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A Nursing Home’s First Day Out of Lockdown: An Update

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran. The Good Shepherd Nursing Home in West Virginia lifted its coronavirus lockdown in February. For months, residents had been confined to their rooms, unable to mix. But with everybody vaccinated, it was time to see one another again, albeit with rules on social distancing and mask wearing still in place. There was Mass in the chapel, lunch in the dining room (decked out in Valentine’s Day decorations) and a favorite activity: the penny auction. Top prize? A tub of cheese puffs. In March, we shared the home’s some of the relief and joy about the tiptoe back to normalcy. Today, we return to the home to see how life has changed. Guest: Sarah Mervosh, a national reporter for The New York Times.
Duration
31m
Broadcast on
30 Dec 2021
Audio Format
other

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran.

The Good Shepherd Nursing Home in West Virginia lifted its coronavirus lockdown in February.

For months, residents had been confined to their rooms, unable to mix. But with everybody vaccinated, it was time to see one another again, albeit with rules on social distancing and mask wearing still in place.

There was Mass in the chapel, lunch in the dining room (decked out in Valentine’s Day decorations) and a favorite activity: the penny auction. Top prize? A tub of cheese puffs.

In March, we shared the home’s some of the relief and joy about the tiptoe back to normalcy. Today, we return to the home to see how life has changed.

Guest: Sarah Mervosh, a national reporter for The New York Times.

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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. Hey it's Michael. This week the daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and hearing what's happened in the time since they first ran. How old are you? You don't want to say. Yeah I'll tell you. Okay 95. 95 okay. You've got a good group here. I thought it was 96. Well I'm sure you know. I was a senior birthday party when it was 95 right. All right now last year you missed up 96th year than I have no party. And then you just came up for months I was wearing my haters. I'll make my hat. Three
you never know about that. I'll show people why and roll them. Today we returned to the Good Shepherd nursing home which allowed us inside just as it was emerging from a year-long lockdown in February to see how life has changed for its residents.
It's Thursday December 30th. Hi. Hi. Hi are you Miss Husic? I'm Zeta. Zeta. Earlier this year in February I met a woman named Zeta Husic who lives at the Good Shepherd nursing home in Wheeling, West Virginia. I will be 96 next month. No no you're not. 96. I don't believe that. I talked to Zeta over FaceTime. There was some medical equipment beeping in the background. They always tell me I look younger because I act young and I don't dress like an old lady and I like to gamble. I'm a gambler. So I was married for 53 years. I waited two hours 30 because I was having a good time and I didn't want to settle down. I didn't have no children. I didn't have no time for that. So tell me about what life has been like during the virus during COVID. What has your life been like? It was stuck in our room and we've been just sitting in a room. We used to go out in the hall but then they'd quit. We was allowed because they didn't want us to be close to one another. So it was pretty boring. Were you eating in a meal and where were you eating? It was boring because all I did was sleep and watch TV. What did you watch? Whatever was on I like to watch a shooting or a wedding gowns. All these older women getting married in the white. That was a surprise. Well in my time you was allowed to get married in the white youngness. You were supposed to be a virgin. Now now. Ty, I'm so changed. I don't know what to tell you. Children, they're in this. You'll do so much. All right, Betty Lou. To a chart. Hi, Betty Lou. Can you hear me? Yeah, I'm here. Yeah. Can you hear her? Yes. Okay. Okay. I also met Betty Lou Leach. 24. So you've figured out. 24. Okay. Who was about to turn 97? What is the hardest part of the last year for you? What's been the hardest part of this whole last year? I think the hardest part is missing your family. I have a rough time at first. My sister was here and she passed away. That was the hardest time I had. And it's been, I don't know quite an adjustment. She passed away at the very beginning of this pandemic, didn't she? Yes, she didn't know you were able to go to the funerals. No, I wasn't able to go to the funeral. I'm so sorry. But her sister didn't die of COVID, but because of COVID, she couldn't grieve with her family or even see much of them. And I do miss my daughter so very, very much. You don't know what it is, how happy it is, and how joyful you are when you do Sam, but we talk maybe two or three times a day. And we always talk every night. We say good night each other every night. And she calls in the mornings and then we're okay. What are you looking forward to most when things change and you're able to get back to some normalcy next week with activities? Well, for one thing, I'm looking for the dining room open. I love the dining room. They always air decorated beautiful. The girls down there took care of it. And you get to see

Transcription truncated.

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran. The Good Shepherd Nursing Home in West Virginia lifted its coronavirus lockdown in February. For months, residents had been confined to their rooms, unable to mix. But with everybody vaccinated, it was time to see one another again, albeit with rules on social distancing and mask wearing still in place. There was Mass in the chapel, lunch in the dining room (decked out in Valentine’s Day decorations) and a favorite activity: the penny auction. Top prize? A tub of cheese puffs. In March, we shared the home’s some of the relief and joy about the tiptoe back to normalcy. Today, we return to the home to see how life has changed. Guest: Sarah Mervosh, a national reporter for The New York Times.