Woke up this morning obviously concerned about coping and alternative methods, anticipating either a "lockdown" or a "shelter in place" order from the governor, then decided I needed instead to focus on how to deal with being confined. I read a few articles online and thought I'd share them, and ask others what you have read online (or elsewhere, such as in magazines), and/or what your own coping methods are.
1. Communicating with family or friends in facilities that are locked down.
Window visits: this family created signs, called their grandfather and suggested he look out the window. I'm guessing this "made his day", to see his family outside, reaching out to him.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/weddings/despite-coronavirus-pandemic-hartland-family-finds-a-way-to-surprise-grandpa-at-retirement-home/ar-BB11vdRa?ocid=msedgdhp
I'm thinking folks here could perhaps make arrangements by phone with staff to let residents/patients know that there will be some outdoor visitors, and to look out the window at a certain time.
I wouldn't come en masse as the cited family did though, and if more than one member could visit, they could stagger visits between morning and afternoon, giving the elder a twice a day "pick-me-up".
As to memory care, I'm not sure if this could work; I've never been in a MC hall and don't know if all the residents have windows.
And if there are Good Samaritans who want to visit, they too could get on the visitor's lists for specific times.
Perhaps the facility could set aside a few parking places for "special visitors."
2. For Catholics: An innovative priest is providing "drive-by" confessions.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/with-churches-closing-us-priest-offers-drive-thru-confessions/ar-BB11uuK9?ocid=msedgdhp
For this priest, and parishioners, I just hope he has some good weather going forward and that there are no blizzards to interrupt this practice.
Anyone else read about unique coping methods? Please share!
That is funny. What scared you about the moon? I always loved the moon. I asked my daddy something funny when I was a kid about the moon. He thought it was funny and giggled before answering my question. We were driving in the car one night and I was staring out of the window up at the moon,
I asked my daddy why did the moon follow us everywhere that we went? hahaha, isn't that funny? Kids are so curious. I was so curious about the moon and truly believed that it was following us as we drove to my grandmother's house.
The sky is so mysterious and stunning. When I was a young girl I used to dream as I watched the clouds roll by. The stars twinkling in the sky are amazing. The sunrise and sunsets are spectacular. I have always found joy looking up in the sky. I am excited to see the Super Moon this evening!
Don’t think I am weird but I think a lightening storm while flying on an airplane is stunningly beautiful. Most people on the plane are afraid and I am thinking it’s one of nature’s greatest light shows!
I have to read the updates on it. I hope so. I love a full moon. A super moon is really cool.
Yes, it’s hard adapting to all of this. Is he doing fairly well other than being stir crazy? He sounds pretty active! That’s wonderful.
Ned Help With Mom: Yes, it is difficult to say goodbye to your furry friends. Put 2 down in 4 days of each other. My 'boy" was 110 loveable lab. One day, my younger dog 12 years old, slipped and fell, she was paralyzed. My lab, couldnt keep food down. My friend who gave us the runt pup, 110 lbs.. she went with me. He had cancer again... The vet agreed it was time.
Now I have one dog, and she has the best of those two dogs, all tied into one. She is a love, smart, and when needed protective. And she plays "sheriff" with our cats.
Isn’t that cute how she is with your cat? They are smart. Soooo smart!
I wonder if decent attorneys turned him down for representation?
Tony Spell has been a thorn in our side. We are embarrassed by his behavior!
The governor gave him fair warning. He wouldn’t listen. He went as far as having 1,000 people at his church service! The man is a fanatical nutcase.
He refused to listen to reason. He wouldn’t even listen when the governor sent an officer to tell him if he did not stop holding his services that the national guard would come and break it up!
So, a summons was issued. Now he will face his day in court. I hope this fool pays the highest fine and receives the max jail sentence. He deserves it!
Coronavirus is growing so rapidly here. People are sick and dying. We should not have to be dealing with this delusional lunatic.
In some areas, curfews are being placed because this crisis needs to be taken seriously and resolved in our state.
He will lose all his congregation.
I think that I would want a smaller dog now because I am getting older. My greyhound was so big. I do love the personality of a grey, so sweet and laidback. A smaller pooch is easier to manage.
That's not to ignore the fact that some just refuse to comply and are in denial.
I heard in Europe ice-skating venues were being used as morgues. Clever but awful.
I know my city has had to use emergency overflow for the morgue before. In fact the morgues were filled by heatwave victims before the the bushfires hit.
On a lighter note, was 10 for an outdoor exercise class in parks too but only 5 at a wedding which (apparently) led to weddings in exercise gear in parks...
Do you.. now squat, 2, 3, 4 take this man... now lunge, 8 more... What a wedding video that would make 🤣
Our governor said that bodies will only be held in the morgue for three days. Funeral and burial must be held after the 3rd day.
We were allowed to have 50 people at an indoor or graveside funeral service. That has been reduced to no more than 10 people now.
So, now we can have the exhibit in our living rooms. Great!
Thanks for sharing. So interesting to read about others. I grew up in one house. My mom grew up in a city, New Orleans where we lived.
Daddy grew up in a rural area outside of Panama City Beach in Florida. We went to Florida every summer. Daddy loved Florida.
Once I asked him why didn’t he bring mom back to Florida after they married and he told me that she wanted to be close to her mom and dad, my grandma and grandpa in New Orleans.
I think it would have been cool to move around like you did. I am a gypsy at heart and you sound like you definitely are. I have only lived here in New Orleans.
Traveled some, but never lived in another state. Might be fun to live somewhere else. I love my city and it’s vibe but I wouldn’t mind a change of pace.
I love animals too. I always had dogs and cats. Animals bring so much joy to our lives. They are our fur babies!
I don’t have an animal now and I miss having one. Torn about getting another one. Not sure if my heart could take losing another one.
It does stink that we are all going through this crisis but it helps that we have each other.
Did you grow up in a rural town? Do you have kids? I have two daughters. I always read to them. One of their favorite books when they were little was about a country mouse who lived in the country and the city mouse who lived in the city. It was a cute way to teach them about the country.
After the first round, I could read a book or Kindle and just keep walking....
My mom is in AL and I have not been able to visit since March 12 and have been told they will be on visitor restriction until April 30. She will turn 98 in May. I'm an only child. I can hear the decline when I talk to her, she already had a bit of cognitive issues when she entered AL this past summer but the isolation is taking it's toll on her. She's in Catholic facility and they have managed to keep daily mass on closed circuit tv going and so proud of her that she figured out how to access it. I feel awful about not being able to see her but we speak on the phone at least 3x a day and we both pray. We're going to be able to video chat with her this weekend finally.
This has been a wake up call for me. I thought I had all my necessary documents in order, will, POA, etc. but realized..I have never made any type of funeral arrangements. So I did call one of the local mortuaries this week and the woman I spoke with said so many have felt the same and they have been wildly busy with people purchasing pre-arrangements not wanting to leave their families to deal with that. I also have just one child.
I read a lot, make a daily gratitude list, listen to podcasts, play with my dogs out in the yard. They are senior boys 13 and 15 so hard to walk very far with them but we have fun.
I've been cooking more than ever and have had an interesting time trying out new recipes.
Hubs and I are cleaning and spiffing up this place the best we can.
Really just trying to be mindful, grateful and taking it one day at a time.