I am a Nursing Home employee. I am a caregiver. In the past, I always struggled going to the Nursing Home. We went to visit my grandpa and I never knew what to say, how to act, and as he got to his last days I didn’t like the realization that time is short and death is something we all have to face. Some days, I still struggle and leave work with tears streaming down my face for situations out of our control. As staff, we all do. We laugh with residents. We cry with them. We share in their frustrations. We watch some as their memory fades and even though they cannot remember our names, they know we are there to help them. We are humbled, honored, and we feel privileged to know these amazing residents and for them to trust us during their best times and their worst. I have held someone’s hand as they wept for the loss of a loved one. I have reassured someone with dementia that is frustrated they can’t remember. I have heard stories of love, loss, hard times, and times of great joy.

As we celebrated National Nursing Home Week with a superhero theme, I want you to know that the residents and staff here are true superheroes. These people all have amazing stories and have helped shape their communities and I only hope to be as great as them someday. They have lived through another pandemic like this and we will get through this one together.

National Nursing Home Week was a great opportunity to spread unity and cheer during this time of uncertainty. There were dressup days such as Villain Day, Super Hero, Nerd Day, Crazy Sock SOC Day, and Good Samaritan Shirt/Jeans Day.

Wagner Good Samaritan also held a coloring contest for local children and staff members’ children/grandchildren. The top three winners (Raegan Brandt, Abby Ruegge and Jordyn Kirwan) received superhero capes, a superhero sucker and an Incredibles coloring book.

There were different activities throughout the week such as create your own superhero, X-Ray Vision guessing game, Pet Visit, Sidekick Trivia, Kindness Rocks! Rock painting craft, Superhero Minute to Win It Games, and Pop and Superhero Suckers on Friday. Even though it was all fun and games, day-to-day life has seen many changes due to current social distancing rules and our inability to have visitors since March. We have taken precautions to keep all the residents safe and they have taken it in stride. Their strength through this is a great example for us to follow. This job is not easy but it is rewarding and I hope you will take the time after reading this to send love to the important people in your life, write a letter to a family member here at the home, or thank a nursing home employee. Happy National Nursing Home Week!