Staying Connected With A Little Help from Technology… and Dianne

Technology has changed us all. It can connect families across a few miles, across an ocean or those separated because of one person’s care.

Dianne Andrus was busy working as a nurse practioner when her mother came to FRNC. Dianne was her mom’s primary caregiver and her sisters (also trained nurses) lived states apart. Diane used Facetime to connect her mom to her sisters and also so they could discuss her mom’s care needs. “Surprisingly for nurses”, she laughs “we agreed on her care” but Dianne says the time spent connecting with Facetime is what really kept the family close. When Dianne’s mom passed away, she requested any donations made in her mom’s memory be used toward purchasing a laptop and iPad for FRNC families to use.

After they were purchased, Dianne worried about out of town families whose loved ones were unable to use the technology independently. She thought it would help if someone on site could be available to help connect them, so she decided to volunteer herself and personally contacted all our out of town families to offer to help them stay in touch.

Since starting the program, many families video chat regularly, some while they are away for the winter, other families call Dianne spontaneously to set up a chat. Families have used her help to connect as far away as Australia.

In addition to making visits throughout the FRNC households, Dianne has helped families through hospice care, eulogies and has even offered to share wedding ceremonies residents can’t travel to. She says; “We would do anything that would help a family member or a resident stay connected to the people they love.”

Dianne recalls a gentleman on hospice whose daughter was able to see him by using Facetime and although he had incredible health challenges, he overcame them to kiss the screen.

Dianne says “it’s important… we are not just taking care of the person who lives here, we are taking care of the whole family…and we can reach people all over the world and it doesn’t cost a penny, just a little time.”

Whether the resident is cognitively aware, can communicate or not, and no matter what their abilities, Dianne notices the positive impact on both residents and families. She recalls a son telling her after talking with his mother, “the son said to me. Dianne, I have tears in my eyes.” Dianne replied to him, “ Yes. So do I.” “It doesn’t have to be long…it doesn’t have to be more than hello. I love you. That’s all we need.”

Knowing her Mom was in good hands gave Valerie great peace of mind...

“The spiritual and physical care my mom received from the staff was a blessing to her and to me.” When mom moved to Fairport Rehab & Nursing Center, I promised her that I would attend chapel services with her every Sunday. As she became increasingly frail, her faith and her family became mom’s world. We skyped weekly (mom called it spiking) with my brother and sister who live in Maine and Georgia respectively, and my daughter in Chicago, using the computer provided by Fairport Rehab & Nursing Center. Every time I visited, we prayed in the chapel for her family members using the prayer rocks. A few months before her death in late June, 2016, I was discussing with the chaplain, Jenny, the fact that we had placed mom in hospice, and that even though her abilities were slipping away, she could still remember the words to hymns and the Lord’s Prayer and that she was not afraid of dying. Fairport Rehab & Nursing Center provided my mother every opportunity to experience her faith during the last three years of her life. The spiritual and physical care my mom received from the staff was a blessing to her and to me. As one year draws to a close, and another begins, I hope you’ll join me in making a gift to Fairport Rehab & Nursing Center, so other residents can enjoy the kind of high-quality care my mom did.

 

The Dotterer’s Story; At FRNC There is A Difference.

Neal Dotterer’s family had struggled to maintain his mother Sally’s independence. When her health needs eventually required the 24 hour care a nursing home could provide; his family made the decision to choose a home near his sisters in Syracuse, NY. Neal, who lives here and owns the UPS store in Fairport Village Landing, visited his mom there until his sisters moved from the Syracuse area. At that time, Neal says he “absolutely” knew that he would move his mom to Fairport Rehab & Nursing Center.

“There was no question, no hesitation; I knew she had to come here.” Since arriving, Neal says he is forever grateful and has noticed a positive change in his mom. Although she has cognitive problems and it’s hard for her to communicate, Neal says the staff “on 2F, especially Jane and Vaughnette are awesome and amazing” with his mom. “She has an ease now about her, I see a difference in how she reacts to people” and he knows the household environment and nursing staff are key to those changes.

He explains the difference at FRNC; “In the other place… it was residents lined up along the long hallways. That was it. Here… it’s out- going and friendly and people are smiling. People seem to do things on their own time more. Jane is wonderful with my mom. I always heard good things about FRNC and have been long involved- but I still didn’t realize how personal it would become for me. I can relax now, without worrying, that means everything to me. The setting is so much better, the atmosphere is relaxing. I know it’s not an easy job the nurses have—but I can tell the staff here must be working here because they love what they do; and it’s not like that everywhere. There appears to be more one- on- one, they seem to have more time to just ‘care’. The small number of people in the pods– the households, it feels like home, like family. It makes such a big difference to her…and me”.

For years, Neal has been generously donating the services of the UPS store he owns to provide in-kind donations to the FRNC Foundation. Being a fellow Fairport business owner, community neighbor and partner; he has enjoyed doing whatever he could for FRNC. “I always supported; but this is different, he says. You can’t put a value on being able to sleep at night, knowing she is here. Knowing people care. You have no idea until it’s your own family. We couldn’t say enough about you or thank you enough.”