Memories: Drive-up visits, photos amid virus touch residents at care facility

SEBASTIAN — A photo has the power to capture life’s greatest moments, and to also rekindle a person’s most cherished memories.

Corinne Langford points at photos of her and her family on the side of their car as they visit with her at Pelican Landing Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sebastian, Fla., April 17, 2020. Law enforcement and family members were asked to loop around the front parking lot to see their loved ones.[Kaila Jones/32963]

Donnelly’s mother, Corinne Langford, 92, is a resident at Pelican Landing Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Donnelly joined several others who went to the long-term care facility Friday, riding around the parking lot, waving from vehicles to loved ones watching at a distance. Donnelly made sure Langford, who has dementia, recognized her by putting three large pictures of her mother’s 70th wedding anniversary across the passenger side of the Honda Accord Donnelly was riding in.

The first time the vehicle went around the parking lot, Langford was confused, Donnelly said. When the vehicle drove around a few more times, Langford finally recognized the pictures from the wedding anniversary party, which was held in a private dining room Jan. 6 at the assisted living facility.

“It’s one thing to decorate the vehicle, but if they don’t know who you are, it doesn’t matter,” Donnelly said. “I put the pictures on the side of the vehicle so that could spark a memory for her. I was hoping she would still remember I was her daughter.”

Public health concerns caused by the coronavirus led several healthcare facilities across the state to severely limit visitations from family members. Several residents, including Donnelly, haven’t seen relatives living in long-term care facilities for more than a month.

Family members and staff at Pelican Landing wore protective masks at the event to prevent the spread of the virus. Several seniors held up signs with their relatives’ names written on them.

Some signs read, “Love you both” and “miss you.” Signs dedicated to first responders, including Sebastian police which also participated in the event, read “thank you all – police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. We appreciate you.”

Donnelly said she was overcome with emotion when she finally got the chance to see her mother again. Langford, dressed in pink and sitting in a wheelchair, pointed at the vehicle as it slowly cruised by, with smiling faces in the front and back seats.

Family friend Renee Lentz, 48, drove the car, which won first place for “best decorated vehicle.” Langford’s husband, Ronald, 93, sat in the back seat.

Family members participate in “Honk Your Horn” parade as they do a drive by visit to their loved ones at Pelican Landing Assisted Living. Most family members haven’t seen their loved ones in 6 weeks since the facility restricted visitors because of coronavirus concerns. #VeroNews pic.twitter.com/7IZ0WGSX9f

— Nicholas Samuel (@JournalistNickS) April 17, 2020

The Langfords married in Swampscott, Massachusetts, and moved to Sebastian in 2003. Even though Donnelly hasn’t seen her mother in several weeks, Donnelly is still able to contact her by phone.

Donnelly said she would visit her mother at the facility every Tuesday and Thursday, before the visitation restrictions. As a weekly outing, Donnelly would take Langford out for lunch every Tuesday at Mulligans in Sebastian.

“She’d usually get two glasses of wine and a flatbread pizza,” Donnelly said. Donnelly said she has had more than 1,455 lunch outings with her mother.

Donnelly said she thinks the staff at Pelican Landing are doing a great job keeping residents safe.

“The girls that work here are phenomenal,” Donnelly said. “I can’t thank them enough.”

The Bells

The Bells, another couple at Pelican Landing, also recently achieved a milestone in their lifelong marriage. Lois Bell, 89, and James Lamar Bell, 88, recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.

The couple married on April 12, 1952, in Rossville, Georgia. The Bells are originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“We’ve been together for so long, we can’t remember when we weren’t married,” Lois Bell said. “We feel blessed.”

Lois Bell said she worked as a homemaker. James Bell said he served in the Tennessee National Guard for nine years.

In 1957, the couple moved to south Florida, where James Bell worked as a chief for the West Palm Beach Fire Department for 25 years. James Bell retired in 1986, and the couple relocated to Sebastian a few years later.

The Bells said they enjoyed the event at Pelican Landing.

“They are nice. It’s not home, but it’s somewhere to live,” Lois Bell said. “We’re thankful to reside in assisted living.”

“Seeing their faces are vital”

After weeks of restricting visitors from seeing loved ones because of health concerns from coronavirus, staff at Pelican Landing knew that relatives were worried about their family members inside the facility.

Lori Hoey, the facility’s community program director, said organizing the “Honks for Horns” event aimed to show clients that their loved ones did not forget about them.

“Seeing their (loved one’s) faces are vital,” Hoey said.

Hoey said those who live in the facility can talk to relatives through Facetime on an iPhone or iPad. Staff members keep residents entertained with several activities that are done while using social distancing.

Every morning, clients can tune in to channel two for a fitness class, Hoey said. This allows residents to exercise within their own rooms.

Staff members wear protective masks while participating in activities with clients including solving puzzles, painting, games and contests, Hoey said. The healthcare workers give residents magazines, books, and provide three meals a day.

Healthcare workers go to each client’s room for the activities and to give meals. The residents have to stay in their rooms as a precaution against COVID-19, Hoey said.

“It’s tricky. They were used to going to the dining hall three times a day and eating with friends in communion,” Hoey said. “We hold activities so they can feel like they’re part of the community, even though they can’t associate with the neighbor across the hall.”

Hoey said healthcare workers are trying to lift up the spirits of the residents at the facility.

“They can’t hug their loved ones,” Hoey said. “(Relatives) are thinking about their loved ones (in assisted living) just as much as the clients are thinking about them.”

Photos by Kaila Jones

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