Nursing Home Residents Dealing with Isolation

No Normal Visitation is Allowed During the Pandemic

County.

Nursing homes across north alabama aren't allowing family members to visit-- and one local certified nursing assistant says seniors can start feeling depressed without contact with their families.

Waay 31's casey albritton is live with how medical personnel are trying to make life a little better for seniors.

People who work at nursing homes, like this one behind me, say they are encouraging people to take a moment out of their day to pick up the phone and video call a loved one... or stop by and waive hello through the window.

Debby jennings/ daughter "we've taken time going to do window visits and mama's in the twelfth year of her journey with dementia" debby jennings usually visits her mother in barfield health care nursing home in guntersville at least twice a week.

But that's changed.

Debby jennings/ daughter "i miss her so much.

We miss her so much.

Those daily visits just kept us going."

Jennings says the last time she saw her mother in person was back in march--she visited her through the window last friday.

Debby jennings/ daughter "she really didn't know who i was...i did get a wave from her."

She tells me she believes the lack of contact is making her mother's dementia worse.

Debby jennings/ daughter "there was a nurse there coaching her.

'there's debby.

Wave to debby.

Finally, i got a smile and a wave and that was awesome."

Kyshell frieson is a certified nursing assistant--and works with seniors regularly... she says she's noticed how coronavirus is impacting her patients.

"emotionally, it can be very depressing when you want to see family."

Frieson says a quick video call can make a huge difference in a patient's mental health.

"they light up, they just light up when they get to speak with their loved ones and when they get to see them."

Jennings is visiting her mom through the window as much as she can--and hopes she can be reunited with her soon.

Debby jennings/ daughter "we are going to have chocolate and a coca-cola just as soon as i can go in there.

I just won't let her go.

I'll hug her so tight.

" frieson also works at huntsville hospital-- she tells me everyone is doing their best to create a positive environment for patients who for now -- won't be able to see their family.

Live in huntsville, casey albritton,