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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere were days I thought a job change would be easier, but I reminded myself it wasn\u2019t only hard on me, it was just as stressful on the residents and their families. For many, we became their only in-person human connection,\u201d said Courtney Smith, a resident assistant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Human connection draws residents to assisted living facilities, and developing meaningful bonds of friendship is one of the many positive elements of life at LM. Social events, recreational activities, special outings, shopping trips, and religious services are among the activities promised there. But not during COVID. Residents even ate meals in isolation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had to put their food and drinks on a cart and roll it down to their rooms. They couldn\u2019t even sit and eat with their friends,\u201d said Brittany Horn, a resident assistant. \u201cThe residents didn\u2019t get to go anywhere. Not even Walmart. It was so heartbreaking to see.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But walls and measured distances can\u2019t put boundaries around love and relationships any more than the seashore holds back the sea. Bonds forged during the pandemic bridged the ocean of difficulties brought on by it. A stronger team of co-workers emerged, committed to improving the residents\u2019 lives. There\u2019s a new depth to the love among the staff, residents, and their families. Success is measured in hugs and smiles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stephanie Williams, business office and dietary manager, said, \u201cIf we are making them happy, then we\u2019re doing our jobs.\u201d One of her favorite things about working in her calling is watching a resident laugh and have a good time during an activity or outing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt Lincoln Manor, we are a team, everyone willing to pull together to make it home for the residents. None of us are perfect, but with the help of one another, we try to make it as perfect for our residents as we can,\u201d said Wanda Dunnavant, a registered nurse.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resident assistant Krysta Britton agrees. \u201cSome of these residents don\u2019t have a lot of family to show them attention and make sure they feel loved. I love being that person for them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many layers to LM employees\u2019 emotions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of the hardest parts of my job is watching my residents suffer emotionally. Many of them grieve the loss of their loved ones or the loss of their old selves. It\u2019s difficult watching them during this time, knowing there isn\u2019t much I can do to comfort them, but that still doesn\u2019t stop me from trying,\u201d said Britton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As with any bond, the sense of loss is deeper when a resident passes. The staff mourns with family members, but their relationship doesn\u2019t end when the family packs up their room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnce you come into the manor, you\u2019re always part of the family. I think that\u2019s what sets us apart from other facilities. We treat them like they\u2019re our own,\u201d said Shields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At LM, the power of human connection and the resilience of the human spirit shines brightly. Residents and staff weathered the storm together within the manor\u2019s walls, redefining their sense of family and unity. They emerged not just as survivors but as a testament to the enduring strength of the community, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, home is where the heart finds its truest light. GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AMERICAN AUTHOR Pierce Brown said, \u201cHome isn\u2019t where you\u2019re from; it\u2019s where you find light when all grows dark.\u201d In a time like we\u2019d never seen, the pandemic gave us many opportunities to find light. At Lincoln Manor (LM) in Fayetteville, it was an opportunity that forever changed the bond between residents and the staff. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/fayetteville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/12\/4-4-1024x683.png\")
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