Dexter, Mo - It's been a very long year for families of residents at Central Gardens. When the COVID-19 Pandemic broke out in early 2020 the future was uncertain. How would they protect their residents? There were so many questions and very few answers, but the employees and staff at Central Gardens jumped in and took care of their residential families. Central Gardens had to take many steps to minimize the chance of further transmission of the COVID-19 virus. One was to isolate the residents. A very hard decision, but the virus had taken the lives of more than 170,000 long-term care residents throughout the United States, it was the safest and most logical decision.
Jump forward to today, a year later, 100% of the Central Garden residents have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
New visiting guidelines will begin April 1, 2021. Residents will not only be able to have guests visiting they will be able to leave the facility for day trips. A Resident can leave the facility and return by 6 p.m. Social distancing guidelines will be requested while out enjoying their day.
Facility visits will open to non-family members as well and visitors can stay until 6 p.m. There will still be a limit of three guests. They can have meals in their rooms and if they choose to go to a private dining area to eat with their family that is available as well. They also can go outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Central Gardens will continue to do screenings and follow social distance guidelines. Masks must be worn, a COVID-19 questionnaire must be filled out and only three at a time can visit.
Independent Living residents are now able to participate in activities inside the main building. Monthly birthday parties have resumed and those much anticipated outings are picking up.
The residents had been going out for milkshakes and driving around seeing the local sights, but they were well protected within the Central Gardens vehicle. Now they have big plans to tour and check out the local events in the area.
Many of the residents have turned to Social Media, Zoom, and Facetime to keep in touch with their families, but it's not the same as a visit from a loved one.
When asked about how it felt to hug family again, Mrs. Maxine Hedrick said, "Good, Oh so good!!!" That pretty much sums up the feelings of every resident living at Central Gardens. The future is looking bright and hopefully this virus is on its way out! We can't be more grateful to the staff at Central Gardens for protecting our families.
Pictured are Maxine Hedrick's family, Alan and Tracy Hedrick and great-grandson Russ Hedrick, son for Morgan and Tamela Hedrick.
