KAUKAUNA (NBC26) — People couldn't visit their loved ones at long-term care facilities just one year ago, but that's changed for one Northeast Wisconsin senior home and care center.
The doors at St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna opened to visitors once again on March 13.
There are still COVID-19 protocols in place. People need to have their temperatures checked in the lobby and answer COVID related screening questions.
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People who aren't vaccinated need to wear a face covering at all times. Those who are fully vaccinated can visit loved ones in their rooms or outdoors without masks.
“It feels great. I mean I just started visiting them a couple weeks ago and it was nice," said John Meyer.
Meyer has lived at the Kaukauna campus for three years. He worked at the facility as an RN for 13 years.
Meyer said he relied mostly on Skype and phone calls to connect with family at the start of the pandemic. While Meyer said the initial COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns weren't enjoyable, he understood them.
Meyer said there's one thing he missed most during that time.
“Family. I mean there are other things, but family was number one," Meyer said.
Visitors couldn't meet in-person in a normal setting with family living at St. Paul Elder Services for an entire year. That was tough for Philip Kohne's 100-year-old dad.
“For him to have been locked up in here, he says he can handle it, but you can tell that it was hurting him," Kohne said.
Over time, the facility allowed more in-person visits. People could meet with family in designated areas during scheduled visits with masks, or have outdoor visits without face coverings following CDC guidance.
Little by little, this allowed Kohne to spend more time with his dad.
“Life came back to him when we were able to at least get back into the facility to visit him," Kohne said. "Even if it was 15 minutes, it was great to him. Then it got to be a half hour. Then all of a sudden it opened up to more, and he’s been happy that we’re able to come in and he’s able to get out.”
Kohne said his dad is now nearing the end of his life. More visitation has given him precious moments to say goodbye.
“The time that we have left together is awesome. It’s great. It’s time that, you know, being able to tell him how much we love him as a family," Kohne said.
Sondra Norder, president & CEO of St. Paul Elder Services, said it's been a traumatic year for those in aging services. She said there were serious COVID-19 outbreaks back in August and in the fall. Some residents died due to COVID-19 complications.
Norder said of the 250 residents in Kaukauna, nearly all are now fully vaccinated. She said the facility hasn't had a coronavirus case since the beginning of the year.
While the latest CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people actually excludes healthcare facilities, she said the news still brings much needed hope to staff, residents and their loved ones.
“It certainly marks a turning point in the pandemic and that is just really good news for us," Norder said. "I feel like the worst of this clinically is behind us and now we’re just focused on healing from the trauma of the last year.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 85 percent of residents 65 and up in Outagamie County have received at least one dose of the vaccine. In that same age group 80 percent have completed the series.
