Everyone has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, but perhaps none have suffered as much as senior citizens in long-term care facilities who find themselves even more isolated than before.
Most nursing home visits have been suspended to ensure social distancing among the most vulnerable population, and, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s new timeline for reopening the state, nursing homes will be among the last facilities to return to normal operations. Seniors in these living situations are vulnerable to being cut off from almost everyone they know, but with the help of Macon County volunteers, they will be a bit less isolated.
In early April, Janie Key and Christine Basey started an effort called Hope for the Lonely with the goal of collecting tablets for residents of Macon County nursing homes. By giving seniors tablets, they thought, long-term care facilities could maintain social distancing while still ensuring their residents have access to their family and friends.
As a healthcare professional, Key feels that giving residents the ability to keep up those personal connections is also a health priority.
“I’m concerned with how the virus is affecting our nursing homes, even for seniors who don’t have it,” Key said. “They’re not getting to spend time with their families. They’re not getting to go to their church services. They’re getting no contact with the outside world at all.”
The two formed a Facebook group to start reaching out to the community for monetary donations. There are about 250 residents across all Macon County nursing homes, so supplying every one of them with a tablet is a tall order. However, the two found that by focusing on simple models from lesser-known brands that cost as little as $40 each,
they could quickly build up a supply of devices that wouldn’t be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users. Within two weeks, the cause had come up with its first 40 tablets.
“We’ve heard from quite a few people who have wanted to help,” Basey said. “We’ve seen them donate as little as $5 or as much as $100 so far. It’s really just warmed our hearts.”
Before they started handing out devices en masse, Hope for the Lonely enlisted the assistance of Brian Walker, owner of Synergy IT Solutions. Walker made minor modifications to one of the tablets to streamline its interface and installed some easy-to-use video chatting apps.
Hope for the Lonely distributed its first tablet to 87-year-old John Davis at Macon Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation. After weeks of being separated from his church family at Franklin Church of God, Davis used his tablet to livestream a service and was extremely thankful for the experience.
“I didn’t have any words to describe what it meant to me,” Davis said. “I’m just thrilled about it.”
Last Friday afternoon, Key and Basey met with representatives from Macon Valley, Franklin House and Grandview Manor Care Center to give out the first 40 tablets. Employees at the nursing homes will be working closely with residents to make sure they know what to do with the devices.
“I’m going to try and create a single set of instructions for all of these facilities,” Walker said. “Hopefully it will make the whole process a lot smoother for them. It’s a great thing that these women are doing, and I want to assist in any way I can.”
Facility administrators are grateful to everyone involved with Hope for the Lonely for keeping their seniors and their employees in their hearts during these trying times. Deborah Strum of Grandview said it’s not always in the seniors’ nature to ask for help, but having a lifeline to their loved ones will be a comfort they won’t take for granted.
“They’re stoic people because they were raised that way, but it’s been very hard on them and the staff,” Strum said.
Key said the 40 tablets given out last week are only the start and that the group won’t stop until they’ve helped connect every nursing home resident in the county.
“Christine and I could never be more proud of our friends and community support in this project,” Key said. “We can’t give up now. We have a long way to go.”
To donate or get involved with Hope for the Lonely, call Key at 828-371-5305 or Basey 828-421-3928.