TULSA, Okla. — Nearly every nursing home in Oklahoma is impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic in one way or another.
Their residents are highly susceptible and COVID unit nurses are under immense stress. Most facilities stopped family visits in February, but some are finding a way for loved ones to still talk face-to-face.
Johnnie Compton is a resident at Franciscan Villa and is enjoying the new way the center has set up for family visits. Earlier in the year, Compton and her daughter could only visit with a window separating them. Now, the center introduced socially distant visits.
Johnnie's daughter, TJ Compton, told 2Works for You, “I can see that her demeanor and morale is better because she’s out from being behind a closed window.”
They talked on the phone, through a window for their visit in September.
“Having this one more step closer to better visitation and now she’s outside, it makes you feel excited", TJ says.
They can meet outdoors for forty-five minutes every weekend as long as they wear a mask and stay six feet apart.
TJ said, “when I’m out with her now it’s like there’s no restrictions. We know there are but we can live with that."
Johnnie's spirits lifted, her health is improving. The physical toll was just as tough as the mental struggle for the family. The two sit, talk, and dream about the day they'll get to embrace again.
Johnnie said she hopes they can meet without any restrictions by her birthday next month, but thinks it won't be until sometime next year.
One thing she is looking forward to the most, her weekly lunch date with TJ to Long John Silver's.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Twitter
