What’s going on? News from MM . . .

Beginning this week the regular activity program and scheduled exercise groups have all been cancelled due to guidelines from CMS regarding the COVID-19 illness that is making its way around the world and nation . . . but that does not mean that everything is cancelled . . . as someone posted on a WhatsApp status:
Conversations will not be cancelled.
Relationships will not be cancelled.
Love will not be cancelled.
Songs will not be cancelled.
Reading will not be cancelled.
Self-care will not be cancelled.
Hope will not be cancelled.
May we lean into the good stuff that remains.
Also – our Heavenly Father and FAITH will not be cancelled.
So . . . life is going on and we are adapting and for the most part the residents are happy and taking everything in stride! We are doing what we can to help them stay in contact with you! It has been so much fun to see the Cheer Basket items coming in, flowers being delivered, cards & letters coming in the mail or Cheer Box, the pictures that grandchildren are coloring, songs being called in, etc. Everything is met with smiles and thank-you’s . . . it all makes the day so much brighter!! One couple was very enthused with the pictures they received from a grandchild!! The Activity Department has been going around every day with an Activity Cart that has an assortment of jigsaw puzzles, circle word and other brain teaser puzzles, coloring pictures, writing and coloring supplies, books and magazines, etc. that we are offering to the residents. It has been well-received. The completed brain teaser puzzles are put into a drawing for a small prize every day at 3:00.  For a special treat on this First Day of Spring – we made some chocolate pudding and are serving it in ‘spring’ cups with green coconut grass and eggs on top!  We tried something new today and read the 1st chapter of Little House on the Prairie over the intercom – it was received with good reviews. So we’ll continue reading a chapter a day at 10:30 in the morning. Tomorrow we’re going to try Intercom Bingo – those that want to play will have a clipboard with several run-off Bingo card papers – they will mark their numbers with a crayon when they hear the number called on the intercom. The Rehab department has tried several small exercise groups of less than 10 residents – of course, keeping their ‘social distance’!! One lady remarked “Is this what you call Western exercise?? . . . Wide open spaces!?” Another lady remarked to an employee “Just continue to carry on like you’ve started. Thank you so much for what you do!” So keep the good cheer coming . . . we all need it!! And . . . the sunshine today helps!!! Thank you for your songs and prayers!!