St. Joseph Living Center looks ahead to better times

May 17—WINDHAM — The COVID-19 pandemic created particularly hard times at St. Joseph Living Center, but better times are on the way.

" We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the fierce dedication of our staff," St. Joseph Living Center Administrator Ginny Person said.

" It was a scary time, but we pulled through as a team. Many staff worked long, emotionally draining hours to provide loving care to our residents and to each other. We are forever grateful to them."

During the hardest times at this skilled nursing facility, and still now, staff treated the residents like their own family, Person said.

" They held hands, sang to them, cried with them and with each other," Person said.

And the rest of the local community is what helped to keep everyone inside the building persevering.

" We're lucky to have the community be so involved in the small businesses that were around the area. They sent us food and donations and that was really nice and kept the staff going. Knowing that people on the outside of the building were thinking of them," Person said.

SJLC was one of the health care facilities honored in the Romantic Willimantic Cupid award ceremony on Valentine's Day.

" It is a great honor to be included in the Willimantic Cupid award. Being recognized for all the love and care that we give to our residents every day, but especially during this pandemic, warmed our hearts," Person said.

While St. Joseph Living Center is a Catholic, faithbased health care facility, people from all religious backgrounds are admitted.

Patients undergo post- acute care and outpatient rehabilitation at the center.

There is a courtyard with a koi pond and gardens for residents to enjoy, as well as a chapel, where Mass is normally held at 11 a. m. every day.

Since the pandemic began, however, Mass has been held outside.

Now that the worst of the pandemic appears to be over, life there is starting to get back to normal at the SJLC, according to Person.

" We have slowly opened for visitation inside the facility. The majority of the residents have been vaccinated and just over 65 percent of the staff have chosen to be vaccinated. We are hopeful that more staff will choose to be vaccinated over the next few weeks," she said.

Staff worked hard to make sure the residents could enjoy themselves as much as they could during the height of the pandemic, thinking up creative ways to play games and bring some joy into their lives.

" While residents were in their rooms, recreation worked very hard to bring entertainment to them. We had pet parades outside the windows, local entertainers came and sang around the outside of the facility," Person said.

And the most-loved activity was socially distanced bingo, where staff developed a few different ways to facilitate it while the residents were in their rooms, she said.

Because most residents are now vaccinated, they are able to attend activities in small groups, which was helpful for all the fun events planned during National Skilled Nursing Care Center Week, held from May 9 to May 15.

Currently, SJLC is hiring for all departments and all shifts, and interested individuals can call the center at 860-456-1107 to learn how to apply.

Follow Lisa Massicotte on Twitter — @LMassicotteTC.

St. Joseph Living Center

Address: 14 Club Road, Windham

Information: 860-456-1107, www.sjlivingcenter.org