive through afterwards for goodies at a take-out restaurant. Others went for visits in the park, if the rules of their particular facility permitted.
And one daughter sprang for a several day stay at a beautiful hotel. The occasion? Mom’s 90th birthday.
For many nursing and assisted living residents, the doors have opened, for visitors and loved ones. Hooray!
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