Families use FaceTime, other technology to stay connected to loved ones in nursing homes – Detroit Free Press

Judy Armbruster of Grosse Pointe Woods, right, talks to her mother Mary Lou Wholihan by the windows outside of Sunrise Senior Living in Grosse Pointe Woods, Friday, March 27, 2020. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Every day around dinner time, Judy Armbruster goes to see her 88-year-old mother at the assisted living community she lives in.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Armbruster sat with hermother while she ate dinner at Sunrise of Grosse Pointe Woods.

Since COVID-19, Armbruster, 53,who lives in Grosse Pointe Woods within walking distance of the facility,stands outside the building at her mothers first-floor window and talks with her on the phone as her mother sits on her bed.

On a recent visit, she saw an aide, wearing a mask and gloves, take her mother's temperature and write it down.

Its kinda cool," Armbruster said of her daily visits. "Its a version of FaceTime. I get to see her. Make sure she looks OK. She gets to see me, which is a bonus for her, too. It does provide some peace of mind.

But it doesnt replace the direct contact that she and so many others had with their loved ones who reside in nursing homes, assisted living and other senior care facilities before the deadly virus hit.

These types of facilities house the most vulnerable those who may be ill, recuperating or elderly.

But their doors were shuttered to visitors in mid-March after the first known cases of the virus were reported in Michigan on March 10, specifically, in Wayne and Oakland counties.

The move was devastating to families, but necessary in an effort to protect their loved ones.

More: Death toll rises as COVID-19 sweeps through Michigan nursing homes

By Friday, there were more than 22,700 positive cases and more than 1,200 deaths from the virus in Michigan, according to state figures.Hundreds of those cases and dozens of the deaths have been in nursing homes.

Armbruster said the decision to close off visitorswas a striking blow. We cant go see her at all or take her to get her hair done or to the doctors, which seems trivial now. I understand they have to be very careful with that population.

She said her mother, who has a compromised memory, isnt tech-savvy, so the offerings of Skype and FaceTime with relatives werent as good as simply talking with her mother on the phone.

Armbruster said she would rather free up time for staff to help other residents use the devices to communicate with their loved ones since she's able to see her mother every day.

Armbruster said she isn't the only person who has stopped by to see a loved one at Sunrise of Grosse Pointe Woods.One woman, whose father was on the second floor, had a sign saying she missed and loved him. The man was deaf, Armbruster said, so the daughter brought the sign to convey themessage to him.

Facilities across Michigan say they are doing their best to obtain technology for their residents so they can see and communicate with their loved ones who can't visit.

Michael Perry, CEO of NexCare Health Systems, which has 26 facilities (eight of which are branded The WellBridge Group) said a lot of residents already have phones, and facilities have iPads and computers residents can use.

They also are trying activities, such as hallway bingo, where residents stay in their doorways and play. They're playing music and using whiteboards for residents to write messages to relatives and posting photos on social media.

Judy Armbruster of Grosse Pointe Woods shows the mail that she brought as she talks to her mother Mary Lou Wholihan over the phone outside of Sunrise Senior Living in Grosse Pointe Woods, Friday, March 27, 2020.(Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

"Staff is keenly aware and the facilities are keenly aware residents aren't able to see their families," said Melissa Samuel, president/CEO of the Health Care Association of Michigan. "They're doing everything they can."

More: Families worry as they are cut off from loved ones at Michigan nursing homes

But its difficult for residents, who are isolated in their rooms, now for weeks on end.

There is no communal dining anymore. Allmeals are brought to residents in their rooms. Therapy and activities, such as crafts, also are done in the rooms versus in a larger group setting and may be limited.

All of this is also challenging to staff, who are dealing with protocols that are ever-changing as the pandemic continues.

Relatives have been visiting their loved ones through windows,celebrating birthdays and anniversaries or just saying hello. Even alpacas reportedly made a visit recently to the exterior of a Riverview nursing home to cheer up residents.

Manda Ayoub, chief operating officer for Pomeroy Living, said the residents are doing the best they can.

Its important for family to come and sit outside windows and talk with them. What I need is engagement for my residents. Get outside the window, have a call, let them see your face, she said, encouraging folks to use FaceTime and Skype if they can.

Theyre isolated. Its hard," she said. "These seniors are already going through so much."

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.

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Families use FaceTime, other technology to stay connected to loved ones in nursing homes - Detroit Free Press