PLATTSBURGH — Charlie Johnson takes the mission of defending Meadowbrook Healthcare very significantly.
He has labored on the facility for 16 years, and is now a registered nurse and the affected person care supervisor.
Charlie oversees residents and workers, ensures workers members have the sources they should do their jobs and that insurance policies and procedures are adopted, and serves because the constructing’s sole supervisor on the weekends to, partially, handle emergencies that will come up.
“Every thing that we do within the constructing is mainly all revolving across the … residents,” he stated.
“That is their house and we’re simply residing of their house caring for them, offering look after them.”
PROTECT OUR HOUSE
All through the COVID-19 pandemic, workers have needed to comply with infectious illness tips inside the power whereas nonetheless offering required hands-on care and stay protected exterior the constructing with the intention to stop residents from being uncovered to the coronavirus, Charlie stated.
He famous how Meadowbrook has adopted the phrase #ProtectOurHouse, which may be seen on its social media channels.
“As a lot as that is the residents’ home, it’s our home, too, to guard, and that’s not just for the protection of the residents however for the protection of the workers working there.”
In the course of the pandemic, one in every of Charlie’s roles has been performing well being screenings on workers within the mornings.
“It’s actually been heartwarming to see everyone’s simply loyal dedication to one another, to the residents, to Meadowbrook as a facility.”
And that has continued because the state’s phased reopening has taken place, Charlie stated.
“We’re as steadfast, as vigilant, as targeted as we ever have been,” which he credited to Meadowbrook’s workers, management and possession.
FAMILY INVOLVED
For Charlie, defending that home additionally signifies that his household should take COVID-19-related precautions to coronary heart.
He lives in Plattsburgh along with his fiancee, Kayla Christon, and three youngsters: Annabelle “Annie”, 13; Colden, 11; and Lena, who’s nearing 5 months outdated.
The 5 additionally has a canine named Magnum.
“This was the world that my youngster was born into,” Charlie stated.
The household was already taking in depth precautions for Lena’s security and was trying ahead to assimilating again into the general public when the outbreak hit.
“We’ve had type of this extended social isolation, or this extended quarantine, … not just for Child’s sake however for Dad’s sake as effectively, for the surroundings he works in,” Charlie stated.
SUPPORT
Charlie needed to impress upon Annie and Colden the must be further protected, together with not having buddies over.
“I’ve needed to take further security steps to ask my youngsters to even additional socially distance themselves as a result of Dad has a dedication that he must honor at work that actually includes their distinctive compliance with social distancing, even perhaps extra so than the typical household due to the folks I care for.”
Kayla labored as a nurse at Meadowbrook previous to when Lena was born, so she understands the dangers of enormous gatherings, together with with household, and the precautions that have to be taken.
“Having that assist has been — and I’m not being corny in any respect — it’s simply been so refreshing as a result of she simply genuinely understands it as a nurse herself,” Charlie stated.
He added that he couldn’t do his jobs as both a dad or a nurse with out a very loving, nurturing and supportive fiancee.
“I’m a really fortunate father on Father’s Day.”
GROWING EXPERIENCE
Navigating the pandemic has been a rising expertise for the entire household, Charlie stated.
“And a maturing expertise for (Annie and Colden) to look exterior themselves and understand that their actions have an effect on the group straight.”
He believes the closing of colleges captured the magnitude of the pandemic for his two oldest youngsters.
Charlie thinks it was necessary to steadiness not over-exposing them to the media whereas “on the similar time not hiding them from the truth and permitting them to digest this, give it some thought and be part of the general technique and resolution locally.”
COUNT THEIR BLESSINGS
The 5 get pleasure from going for walks and biking collectively, gardening, mountain climbing, board video games and spending time on a non-public seashore owned by Charlie’s household.
Their plans for Father’s Day?
“Good old style social isolation at house, spending time with the household,” Charlie stated.
“I believe simply to all be collectively and be wholesome, benefit from the hotter climate, perhaps get pleasure from a pleasant meal collectively.”
He stated it’s simple to get choked up when he thinks about all of the folks COVID-19 has impacted, referencing those that have died or misplaced relations to the illness.
Charlie additionally thinks concerning the well being care staff — a few of whom have died from or been dramatically injured by COVID — who’ve put their very own lives vulnerable to such an unpredictable, unknown virus.
He believes his household has discovered to rely their blessings “that we’ve been in a position to keep protected and completely happy and wholesome via all this and study to be a bit artistic once more in our free time.”
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Twitter: @PPR_carachapman