East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

The Hospital District would like to take this opportunity to address the questions and concerns of the community regarding the restrictions we have in place for visiting our patients. It has been asked if the restrictions will be lifted for the hospital now that we are in Phase 3 but unfortunately, they will not be at this time. With the ever-changing COVID constraints, we are following the guidelines of our state and working closely with Public Health to assure we are taking all the precautions necessary. It is unknown when the county will progress to Phase 4 but until then, the health and safety of our patients and staff is our main objective.

One of the questions we are hearing is “why can’t more family members join in at the same visit? Because we have a vulnerable population, we are keeping exposures to a minimum and are allowing up to four guests at a time with six-foot social distancing. They will be screened and asked to wear a mask before entering the visitor’s area outside the Activities Room. Tuesdays and Wednesdays have been set aside for visiting for one-hour and scheduling one day in advance prior to each visit is required. A staff member must be readily available during each visit from the inside of the building.

Daily activities and weekend events continue as usual to keep the patients’ routine as normal as possible. Haircuts for our female patients are underway and our beautician will schedule perms in six weeks. Staff do manicures routinely and nail care is being provided on Fridays. A special event that is being planned for the patients is a “Roaring 20s Party” with donations from the GCACH grant. Sandy, Activities Director, mentioned several family members have expressed their appreciation for all the staff’s hard work during these trying times and they know that their family members are being well taken care of.

In the past, all the family members have been so good about visiting regularly and taking them out and doing things with them, we realize that these limitations are as hard on family members as it is on and our patients. Close contact such as hugging is important to one’s mental health, but being able to see a loved one, hear their voice and speak to them is equally important.

We as human beings need to feel support. Our patients greatly miss interactions with their family—this is evident to us as we see it through their emotions of frustration, sadness, anger and becoming more demanding because they can’t be with the people they love or see them regularly. This not only affects our patients but it affects their loved ones and our staff. As we are unable to touch or offer a supporting hand, the staff is trying to fill that void with reassuring words of encouragement to your loved ones. When we reach out to our patients in love, they reciprocate that love to us. We will continue to provide support and concern for your family members here. Staff will encourage them to attend activities and monitor their weight, eating and sleeping habits, and want all of you to visit, as you are able. Our sentiments during this time can best be summed up through the words of Margaret Lindsey:

“The little things are most worthwhile, a quiet word, a look, a smile, a listening ear that’s quick to share, another’s thought, another’s care. Though sometime they may seem quite small, these little things mean most of all.”

Let it be the goal for all of us to do the little things.