Assisted Living facility finds way for loved ones to visit residents

A huge plexiglass shield provides the answere for visiting safely

Assisted living facility is allowing residents to visit their loved ones thanks to a huge protective shield outside its doors.

Wtva's wayne hereford caught up with the facility's executive director who says the shield not only protects residents , but gives them peace of mind as well.

I'm here at avon lea assisted living here on south thomas street in tupelo.

The director says that when the pandemic started he had to shut down visitation for its residents.

But eventually, staff came up with an idea to get their residents and family members closer to together.

"at least i get to see her and talk to her instead of on the phone.

Its wonderful!'

Teresa lovett gets to visit with her daughter face to face despite the coronavirus pandemic.

But it was not always this easy.

(renea ethridge executive director avon lea) "march 20thi is the day that we shut our doors down and allowed no more visitors.

At the beginning there were zero visits.

And then at some point we got to where we could do window visits .

That's a family member at the window with the window not opened."

That was frustrating for families she says.

So when the government said it was okay to folks to visit outside they came this plexiglass shield for visitors.

They can come and visit after making an appointment for a thirty minute visit.

"when the family members get here, they're going to the oppositie side of the table.

We have a sheet.

Of course we're going to take temp;erature and there is a questionnaire."

Once that's done, folks like teresa lovett can see their loved ones face to face.

" i love talking to her on the phone , but its not the same talking person to person."

The workers at avon lea say that the face to faced visits do a lot for the psychological well being of their residents.

Reporting live in tupelo wayne hereford wtva nine news.

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