No visitors, but still lots of fun: How MediLodge is making residents smile

MediLodge by Matt Vande Bunte May 21, 2020

In some ways, skilled nursing facilities look a lot different during the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate spread of the coronavirus, no visitors are allowed, dining halls are empty and certain social activities have been cancelled.

But in other ways, things look just the same. After all, residents and their caretakers and non-clinical staff in housekeeping, maintenance and other areas are still making each other smile each day.

Meow! Mask-wearing staff members dress up as cats to entertain residents at MediLodge of Livingston in Howell.

Sure, this pandemic is a trying time for everyone, and for families of loved ones in nursing care it can even be heartbreaking. Yet, for every story of a resident being sick without family by their side, there are countless more examples of residents smiling – despite the current reality of visitor restrictions and social distancing guidelines.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference in a person’s day, from employees dressing up in goofy costumes to residents making paper airplanes to special, door-to-door deliveries of ice cream floats.

“Due to COVID 19, our residents have had to stay in their rooms, so we have brought the fun to them!” said Laura Decker, activities director at MediLodge of St. Clair.

Go ahead and take a break from the daily roll call of coronavirus headlines, and take a look at these beautiful scenes from MediLodge skilled nursing facilities across Michigan:

: Residents at MediLodge at the Shore in Grand Haven made paper airplanes and then had a competition to see whose planes could fly through the holes in a plywood map of the USA.

: In addition to a wheelchair decorating contest, residents at MediLodge of Clare have fished for rubber duckies and tried their aim in a hallway Nerf gun shooting contest.

: In addition to a wheelchair decorating contest, residents at MediLodge of Clare have fished for rubber duckies and tried their aim in a hallway Nerf gun shooting contest.

: Residents at MediLodge of Lansing played hallway bingo. They also were treated with door-to-door delivery of ice cream sundaes!

: MediLodge staff members have been dressing up – and hamming it up for the camera – over the past several weeks. At MediLodge of Gaylord, Director of Admissions Della Rollins (left) and housekeeper Kathy Holton show off their royal crowns.

: Staff members have been dressing up – and hamming it up for the camera – over the past several weeks, with some even covering their face masks with bunny faces. What’s up, doc? Er, nurse!

: MediLodge staff members have been dressing up – and hamming it up for the camera – over the past several weeks. In addition to nursing staff, non-clinical employees including housekeepers, maintenance workers, admissions directors and resident advocates have been stepping up each day to make sure the facilities are safe, clean and operating with proper COVID-19 precautions while still having fun

: MediLodge staff members have been dressing up – and hamming it up for the camera – over the past several weeks. Staff members practiced some groovy social distancing during a 1960s-themed dress up day at MediLodge of Cass City.

: Staff members have been dressing up – and hamming it up for the camera – over the past several weeks.

: Staff members have been dressing up – and hamming it up for the camera – over the past several weeks.

: During a Mother’s Day Tea at MediLodge at the Shore in Grand Haven, each resident mom was treated to a plate of sugar cookies topped with cream cheese icing and fresh fruit, along with strawberry lemonade and a homemade purse filled with tissues, hard candy and chocolates.

: Residents were treated to ice cream floats in all flavors at MediLodge of Wyoming, where staff also went room to room tie-dying shirts in colors requested by each resident. ‘You can’t imagine how happy floats make people!’ said Charise Whaley, director of admissions.