Mercy Home 2019/2020 Annual Report

“Many people do not realize how many workers are essential...”

“Many people do not realize how many workers are essential,” Eileen expressed. She is proud that the team at Addeo was able to work together and bond during these difficult times but wishes that people like Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) were praised more. Throughout the pandemic, Eileen and other members of the Mercy Home team provided comfort, care, and kindness during an unfamiliar and challenging time. It is because of Eileen and so many others, that the people we support were able to continue to grow and gain independence.

Eileen is a DSP at the Addeo residence. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and fellow DSPs were nervous for the women inside of their residence, their families, and themselves.

It was difficult for her to adjust to life in the wake of COVID-19. She missed simple things like sitting down for a cup of coffee and was occupied with worrying about the health of her residents and her loved ones. She was concerned about bringing the virus home to her family or spreading it within Addeo. As an extra precaution, she began quarantining herself away from her own family. “I was just going to work and then going straight home,” Eileen noted.

It was not always easy, but she was able to balance keeping the women safe and healthy while navigating through a global crisis. At first, it was difficult for the individuals Eileen cares for to get used to wearing masks and understanding why they could not go outside. They missed their friends, participating in Day Habilitation programs, and small things like getting their nails done and exploring Kings Plaza.

DSPs inside of our residences worked extra shifts to help residents adjust to these challenging times. Eileen and other residential staff modeled social distancing measures and masking procedures to help residents stay safe. They were concerned that the ladies would lose the progress they gained over the years without regular stimulation and engagement while DayHabilitation programs were paused, and they were not permitted to visit with their loved ones. Some of the residents had never spent a birthday apart from their families, so the DSPs tried to serve as their family when they were separated from loved ones. They decorated and ordered their favorite foods to celebrate special events and tried to make everything feel normal. To prevent boredom and keep everyone engaged, Eileen and other members of the residential staff arranged karaoke nights and dance parties. Some of the residents became much more interested in baking and were able to keep busy by helping to make treats for the house.

Eileen is happy that residents can now go out to restaurants, see their families, and have started to return to Day-Habilitation programs. She’s grateful to have made it through the worst of the pandemic and is feeling hopeful about the future.