When a resident was nearing the end of her life, one of her nurses, Theresa, knew how hard it would be for the family to decide which one of them would be able to come in to sit at her side. She immediately began thinking through options to allow all of the family to see their loved one. This resident was living on the second floor, which, of course, presented a greater challenge. With the family’s permission, she and other staff assisted the resident in a Broda chair [a special wheelchair that adjusts for comfort in complex care settings] and brought her to a first-floor conference room. This allowed multiple family members to see their loved one at the end of her life while remaining at a safe distance from others.

Our nurses’ day-to-day work is demanding. However, since we began limiting visitors at Lake Winona Manor, Theresa has made family and resident communication a priority. As you can imagine, the value of this is immeasurable for the residents and their families. She will also take time to bring in food and have one-on-one meals with residents to provide extra comfort and support.

I feel fortunate to work not only with her but all of our Lake Winona Manor staff. The stories I could tell are countless and they happen every day. They are my inspiration.

⁠—Amanda Ciszak, Director of Nursing, Lake Winona Manor

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