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.