Avamere at Moses Lake employees go room to room to help residents celebrate Mother’s Day
CASEY MCCARTHY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 6 months AGO
Courtesy photo Bergie Bergen, a resident and mother at Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility, smiles after being given a rose and plate of treats and candies to help her celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Courtesy photo Avamere Executive Director Jodi Montoya, left, and her mother, Lorna, were able to celebrate Mother’s Day together at the Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility on Sunday.
Courtesy photo Yuvonne Buckley, a mother of two daughters, smiles with her Mother’s Day flowers given to her by the staff at the Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility on Sunday.
Courtesy photo Betty, a resident and mother at Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility, receives flowers in her room on Sunday afternoon.
Courtesy photo Betty, a mother and resident of Avamere assisted-living facility in Moses Lake, places her protective mask in her lap while she smells her flowers Sunday.
Courtesy photo Gwen, a resident and mother at Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility, holds her new Mother’s Day flowers and treats on Sunday.
MOSES LAKE — Jodi Montoya, executive director at Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility, said she had to think of a way to change up their annual Mother’s Day celebration in this time of social distancing.
“We had to be really creative for this since we couldn’t do it in a big room, so we decided we’d still do the same event and go room to room with it,” Montoya said.
Montoya and her staff helped residents celebrate the day by bringing treats and flowers to each room and were met with smiling faces in return.
“It puts a big smile on their face, and they’re always happy to see visitors,” Montoya said. “They’re always grateful for everything they get. We’re their second family, so when we go into the room, it’s like a son or daughter coming in to see them.”
Montoya said her own mother stays in the assisted-living facility. It’s been tough for some residents not being able to have visitors in recent weeks. The facility provides programs to help residents stay connected with their families, including a program started to help individuals to set up video calls with loved ones.
Bergie Bergen, a resident at Avamere, said her Mother’s Day had been good. Bergen said the last few weeks of COVID-19 social distancing hadn’t bothered her as someone who doesn’t particularly care to have too many people around.
“I select who I want to be around, I’m fussy,” Bergen said with a laugh. “If I want to talk to someone I’ll talk to them over the phone. I don’t mind being by myself, I never have.”
Receiving her flowers and treats Sunday was great, Bergen said, and added that the staff is “always doing something good.”
Bergen said she has two daughters and plenty of grandchildren who treat her very well. Bergen had just one request on Mother’s Day: a margarita.
Yuvonne Buckley has been staying at the Avamere facility since August, she said. Buckley said she feels like she’s finally found a place where she can be completely happy.
“They’re just absolutely on top of it here with surprises for us, and trying to keep us happy, and you just never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next,” Buckley said. “Today, I was really surprised, we got a lovely bunch of real fancy cookies and a flower. I think I can’t say anyone is being neglected at this place, it’s very, very accommodating.”
She said she stays pretty busy for the most part, with crossword puzzles or colored pencils, for instance. The past few weeks have been strange for everyone, but most people have been good about staying busy or patient, if maybe a bit more patient than busy. Buckley said she couldn’t have asked for a better day on Sunday.
