27 minute read
Today’s Family
BABY, IT’S GOOD!
Getting your children to eat quality foods
By Paige Rhodes
As a recipe developer with a toddler, people always ask me how I get my kid to eat the food I cook. Norah is 2½ and loves everything from smoked salmon quiche for breakfast to snacking on olives, bell peppers, and dates, and has eaten these foods since she started baby-led weaning at six months old. Lest you think that I have the perfect healthy gourmet-eating toddler, she also eats many frozen chicken nuggets and microwaved macaroni and cheese. Kids have preferred tastes, just like adults do, and there will always be foods that they enjoy more than others. When trying to encourage your children to eat good food, there are a few basic guidelines that I think are helpful for caregivers to keep in mind.
Get the kids in the kitchen
A chair or learning tower and some plastic training knives are all you need to get your kids excited about helping in the kitchen. When Norah helps me make a salad for lunch, she always ends up eating the lettuce or cucumber right from the cutting board without anyone offering it to her. Don’t feel like you have to hide the spinach in their smoothie — ask them to put a handful of it in the blender. Let them scoop the chia seeds and pour in the almond milk. They will be so proud of themselves, they’ll likely eat (or drink) every bit and even encourage you to do the same.
Let them make up their minds
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard a parent say, “Oh no, you won’t like that” when a child asks to order something new from the menu. I get it, I do. The last thing you want is to spend the money only to have them turn it away. Been there, done that. However, by telling them straight up that you know they won’t like it, you’re making up their mind for them and putting up a wall that will be hard to knock back down.
Stay neutral
Admittedly, this is the one that I have the most trouble with, and I notice a huge difference when I stick to this rule. The more you harp on trying the food, the more they likely won’t want to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “Just try it! You’ll like it!,” and almost every single time, it backfires. You are responsible for getting the food in front of them, and they are the ones responsible for eating it, no matter how old they are.
Don’t give up
Children’s taste buds are everevolving. If you offer them steamed cauliflower one time and they spit it out, don’t just throw in the towel and claim that they don’t like cauliflower. Whether it’s a texture aversion or a flavor dislike, foods can always be altered in new and exciting ways. Try grating the cauliflower to make it a rice-like consistency or roasting until it’s golden brown and has a nutty flavor. Just because children don’t prefer an ingredient one time doesn’t mean they won’t take a liking to it eventually. It can take up to 20 offerings for a child to develop a taste for a specific food, so don’t give up hope, and most importantly, have fun and don’t sweat it.
Paige Rhodes is the owner of Louisville-based MyModernCookery.com. Norah prepares some veggies for her salad. Many of them go straight into her mouth instead, and that’s OK.
Photos by Matt Johnson
Make Room for Play
Interior Designer and Do-It-Yourself Expert Katie Perri believes you should create a home your kids will be happy in now and not worry about resale. In her basement area, she built a playhouse, a grocery store, a book reading area, and a tea-room playing area for her two young girls. Read more about Katie’s suggestions on page 26. Photos by Melissa Donald
Make Room for Play
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.”
— Diane Ackerman
BRAIN, SCREEN TIME, AND HOW DETOXING CAN CAUSE ARGUMENTS
By Tonilyn Hornung
It’s been a slow descent, but my 7-year-old now binge-watches enough television that his eyes no longer blink. When quarantine became our new normal, so did screen time. Television shows, talking with friends, online learning, and video games are my kid’s lifeline to everything. Is it possible to set normal screen time limits during a time that’s not so normal?
Laurel Sims-Stewart, a licensed professional clinical counselor working with children and adults at Bridge Counseling and Wellness, says when talking to your kids about setting healthy screen time boundaries, use language they understand. “We talk about taking care of our body and how it needs different things like sleep and exercise,” she says. “So, when we take care of our brain, we have to give it a variety of different things, too.” It’s all about helping kids understand balance, she says.
When I became pregnant, I read all the research that said if I could lessen screen time for my child, I’d be doing his developing brain a favor. We focused on making screen time less of a thing so self-confidence-building activities like unstructured outdoor play, reading, and hands-on pastimes could be more of a thing. I put this advice into my parenting bag o’ tricks, and then the pandemic rendered my bag useless. While I’m working, doing household tasks, or juggling 13 other things, my kid’s entertainment is a screen. I finally noticed how much time he was investing when his other interests fell by the wayside. I stepped in to take control of the remote control, but when I did he uncharacteristically flew into hysterics or was so heartbroken he couldn’t speak. I knew we needed to change the channel, but my classic moves to redirect his attention failed.
My parenting guilt rose because I didn’t know how to help my son through this. Had I missed my window for guiding him? Laurel says, “Everybody is struggling and doing their best. So it’s OK to give yourself grace.” I took a breath and reassessed.
Laurel says that creative and active activities that involve connection are “the best replacements for screen time.” I wanted my son to remember his old loves like talking to his parents and building Legos. Now I knew what to encourage, but I also understood it was impractical to return to all restrictions. But when I made any move that brought me near the remote, his “Spidey-sense” alerted him that something was afoot and arguments ensued.
Laurel says to expect a kind of “detox period” when shifting screen time expectations. “We might notice our kids are irritable or having a lot of emotion,” she says. This is when empathy can bridge the gap. Laurel says use phrases like, “I know that it’s really difficult to make that switch. I love you, and your brain is really important to me, so we’re gonna choose something else right now.” During a time when life’s perceptions are changing, my family’s are, too. We’re learning the value that balanced screen time can bring. “I don’t think screen time is all negative,” Laurel says. “Like with anything, there are pros and cons to it.” I definitely knew the cons, but now I’m seeing the benefits. For example, my son enjoys video chatting and playing his favorite game with his friend all while staying safe at home. We’re using the screen as an active tool of connecting instead of a passive tool of disconnecting. And we’re still practicing how to turn it off.
YOUR GUIDE TO SPRING BREAK
By Lindsay McDonald
Many families were gearing up for spring break when the pandemic began last March, forcing some to modify or cancel plans. Now that spring break 2021 is here, what options are available to families? From underground excursions to lantern lights aglow, we’ve found some spring break adventures that offer something for everyone.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE CLOSE TO HOME, WE’VE HIGHLIGHTED SOME LOCAL ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO OFFER A GOOD TIME FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
SO MANY LIGHTS, YOU BETTER WEAR SHADES...Louisville Zoo Wild
Lights is one of the largest lantern festivals in the nation, featuring thousands of handcrafted silk-covered lanterns aglow with more than 50,000 LED light bulbs.
March 19-May 30
Starts at 6:30pm louisvillezoo.org
A PLACE WHERE THE WEATHER IS ALWAYS GOOD...Louisville Mega
Cavern offers several underground adventures, including zip-lining, aerial ropes challenge course, and historic bike, walking, and tram tours.
Open daily louisvillemegacavern.com
COME PLAY ON THE FARM...Huber
Orchard, Winery, & Vineyards offer fun for the whole family with live music on the weekends, sweet treats, farm-made ice cream, outdoor dining, duck and fish feeding at the pond, and shopping at the Farm Market.
Open daily huberwinery.com
DO YOU HAVE A CLUE?...Derby Dinner
Playhouse is offering an entertaining night out for families with older children with its performance of Clue: The Musical. This internationally popular game comes to life on stage in this fun-filled musical.
March 31-May 9
Ages 10 and up derbydinner.com
HIKING, FISHING, AND GIANTS...OH MY!...Bernheim Arboretum and Research
Forest is located 25 miles south of Louisville, offering over 40 miles of hiking trails, fishing, public art, and the must-see Forest Giants. Carved from recycled wood, the three Forest Giants tower over the landscape, thrilling visitors with their detail and size.
Open daily bernheim.org
Submitted photo
The Giants are within walking distance of each other on an approximately 2-mile loop.
READY TO GET OUT OF TOWN? WE FOUND SOME REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE A SHORT DRIVE FROM LOUISVILLE AND OFFER A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES THAT WILL TAKE SPRING BREAK TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
DIVE IN...Newport Aquarium
showcases thousands of animals from around the world, in a million gallons of water. From the Shark Bridge to Gator Alley, adventure awaits for the entire family.
Open daily newportaquarium.com
GRAB YOUR FLASHLIGHT... Mammoth Cave National Park is home to rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world’s longest known cave system. There are several ways to explore the park. Tour a cave, go hiking, canoe or kayak along the Green and Nolin Rivers, or camp overnight.
Open daily nps.gov/maca/index.htm
SPARK YOUR IMAGINATION... The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s largest children’s museum, providing one-of-a-kind experiences that range from an immersive Dinosphere© to the exquisite, five-story Fireworks of Glass sculpture by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.
Open daily childrensmuseum.org
EXPLORE AND INDULGE...Brown
County, Indiana, is a short drive north on I-65 and offers many family-friendly options, including outdoor adventures, charming shops, homemade treats, and quaint cabins and inns for an overnight stay.
Browncounty.com
The Louisville Zoo is bringing back the Wild Lights Lantern Festival (left) for 2021. For plenty of active family fun, The Louisville Mega Cavern (above) provides ziplining, a ropes course, biking, and more.
Submitted photos
SPORTS, SCIENCE, ART...TAKE YOUR PICK. THESE CAMPS OFFER A WEEK OF FUN, DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU LOVE.
WE’VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW ABOUT YOU?...All About Kids Spring Break
Camp provides a fun, safe environment for kids to learn and grow through sports. Gymnastics, swim, cheer, dance, open gym, and crafts will be offered.
Louisville Location: March 29-April 2
Oldham County Location: April 5-April 9
Ages 4-14 allaboutkids.cc
EXPLORE YOUR WORLD... Kentucky Science Center School’s Out
Spring Break Camp encourages campers to play, tinker, and investigate the world around them with plenty of time to explore their favorite science center.
March 29-April 2
Pre-K through Grade 5 kysciencecenter.org
DISCOVER, GROW, AND LEARN... Jewish Community of Louisville Camp
J: Spring Camp offers a fun, and engaging experience for campers to discover, grow, and learn. Choose from Traditional Camp or Snapology Summer Sampler Specialty Camp which offers engineering, Minecraft, robotics, and more.
March 29-April 2
K through Grade 5 jewishlouisville.org
PACK A LUNCH...The Parklands of Floyds Fork Spring Break Hiking Day
Camp offers a week of fun and adventure at The Parklands of Floyds Fork. Each day campers will explore a new trail in Beckley Creek Park while investigating the flora and fauna that call the park home.
March 29-April 2
K through Grade 6 theparklands.org
LET’S GET CREATIVE...Louisville
Visual Art Spring Break Art Camp 2021 will be filled with discovery, discussion, and art projects in the mornings. Afternoon camp life will involve exploring outside, creating art, and playing games, all centered around the theme of Earth and its inhabitants.
March 29-April 2
Ages 7-12 louisvillevisualart.org
READY FOR SOME ACTION?... Oldham County Family YMCA Spring
Break Camp offers campers the chance to participate in themed games and activities, stir their imaginations, get plenty of exercise, and make new friends.
April 5-9
Ages 5-10 (K-5th grade)
For information or to register call 502.222.9358.
CAMP DIRECTORY
Camp J at the Jewish Community Center
Camp friends are forever friends.
Splash into summer at Camp J at the Jewish Community Center, June 7 – August 6! There are many reasons to send your kiddos to camp this summer! Camp J offers weekly traditional camp for Kindergarten through 10th grade. Campers will participate in games and sports, dance, arts and crafts, science and nature, swimming, drama, Israeli culture, music and more! Swim lessons are provided to children Kindergarten through 3rd grade and all campers get free swim daily. Camp J also offers weekly specialty camps! From sports to cooking, STEAM camps and more, there is something for every camper, at every age! Register for the transformative Camp J experience campers remember for the rest of their lives! At Camp J, children will learn, discover, grow, have fun and make lifelong friendships! Camp friends are forever friends!
Sign your kids up for Camp J today at jcclouisvillecamp.org!
Whet Your Palette
We are in our 9th year of camp and are excited to focus on five more unique artists to our summer camp this year. Along with our camp favorites, we have added some new camp themes and five new artists!
2021 Art Camp Themes:
• Art From the Kitchen • Music Time • Cats, Dogs And • Patterns on
All Things Pets Patterns • Disney Heroes • Star Wars • Garden Party • Vacation Time • Messy Slimy • Video Game Adventure
Multiple camp themes all summer.
WHEN: Starts May 24th. 9:30-11, 11:30-2, 2:30-5 AGES: Age groups 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. COST: Starts at $95/week or $25/day Combine for all-day experience. Discounts for siblings and all day camping. Space is limited. Register early!
WhetYourPalette.com | 502.438.8865
Get off your screens. Get out of the house.
COME TO CAMP!
Camp Palawopec
A good old-fashioned fun camp in the hills of Brown County, Indiana. Activities include swimming, mountain biking, canoing, soccer, basketball, climbing, campfires every night, Indian lore, crafts, horses, archery, etc. Great summer fun in a relaxed outdoor setting. One staff for every three campers. AGES: Ages: 8 – 15 years COST: One week session = $895 Two week session = $1695 Three week session = $2495 Four week session = $3295
DATES:
Coed sessions: May 30-June 5, June 6-12, July 11-17, July 18-24, July 25-31 Boys session: June 13-19, June 20-26 Girls session: July 27-July 3, July 4-10
3497 N Clay Lick Rd, Nashville, Brown County, IN, 47448 • 812.988.2689 camppalawopec.com • mail@camppalawopec.com
YMCA Camp Piomingo
This summer, kids need camp like never before. At YMCA Camp Piomingo they will be able to unplug to reconnect, with nature and each other.
YMCA Camp Piomingo is the region’s premiere overnight camp for kids ages 6-16. Campers share outdoor adventures and experience fun activities like high ropes, the zip line, horseback riding and swimming in our awesome aquatics center. Our experienced and high-energy staff help campers gain self-esteem, make new friends and develop interpersonal and leadership skills. Safety has always been, and will remain, our first priority. We will be following guidelines established by the CDC, American Camp Association, and local health experts to keep your children and our staff safe throughout the summer. Visit us online at ymcacamppiomingo.org or call 502.942.2616 to reserve your bunk today!
The Y is for everyone.
Financial assistance is available.
The Louisville Zoo
The WILDEST camps in town are at the Louisville Zoo! Wild Lights Spring Break Camp
Date: March 29-April 2 Cost: $350 Members / $375 Non-Members Ages: 8-10 year olds This week we’ll shine a light on lanterns! Campers will explore the zoo throughout the week to discover the processes of illumination and learn about the real-life animal counterparts that inspired the Zoo’s Wild Lights exhibit. As a part of their week, campers will construct their own Asian lantern and will receive the special opportunity to display it during our Wild Lights event! Camp cost includes admission for 1 adult to visit Wild Lights to see their child’s lantern display. Info and registration at LouisvilleZoo. org/camps.
YMCA Summer Day Camps
YMCA Summer Day Camps offer a powerful learning environment and can be a place where a child’s social education and independence grow. Kids have the opportunity to try new activities and when they succeed — they build self-esteem and confidence. The Y provides physical activity, fun in nature, arts and crafts, swimming and much more! Campers are challenged and encouraged by nurturing, caring staff, who practice the Y’s Character Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. We will be following guidelines to keep your children and our staff healthy and safe throughout the summer. Visit ymcalouisville.org to read more about our protocols. Register online at ymcalouisville.org by April 12 and save! Use promo code: OUTSIDE21.
The Y is for everyone.
Financial assistance is available.
Oldham County Schools Arts Center
Summer Camps in Theatre, Visual Arts, Music and Dance
New camps every week! June 7 – July 30
Are you hoping to improve your acting, auditioning, or musical theatre skills? Would you like to dance to tunes from your favorite Disney princess movie or bring your favorite American Girl doll to art camp? Do you prefer to explore painting, mixed media or clay sculpting? Dream of playing a new instrument? Summer is a great time to try something new, improve a skill and have a fun time with some newly made friends!
You can do it all with over 35 camps for ages 4 -18! Most camps are half-day which can be combined to create a full day camp experience. Ballet/Tap classes and private music/voice lessons are also available.
Please call the Arts Center at 502-241-6018 for more information or visit www.ocsartscenter.org for a complete listing of camps and to register online.
You can view all camp listings on TodaysWomanNow.com.
Interested in listing a Camp Directory? Our next issue to feature the Camp Directory is May. Contact us at Advertising@TodaysMediaNow.com or 502.327.8855.
Safety in Senior Care
Keeping elders and caregivers protected
By Carrie Vittitoe Photos by Melissa Donald
Caregiving has looked and felt different since March 2020 when COVID-19 changed all of our lives. We’ve had to reconsider what safety looks like, be intentional about managing safety protocols, and acknowledge how much these new tasks make caregiving even more taxing than it normally is. Barton House, Masonic Homes of Kentucky, and Norton Healthcare are three local entities that have spent the last year emphasizing safety for its patients while also doing what it takes to provide care to its caregiving staff.
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our experts
Submitted photo
AMY CLARK Executive Director Barton House Memory Care
BARTON HOUSE MEMORY CARE is located at 6830 Overlook Dr, Louisville, KY 40241.
KRISTEN LACY NTI Program Coordinator Masonic Homes of Kentucky
MASONIC HOMES OF KENTUCKY is located at 3701 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40207.
NORTON HEALTHCARE has numerous locations in the Louisville area.
Caregiving Directory
Barton House
6830 Overlook Dr Louisville, KY 40241
(502) 423-7177 bartonlouisville.com Number of beds: 20 Separate unit: yes (freestanding) Cost per month: $ 6125 (all-inclusive) Level of care: personal care Special services: Designed for Alzheimer’s
& memory impairments. Dignified & individualized care, from meals to the activities they participate in, and how their room is decorated. Provides pets to love & care for, frequent meals promoting socialization, tree-filled backyard with a patio and walking path. Staff trained in dementia. Medical care by our nurses, therapists, psychiatrist & doctor.
Owner: Goodworks Payment Accepted: private, LTCi
The Forum at Brookside
200 Brookside Dr Louisville, KY 40243
(502) 245-3048 theforumatbrookside.com
Levels of care: retirement, personal care,
nursing facility
Capacity: retirement-240, personal care-24,
nursing facility-60
Special services: A beautiful gated community,
24-hr security, chef prepared meals, flexible dining plan, indoor heated pool, new exercise room, recreational activities, pet friendly, a great staff and management team, gorgeous patio homes and apartments, continuum of care.
Owner: Five Star Senior Living, Inc.
AN EMPHASIS ON SAFETY
Barton House, a 20-bed memory care/personal care community has, throughout its twodecade history, been focused on the emotional, intellectual, and physical wellness of its residents. While COVID-19 hasn’t lessened that focus, it has forced executive director Amy Clark and her staff to plan differently to ensure residents are pandemic-safe.
They have worked tirelessly and made lots of changes within the home, many of which involve adding in more time between activities to ensure staff can keep residents safely spaced. “There’s more focus on how and when we’re doing things versus just the normal routine,” Amy says. “We’ve got to pre-plan every step.” Being a small community helps make this a little easier and allow for more individualized care to meet residents’ needs, which can change from day-to-day as a result of their memory loss.
Keeping residents safe from COVID-19 has, of course, been a priority, but it has been balanced with the very real need to keep residents and their families emotionally healthy. Barton House staff disinfect a foyer area frequently so that a family member can sit on one side and speak on the phone opposite a large window where their loved one sits, allowing residents to still see people who love them. “They’re able to at least have some contact with their families,” Amy says.
It can be hard for families to make the decision to move a loved one into a senior assisted living or personal care community, but in making that decision, they want to know that the staff will go above and beyond to meet the needs of the ones receiving care. Barton House staff has done that in spades since COVID-19 hit, including taking residents’ temperatures three times a day at every shift change and increasing their janitorial staff. “We’re doing more than what’s mandated,” Amy says.
KEEPING COVID-19 PATIENTS SAFER
Despite safety precautions, people at high risk of poor outcomes continue to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Dr. Joseph M. Flynn, D.O., MPH, FACP, chief administrative officer of Norton Medical Group, and physician-in-chief, Norton Cancer Institute, says in the early days of the pandemic, the mortality rate from COVID-19 for individuals over age 65 was 5.6 percent. While this may seem small, it means that in the U.S., where some 52 million people meet this criteria, that could result in more than two million deaths.
Norton Healthcare is able to offer high risk COVID-19 patients outpatient treatment with
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Norton Healthcare Submitted photo
monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Flynn says Norton has emergency use authorization (EUA) to treat patients with Regeneron and Bamlanivimab (BAM), which are given intravenously. These medications bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from replicating or kill it outright; they essentially work as antibodies to fight COVID-19 infection. “Right now we’ve treated close to 1,300 patients; we treat 30-plus patients a day, seven days a week,” he says.
Physicians who diagnose high-risk patients with COVID-19 can put an order in the computer, and typically the patient will receive their infusion the same or next day. The process takes several hours, but it is well worth the time since most patients notice significant improvement in their symptoms within a day or two.
Jackie Bourke is one such patient who experienced remarkable improvement in her symptoms after receiving BAM. When she was first diagnosed with COVID-19 in November 2020, she felt mildly ill, but within a week she had a fever and difficulty breathing. As a COVID-19 research nurse, “I see the path that people take [with the disease],” she says; she knew she didn’t want to follow that same route.
Under the EUA, the following criteria put individuals at high-risk for a poor prognosis should they become infected with COVID-19: • Over age 65 • Obese (BMI over 35) • Chronic kidney disease/diabetes • On immunosuppressive treatment • Have immunosuppressive disease (Lupus, multiple sclerosis, etc.) • If over age 55, have chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure • If age 12-17, have elevated BMI with congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease, pulmonary disorders, and similar ailments
“These antibodies are preventing the escalation of the disease. After a day or two, really, it’s remarkable how quickly [patients] start making a turn. We’ve been very happy with the rapidity of the responses we see,” Dr. Flynn says. Shielding patients against COVID19’s worst outcomes also means protecting the safety of Norton Healthcare staff and non-COVID-19 patients who require hospitalization for other ailments and accidents.
KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE BY CARING FOR STAFF
Norton Healthcare isn’t alone in recognizing that keeping staff safe and cared for ultimately benefits patients. At Barton House, Amy made the decision in the early days of
Caregiving Directory
Helping Hands Companion Care Services
(502) 426-9783 home-companions.com Type: non-medical Services: personal care, home making,
transportation, errands, respite, med. reminders
Cost per hour: $21 and up Employees’ status: bonded, liability ins.,
background check, direct hires, withhold taxes, drug testing
Min. time required: Flexible Special services: Personalized loving care
available in home, assisted living, nursing home or hospital • Scheduling up to 24 hours 7 days a week • Trained and experience caregivers • Free assessments • Serving Kentucky and Southern Indiana since 1996.
Owner: Terry Graham, RN; Dawn Smithwick, BSW Payment Accepted: private, LTCi, VA
Masonic Homes Kentucky — Louisville Campus
3701 Frankfort Ave Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 259-9627 masonichomesky.com Levels of care: Independent living, assisted
living, personal care, skilled nursing, memory care
Capacity: independent living-269 apts/12 patio
homes; personal care-84; skilled nursing-126; memory care-5
Special services: Short-stay and outpatient
rehab available for all levels of care. On-site dialysis clinic. Region’s only Life Care and Life Plan programs provide discounts on health care services to entry fee residents.
Owner: Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.
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Caregiving Directory
Nazareth Home
2000 Newburg Rd Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 459-9681 nazhome.org Levels of care: Alzheimer’s, nursing/rehab,
personal care
Capacity: Alzheimer’s-48, nursing/rehab-118,
personal-50
Special services: Nazareth Home offers rehab
and restorative therapy, specializing in dementia care and personal care with an award-winning therapeutic recreation and exercise program.
Owner: Nazareth Home, Inc.
Nazareth Home – Clifton
2120 Payne St Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 895-9425 nazhome.org Levels of care: Alzheimer’s, nursing/rehab,
personal care
Capacity: nursing/rehab-108, personal care-31 Special services: Award-winning staff provides
nursing care, short stay and outpatient rehab, activities, dining and transportation. Easy access from I-64 on U.S. 60. Therapeutic recreation and exercise programs. On-site religious services.
Owner: Nazareth Home, Inc.
Norton Healthcare
Find a medical provider or learn more about COVID-19 treatments and research: NortonHealthcare.com << PAGE 53
Masonic Homes of Kentucky
the pandemic to help her staff when she feared that daycares might close down (which they did). “I don’t want that to interfere with staffing so [I asked my staff] ‘What can we do to help?’” she says. Amy didn’t want the care and safety of Barton House residents to be compromised because her staff didn’t have child care and couldn’t show up for work. She came up with a proactive plan that involved altering schedules and providing for childcare on site, and while this plan never had to be implemented, Barton House staff appreciated knowing steps were being taken to ensure a system was in place.
Masonic Homes Kentucky knew caring for their staff’s needs meant their caregivers could focus all of their attention and energy on caring for residents. With so many levels of caregiving on the Masonic Homes campus, from assisted living to memory care to skilled nursing and beyond, it has always been essential for clinicians, nurses, therapists, and caregivers to be at their best. Adding in the safety protocols of COVID-19 has been one more thing to consider in how their caregiving is accomplished, and that has been difficult given how frequently guidelines change depending on transmission rates.
Many Masonic Homes Kentucky caregivers are also parents of school-aged children, so when decisions were made by school boards that students would not return to in-person school in the fall, Masonic Homes created a Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) program for its staff. This program would help ensure that employees could focus on their caregiving during the day and not spend their time at home dealing with the stress of helping their children complete school work. As any caregiver knows, it is essential for those providing care to be physically, mentally, and emotionally rested in order to do their jobs well.
Kristen Lacy, the NTI program coordinator for Masonic Homes, says the program is open from 6am-6pm and provides breakfast, school assistance, and activities for children in a COVID-safe environment. Most of the children are in grades K-5 and attend school in three counties, two states, and are in both public and private systems. “We’ve been able to serve about 50 kids up to this point,” she says. There are two teachers and several assistants on site who ensure children log on for classes and complete whatever assignments they’re given.
Amanda Dowdle’s fourth-grade son, Hayden, has been in the program, which allows her to focus solely on her role as Life Enrichment Director at Sam Swope Care Center. She is able during the day to put all her attention and energy on the safety and well-being of her staff and the Masonic Homes residents. “I can mentally dedicate myself throughout the day to my residents knowing my child is safe and doing what he needs to do. Without that additional stress, it helps me provide a better day for them,” she says.
