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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 2020 Newsletter April 2020 Volume 3, Issue 4 OUR ISLAND HOME Monthly Newsletter Inside This Issue: • COVID-19 Updates • Resident Portraiture Highlights: 1) Resident Quote 2) Employee of the Month 3) Modified Calendar of Events 4) Feasibility Study 9 East Creek Rd. Nantucket, MA 02554 1 (508) 228-0462 COVID-19 UPDATE To the Nantucket Community: At Our Island Home, our residents’ happiness, well-being, and above all else, health and safety are of the utmost importance. We believe in acting proactively and making extraordinary precautionary efforts to follow recommendations and regulations implemented by the state of Massachusetts regarding the global COVID- 19 outbreak. As a result, we have suspended all visitation and volunteering at OIH at this time. While our residents are missing the friendly faces they used to see every day, they are working hard to understand why these restrictions have been put into place with on-going education and support. This unprecedented circumstance leads us to seek creative alternatives to keep our residents and their loved ones engaged and connected, as we are mindful that socialization is paramount to our residents’ wellness. We encourage Nantucketers, whether you have a loved one at OIH or are looking for a way to make a positive impact, to email our residents a letter, short story, words of hope and happiness, jokes, photographs, and scans of drawings and crafts to our resident email account: ourislandhome@yahoo.com. These messages can be shared with residents individually, or posted on our communal bulletin board, and would be much appreciated and enjoyed. Another option is utilizing FaceBook as a means of sharing video messages or scheduling a time for a one-on-one video chat with a loved one. Please visit our FaceBook page (Oih Nantucket MA) for more information. We continue to be amazed by the outpouring of support from our fellow islanders and thank you all for your incredible generosity. We are all so much stronger when we’re united together, from a distance. Stay healthy and hopeful! Resident Portraiture Local Nantucket photographer Barbara Clarke is offering her portraiture services free of charge to OIH residents. If you would like to schedule group or individual portraits for your friend or family residing at OIH, please contact Ally Rowell at arowell@nantucket- ma.gov to schedule an appointment. OUR ISLAND HOME 9 East Creek Rd Nantucket, MA 02554 PHONE: 1 (508) 228-0462 FAX: 1 (508) 228-6875 E-MAIL: Peter Holden Interim Administrator OIHAdministrator@ nantucket-ma.gov We’re on the Web! Visit us at: www.nantucket-ma.gov INSTAGRAM: ourislandhomenantucket FACEBOOK: Oih Nantucket MA FEASIBILITY STUDY The potential for a new OIH on the current site: The team at LWDA is working with the Town of Nantucket and stakeholders on a feasibility study for future options for Our Island Home. For more information, see current FAQs, and have the option to submit your own inquiry or question, please go to the following web page https://oih.carrd.co/ Your input, opinion and questions are important to ensure a comprehensive, successful next step is developed! MODIFIED CALENDAR OF EVENTS (CONT.) Family Council: April’s meeting is cancelled due to recommendations and regulations regarding COVID-19. Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th at 10 am. March and April Birthday Celebrations: Our March birthday celebration was postponed to keep our residents as safe as possible from COVID-19. We are tentatively scheduling a birthday party to celebration residents born in March and April for Tuesday, April 28th in the afternoon. More info coming soon! RESIDENT QUOTE OF THE MONTH “[Distance] bingo has been lots of fun. I like to stay connected with the group and it’s a nice thing to do when I’m up for it. I also like video-chatting with my granddaughter!” - Bea S. on the changes that have been made over the past month at OIH EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH For April, our residents elected RN Katey Boynton as our Employee of the Month. Residents say that Katey always goes above and beyond, is “on the ball”, and is very attentive to meet their needs. She also treats everyone around her with kindness. Residents and staff alike appreciate Katey and thank her for all that she does. Thanks for being you, Katey!!! MODIFIED CALENDAR OF EVENTS In light of the global COVID-19 outbreak, we have made numerous modifications to our activities calendar. Currently, our regularly scheduled weekly bible studies, early childhood playgroup, visits from the Leadership Explorers and the Nantucket Boys and Girls’ Club, as well as our “Photos with Fran” educational lecture series are all suspended until further notice, in efforts to follow best- care practices as recommended by the CDC, local, and federal government. Musical performances have been shifted to virtual viewings and “concerts”. The residents have been greatly enjoying this thus far! Daily, we are offering the following activities options: Coloring pages; Puzzles; Word search and trivia worksheets; Video chatting and phone calls with family and other loved ones; Exploring old Nantucket picture books; Independent crafting such as knitting and other art forms; Reading letters sent to us from our Nantucket community members; Independent or distance bible study; Spending one-on-one time with staff members for support and comfort; and listening to music on headphones.