January Was a Month for Hitting Targets at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home
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John Haldemann is happy to have downed the Home's deer, Michelle Snell.
Although visitations at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home were scheduled to restart after January 18, family visits are still on hold. However, that limitation hasn't kept the residents from staying active and finding entertainment. In fact, January was a month for hitting targets at the nursing home.
According to Sweet Memorial Nursing Home (SMNH) Administrator Rebecca Shackelford, the visitation policy is dictated by guidelines issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines state that there can be no active COVID cases in the facility and that the county positivity rate be less than ten percent.
While the SMNH does not have any coronavirus cases in the building, data collected from January 14-January 27 by the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) posts Blaine County's Positivity Rate at 27.4%. The DPHHS updates those data points every two weeks. Officials at the Home said they will alert families when that positivity rate drops and visitation bans are lifted.
The second round of COVID vaccinations were administered to residents and staff late last month, and after February 3, officials will have reached a ninety-four percent protection level from the virus.
To keep the residents active and entertained, Activities Manager Michelle Snell designed hunting, bowling, and snowball throwing activities. After seeing the idea of an "Open Season" live-action game used in another nursing home and shared online, Snell borrowed the idea for the residents at SMNH.
To recreate "Open Season," Snell and her staff set up a stand of trees-those artificial pines used at Christmas time. Once strategically staged and meant to resemble a forest, the residents got to participate in 'open season hunting' with Nerf guns. Ward Clerk, Carla Uhl shared photos of staff imitating deer and hiding among the trees. Residents were encouraged to 'hunt' staff as they dodged through the trees.
Uhl reported that although Open Season was enjoyed by all, Terry Vogel and John Haldemann found the activity especially memorable. "It was a day to be careful around the activity room as 'bullets' were flying everywhere. It was especially gratifying to walk by and hear all of the laughter. Please note," she added, "no animals (or humans) were harmed in this process."
he bowling gents: John Haldemann, Swede Welsh, and Terry Vogel are ready to knock over some pins.
Other target practice occurred in bowling and snowball throwing. Bev Brown was the SMNH's bowling champ as she rolled several strikes. On another day, the residents made good use of plush snow balls, which they tossed in an attempt to knock over a pyramid of plastic cups.
Even though visitors were not allowed in the building, Bonnie Russell's family got creative to celebrate her 96th birthday. They brought treats to the Activity Department and enjoyed ice cream together outside Russell's window. Two other birthdays were celebrated in January for Ken Huntsinger and Fontella Maddox.
Uhl encouraged family and community members to please keep the cards and mail coming for loved ones. "They so enjoy getting mail, and we love to see big smiles on their faces when handing out the letters and gifts," she said.
