Since visitors are not allowed to visit patients in hospitals and nursing homes, those patients may feel a bit lonely at this time.  Tina Steffen, administrator at Oskaloosa Care Center, says her patients are doing better than expected.

“We have stepped up our activity program and trying to bring the joy out in their activities of daily living from day to day.  And we have had some children on the outside of the building that come and hold up signs and try to make their day that special.  The phone, we get a lot of phone calls from family.  We have a resident who calls out to their families.  We do some computer work with Face Time.  We’re trying to keep their spirits up and as a whole, we’re doing pretty good, believe it or not.”

And while a spouse may not have personal contact with their loved one in a nursing home, Steffen says there’s still a way for a couple to stay close.

“They will come to the door and they will look at them through the window.  They come up to the dining room.  But that separation anxiety can be there.  I have spouses here and I have them come and look through the window outside at them and they’re waving…and they’re doing well.”

Steffen says health care workers are making the best of a hardship time right now and doing well.