Progress 2021: Valle Healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic

Healthcare workers across the Valley have been adapting their duties and putting in countless hours to provide essential services to local residents since the onset of the pandemic. Regardless if it’s behavioral health or physical health, Valley care providers are on the frontlines and facing off against COVID-19.

“I can tell ya, working on the frontlines in resident care… It’s just been absolutely challenging for everyone who has had to provide care for our residents… I think we really came together here… There’s nothing we can’t do, that’s my biggest takeaway,” Primrose wellness coordinator Jay Bryan said.

Primrose Retirement Community of Wasilla underwent a number of changes to adapt to the pandemic. While visitors are not allowed inside the apartments, they can schedule a socially distant visit with their loved ones in a designated area.

“We’re really hypervigilant on protecting our residents here. But when we leave here, we’re hypervigilant to protecting the public at large too,” Bryan said.

Primrose resident care coordinator Debbie Smith said that residents can no longer go on public outings or attend large scale parties like they had in the past. Since social interactions are limited, staff members help residents connect with their families with video calls.

“It’s all new to everybody,” Smith said.

The dining room opened after a long hiatus in December of 2020. Tables are more spread out and limited to two residents per table. Smith said this is still a step in the right direction and brings back some of their lost social connections.

“We try to do as much as we can in house with our life enrichments, but you’re limited on your group size and spacing,” Smith said.

Primrose currently has about nine nurses, according to Smith. She said there’s two nurses assigned to day shifts, and one nurse handles the night shift. She noted that they primarily work with the assisted living residents, but they also receive calls from independent living if there’s an emergency.

According to Smith, Primrose nurses’ daily activities include assisting residents with their medication, preparing them for appointments, working directly with CNAs, and communicating with their families, physicians, and pharmacists. She said that working under the loom of COVID-19 can be daunting, but reminding themselves of sworn duties as healthcare workers and why they started working at Primrose strengthens their resolve and helps them push forward.

“It's scary because you know you can get it… That’s a risk. When you come on as a nurse, it’s really the good and the bad. You know that going into it,” Smith said. “We’re nurses. We fix things. And so, when you can’t fix that, when you can’t solve it, it’s frustrating. There's always mixed emotions. But, we don't have time to stop and think about that. We're in the moment. We've got to do what needs to be done… It's just one of those things, it comes with nursing… Nobody wants to get it that's for sure... I'm doing what I need to protect them… It’s worked out so far.”

Primrose Executive Director Tauna Norman said it’s been a long and challenging year filled with concern over potential outbreaks, but all the staff pulled together and powered through, doing everything they could to ensure safe environments for the residents.

Everybody plays a role in keeping your build safe

I'm not saying we don't have our issues but when it comes down to it people step up to the plate Tauna One of Primrose’s values is to embrace change,” Norman said. “There's no way to thank everyone enough.”

Mat-Su Health Services Director of Behavioral Health, John Cook said that his department has been just as affected by the pandemic as the other sectors. He said that all of his colleagues have been feeling the strain all year.

“It certainly has been a challenge,” Cook said. “We basically rearranged outpatients services… A little bit of staffing shortage. I actually hired four people during all of this, which was interesting.”

Cook said they’ve had to alter many of their services or put others on hold. He said they’ve moved their group therapy to virtual meetings, which has pros and cons, namely the ease of access versus the lack of interpersonal nuance.

According to Cook it’s important for these essential workers to find time for themselves during this time. He said that missing out on usual social outlets outside of work can be disheartening.

“We do stressful work and at the end of the day having a large portion if your recharge activities off your options list is huge actually,” Cook said.

Cook said his colleagues have been working tirelessly to make up for the various sacrifices made the last year by going above and beyond for their clients.

“I've been very impressed with the adaptability with the folks under my supervision and the creativity of the leadership team that I participate on. It's’ really been something else, stressful but I think we’ve been very successful in adapting in many ways… People really worked hard to make it work," Cook said.