ASK AMY KOCH A monthly column from the Executive Director of the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony

Describe the Many Challenges Facing the Hands-On-Heroes Who Are Caring for Your Residents During this Pandemic.

Recently, we had the opportunity to conduct a virtual interview with Amy Koch, Executive Director at the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony, giving her the opportunity to describe the many challenges facing the hands-on-heroes who are caring for our residents during this Coronavirus pandemic.

How did you first become aware of Covid-19?

“Like many Americans, news headlines began to focus our attention on the Coronavirus threat and its potential impact in late February.  Immediately, we became acutely aware and began to review and reassess our infection control policies as they relate to this specific threat.”

What were the first steps you took to prepare for its impact on the Charles Ford Retirement Community?

“Fortunately, we routinely practice universal precautions, screen for and discourage visitors with cold and flu symptoms as a general rule; consequently, during the first week of March, we began to progressively tighten up our protocols as COVID details and recommendations developed.”

Who or what entity did you look to for guidance?

“Our Community communicates frequently with the Posey County and Indiana State Departments of Health, Emergency Management Systems, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share facility conditions, obtain the most up-to-date information and resources, and ask for help as needed.”

What major challenges did you face?

“Regulatory requirement updates are tedious and overwhelming.  They change constantly and we get updates multiple times a day from multiple sources. This can be most challenging.”

What restrictions have you had to place on staff and residents?

“Every effort has been made to protect our Community, residents and staff, against the threat of COVID-19 including (but not limited to): restricted visitation, actively screening residents and staff for fever and other signs/symptoms of COVID-19, discontinued communal dining and group activities, wearing personal protective equipment, such as facemasks and gloves, effective hand hygiene, practicing cough etiquette, staff staying home when sick, assessing and maintaining an infection control plan and other protections adequate to address COVID-19.”

How have you adapted your hand-on-services to help residents feel loved and secure in a difficult situation?

“Nothing replaces one-to-one, Tender Loving Care. We’re learning to adapt and find meaningful ways to deliver the same standard of care and sense of community in spite of necessary social distancing and personal protective equipment. Making sure our residents are “Living Well” continues to be our focus.”

What new services or methods of communication have been added to help residents feel safe and secure?

“Due to the generosity of the Charles Ford Endowment, iPad technology has been implemented to keep residents better connected and engaged. Implications include video chatting with friends and family, social media interaction, and the availability of the internet connection to their interests and hobbies.  You’d be pleasantly surprised by how “techy” Seniors can be. Residents had their first telehealth appointments this week.” 

What efforts have been initiated to address the concerns of the residents’ loved ones?

“The intimacy of our Community lends to its beautiful boutique style of living. Relationships are significant within our organization. Regular clear and candid communication between our leadership, our residents and their family members is paramount for managing the concerns of residents and families alike.”

Overall, how well do you think residents and their families have adapted to these new restrictions?

“We are a Community of incredibly resilient people. I am awed and inspired by their outpouring of love and support.”

What has been the most difficult for staff?

“Team members are challenged with maintaining stringent COVID precautions and wearing a mask at work and in their personal lives. For residents? Social distancing requires that residents, generally, remain in their rooms.”

 As it relates to you, your staff and your Community, if you review the challenges this Pandemic has caused to date, what gives you the greatest satisfaction on past performance and the greatest confidence going forward?

“One of the primary spiritual lessons for me through this pandemic is what it means to “fear not.”  To be effective, good leaders stay on top of all of the information available in order to be absolutely prepared to care for our people and protect our caregivers.  Good leaders stay in the trenches with our tribe members.  It calms our heads (and our hearts) in the midst of frightening worst case scenarios. I heard an interesting perspective, recently.  It went something like this:  We may all ‘feel’ fearful, but to ‘fear not’ means we don’t give in to the feeling of fear.  The powerful realization for me is that none of our community members have considered ‘giving in’ to fear.  They are ALL good, AMAZING people!  Every single one of our staff members and residents.  I am awed and inspired and humbled to be part of such an incredibly brave and resilient group of people.  I want them all to know – I love them and would put my life in their hands in a heartbeat.  Even though we are in the storm, the storm is not in us!”