This is what it looks like to provide respite right now. The uniform is quite different with the necessary addition of masks and face shields but the staff underneath are still the same dedicated, exceptional people. Being a caregiver during a long-term pandemic isn’t ideal but our staff have shown resilience and creativity to still provide the best care to children who no longer get to see their comforting smiles. They have adapted to communicate comfort in different ways, to make sure our children know that they are safe and cared for.
Their lips are chapped, their skin under the masks gets irritated, glasses fog and hands that are already tender from constant washing and sanitizing are even more raw than usual. They juggle the time spent providing care and entertainment to our children with the higher workload of enhanced cleaning, sanitizing, learning new sanitizing equipment and keeping up with the many changes to processes due to the pandemic. It isn’t easy when additional information is brought forward which changes the direction from PH and MCCSS to ensure the program is safe for all. Our staff talk about the stress of keeping up with the constant communications and the struggles with doing the job in such a very different way now. They talk about how much they miss the old way.. and I completely understand and agree.
BUT they come to work each day ready to continue to provide respite for our families in any capacity that is needed to keep everyone safe. They still do puzzles, play games, go for walks, watch movies, have dance parties, etc. with our children so that their lives aren’t just covid. In a time when working in health care is so very different, frustrating and at times scary, these guys show up, work hard and do it again the next shift. I’m proud to be a member of the Health Care field but exceptionally proud of our staff at Kids Country Club and the growth they have had while enduring this pandemic. We appreciate them all the time but even more so now. If you are lucky enough to know one of these amazing staff, or another health care worker, please give them an extra “Thank you” this week. They more than deserve it!