My husband became a resident of LTC in February 2022, due to Parkinson’s and Dementia. He could no longer perform the normal activities of daily living. It took several months for him to adapt to his new surroundings and being dependent on staff for all of his needs. I feel that I have a good rapport with the LTC staff. I am there (almost) daily to visit my husband of 55 years, whether it is a few minutes or a few hours. I have a great appreciation for the concern and devotion shown to the residents. All of the staff in the LTC unit are considerate of the residents, but I especially appreciate Teresa Conger.

One day, Teresa told me she had researched the symptoms she observed from my husband’s actions and we talked about how to make him more comfortable. She made me feel like I had an ally in helping me come up with suggestions or ideas to care for him; she brought in a weighted blanket, which could help him feel more secure. And when a cold draft from a window was in his face, she suggested we turn his bed around. With the help of several staff members, we rearranged his bed, dresser, and closet in a matter of minutes. When I was out of town for seven days and not able to visit my husband, Teresa set up her cell phone to FaceTime, so that I could actually see and talk to him through my absence. Teresa also encouraged me to allow staff to take him to extra activities (BINGO, listening to church hymns, guitar playing) even though he could not participate, with the hope that he may be able to hear or sense the rhythm of music or other people’s voices. Anytime I had a concern, or question, or became discouraged, she listened.