National Guard at nursing homes 11.19.20

The state National Guard has been deployed to a Lexington nursing home to help deal with the coronavirus.

Jobs because of the pandemic.

When you hear that the kentucky national guard has been called-out...a nursing home is not the place you'd expect soldiers to be...but that's what's happening across the state as 50 guard members are helping protect our most vulnerable to the coronavirus in long-term care facilities.

Abc 36's christy bollinger shows you the difference the guard is making at a nursing home in lexington.

L3 christy: abc 36 news venis ceo, sayre christian village l3: abc 36 news white national guard deployed to nursing home lexington l3: abc 36 news white caleb tidei staff sergeant, ky national guard l3: abc 36 news white national guard deployed to nursing home lexington christy "covid has been particularly cruel to nursing homes all across the state and healthcare workers have been crying out for help.."

Karen venis "we are tired.

Healthcare workers across the nation right now are tired.

They've been fighting this battle for so long now and i think the challenge is, there is no end in sight."

The healthcare center at sayre christian village in lexington isn't immune from the virus.

Venis "we knew it wasn't a matter of if, but when covid would get in our facility so, we currently do, for about the last 45 days, have had an outbreak at our facility."

Because it's a stand alone, non-profit facility...it hasn't had access to many resources.

But then came a phone call...the state was bringing- in the national guard to help.

Venis "they've been here all this week and have just been extra hands and feet, boots on the ground for us, to get stuff done that will help us continue to fight this battle with covid."

A battle that is both physical and mental.

Guardmember tidei "seems like there's a real need we're helping them meet here."

Staff sergeant caleb tidei says it's not just sanitizing and doing other odd jobs....but there is also the human aspect...he says he was shocked when he met the people who live here.

Tidei "these poor, poor people have been isolated from each other and their families for six-to-seven months since march.

Just that level of total isolationism, it was very hard to see."

He's been isolated while serving overseas...but says this mission is different.

Tidei "i was on a very safe base.

People were not falling ill constantly.

So from that side, this is a lot more.

There's a lot more at stake for kentucky and the mission itself."

Tidei says it's an honor to serve this mission..

One so depserately needed.

Christy bollinger,a bc 36 news.

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