BROWNSTOWN
Thank you.
Those two words don’t take long to say but can make a lasting impact on who they are directed toward.
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Those words are appreciated and can motivate and encourage a person to keep pushing forward.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have expressed thanks to health care employees working on the front lines.
On Sept. 9, Christian Horizons officials stopped by Hoosier Christian Village in Brownstown to do just that as part of the You Rock Gratitude Tour.
The St. Louis, Missouri-based health care and senior living provider is hitting the road this month, making stops in communities where its associates live, work and continue to persevere through these difficult times.
Led by Ray Dickison, chief operating officer and COVID-19 task force leader, the tour has stops planned at all Christian Horizons communities and health care divisions in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. In the Hoosier State, that includes Brownstown, Bedford and Crown Point.
Each stop features outdoor thank-you events where individuals can join in but maintain safe social distance.
In Brownstown, Dickison and 41-year HCV employee Penny England led a parade of vehicles that went by the front of the facility, where staff members and residents were stationed on the sidewalk.
England, who works in medical records and is a qualified medication aide and certified nursing assistant, said she was shocked when she was asked to be the grand marshal of the parade. Standing in the bed of a truck next to Dickison, she fired a confetti cannon and tossed T-shirts to employees and residents.
“It’s wonderful,” England said of the Gratitude Tour. “I don’t feel that it’s only me that’s being appreciated. Our facility thinks everybody is appreciated. It’s the whole facility.”
While the pandemic has presented challenges in the past six months, England said maintaining a positive attitude helps.
“We’ll make it through,” she said. “Whatever, whoever put us through it, God will see us through. That’s my theory.”
After the parade, Dickison and other home office staff members spoke to HCV employees.
“Thank you for all of the great work that has been going on here,” he said. “Our expressed purpose of coming out is the most loud and clear and fun way we can just to say ‘thank you.’ We have so much gratitude for you all as it relates to the last six months in particular.”
It has been a weird time and continues to be since the pandemic isn’t over, Dickison said.
“But I’ll tell you, the fact that Hoosier has essentially been COVID-free this entire time deserves a huge standing ovation,” he said, drawing applause from the HCV staff members. “That is so much a testimony to the work that you all are doing each and every day.”
Dickison said it’s important to remember the people who have died from COVID-19, feel fortunate for those who have successfully recovered from the virus and thank those who have worked to prevent the virus from impacting their facilities.
“I just want you all as we continue to have visitations and limitations on things to be encouraged, to stay creative, stay joyful, stay positive because that’s what we’re going to need as we continue to work through the pandemic,” he said. “The COVID task force will continue to work hard to provide resources and things to stay ahead of this, doing all we can each and every day to continue to make it a huge priority.”
Jake Bell, president and chief executive officer of Christian Horizons, said he’s proud and thankful to have associates protecting residents.
“This has been an unprecedented time,” he said. “I know many of you, you’re dealing with your families, as well. I just hope you know we love you, we appreciate you and we cannot thank you enough. Thank you for all of the work that you’re doing. I know our residents feel the same way.”
He thanked the residents, too.
“Please know that we love you and we’re going to try to do our best to take care of you,” Bell said. “That’s why we’re here. That’s our mission.”
Keith Ray, vice president of mission integration, thanked the HCV staff for being leaders at a place in time where many are feeling the eye of the pandemic storm.
“Thanks for hanging in there,” he said. “Thank you for being believers in our mission so deeply that you won’t trade a sense of safety and security for the care of our residents.”
He also thanked the staff for being teachers by showing how to be resilient, compassionate and resolute.
“We’ve actually been learning from you a lot,” Ray said. “Thank you for being pioneers in marching down this road against a battle of a virus.”
The virus is not over yet, but it’s not going to win, he said, drawing “amen” from the staff.
“Thank you for being partners and collaborating with us at every turn,” Ray said. “We are better friends, better co-workers and a better mission because of what you do.”
Ray concluded with announcing Vallonia Christian Church presented a $600 check to HCV and plans to donate more soon, and then HCV staff members gathered in front of a sign reading “Heroes work here” placed on the front yard.
HCV Administrator Krista Garrison said the Gratitude Tour is another example of company leaders showing their appreciation to associates.
“Our corporate office, I tell them all the time they have been so supportive, and it’s so nice to know you have that support with everything changing,” she said.
“Having them sending us policies, sending us words of encouragement, they’ve been providing us a nice meal once a week for the past several months … that’s how they’ve shown their appreciation,” she said. “It has just been wonderful to be a part of an organization that actually cares about the residents and the employees.”
HCV has nearly 130 staff members, 97 residents and another 13 people in independent living.
Since receiving notification March 12 that the facility’s doors would be locked and other changes were made due to the pandemic, Garrison said there has been a tremendous amount of teamwork.
“From the very beginning, I was coming in all hours with changes from the state department of health, and I would pull everyone in the chapel and I’d say, ‘Guys, this is the new rule,’ and they hit the floor running with it,” Garrison said. “Their biggest goal was to just keep our residents safe and healthy and including themselves.”
Everyone has worn face masks and face shields, practiced frequent handwashing and followed other protocols to keep each other safe and healthy.
“I think these last few months, it has brought us all a lot closer together,” Garrison said. “What I told them is ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, either, guys. We’re learning this together, we’re all in this together and we’re all going to work through it,’ and they’ve all been amazing. Our core staff has just been beyond wonderful.”
The Gratitude Tour stop was much appreciated.
“The work they do is something that no one does for the appreciation. It’s a true love and a true caregiver mindset, that’s for sure,” Garrison said of her staff. “Jackson County, I think, is really blessed with a true community of great nursing communities.”