To the Editor,
Although the following letter relates to a sad event, the real message is one of admiration and appreciation.
Someone very important to our family recently passed away. ‘Catherine’ was 87 years young, mother to my wife and her two adult sons, mother-in-law to three, ‘Nana’ to nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She came from a large family and lived a full and happy life with many friends and acquaintances. Sadly, her health began to deteriorate several years ago, and we had to make the difficult decision to find her a long-term care home in which she would live out her days. Anyone having gone through that process can understand how difficult and upsetting that process can be. Among many, our search led us to Norview Lodge in Simcoe. We are thankful to this day that Norview had an availability at the time Nana was released from hospital and ready to move to LTC.
She resided there for just shy of five years. Her days were originally filled with activities, events, day trips, celebrations, games, and happy times. For all of us, COVID soon came along and many of those busy, happy things slowed right down, but what didn’t was the caregiving, attention, love, and affection from the staff at Norview.
My wife and I spent a lot of time at the home more recently and we were always amazed at the friendliness and compassion we saw the residents getting and that we, too, received from these individuals. Their jobs are not easy ones. They recently have often been short staffed. They work long hours, working many double shifts and long stretches of days in a row. In Nana’s final four or five days, my wife spent day and night by her side and the staff were gracious and compassionate with her just as we had seen them be with the residents.
These individuals were the nurses, nurse practitioners, PSW’s, kitchen staff, cleaning staff, activity coordinators, and the administrative staff. We cannot thank them ALL enough for the care and compassion that they extended to our ‘Nana’ during her final years, months, and days while living at Norview Lodge. The words thank you don’t seem like enough. Their actions on the job will be remembered by our family forever!
Our sincerest appreciation goes out to them!
Bob and Diane Mannell,
Hagersville
