COVID-19 has impacted all our lives in a variety of ways, some of which we may not fully recognize yet. While we have known for a while that a pandemic of this proportion was possible, we chose not to believe it could happen here…in this country, in our community, in our lifetime. Yet, here we are, facing a reality few of us imagined just a few weeks ago.
Over the past few weeks, one of our very highest priorities has been to protect our residents and patients from exposure to the virus. Early on, we began limiting access to our three facilities – Lockwood Hospice House, McLaughlin Hospice House and Fieldcrest Assisted Living. It’s our best line of defense. We will continue restricted access to our facilities for as long as it takes, in hopes that it will continue to protect our residents from exposure to the virus.
We also have to focus on encouraging employees to be vigilant in practicing social distancing when they are not at work, as they are the necessary link between the community and the residents inside the facilities where they work. We are incredibly proud of and grateful for the commitment of our employees, who put our residents and patients first, despite the challenges and apprehensions this pandemic may be creating in their own lives.
We are prepared to take additional action as needed to get through this pandemic. We continue to count on our public health experts and agencies for guidance as we work closely with other health care partners in the community to prepare for what may come. While we hope for the best, we prepare for the worst, because when the dust clears on this pandemic, we want to be able to look back and say we did our very best in terms of protecting those we serve.
Now More Than Ever
Just as this COVID-19 pandemic has impacted so many individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations financially, Prairie Home Hospice & Community Care will also feel the impact. We are encouraged by the resources that our state and federal governments are working to provide to those impacted. But of course, the Government cannot be expected to bear the entire burden.
We’re confident that we will have the resources we need to continue to provide the hospice, home care and assisted living services that our patients, residents and their families are depending on. Since our inception in 1984, the community has been the driving force behind our success, steadfast in their commitment to and support for the work we do in the community. That support has allowed Prairie Home Hospice & Community Care to provide an exceptional level of care to those we serve. It has allowed us to touch the lives of over 2,000 individuals in the community, and it continues to allow us to maintain a proud 35-year tradition of compassionate care that focuses on those we serve, their families and the needs of the community.
We will continue to count on the community to help support our efforts, especially during the coming months as we face the financial fallout created by this pandemic. We understand that the economic fallout caused by the pandemic may make it difficult for many of our supporters to continue their financial support at the level they may have provided in recent years. But we call on those who continue to be able, to consider a donation to help us through this crisis. Your support is more important than ever.
Working together, we’ll get through this. As difficult as it may be, our experiences over the coming weeks and months will make us stronger…and will provide opportunities to bring our community together more than ever. There are many heroes working among us, the least of whom are our health care workers. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, just as we keep you all in ours.