Since mid-February, Catholic Health’s long-term care facility operations have been backed up by some unique temporary staff – members of the New York National Guard.
They are now present at the Mercy Nursing Facility at Our Lady of Victory in Lackawanna, Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park, and McAuley Residence in Tonawanda. They are serving in a wide variety of roles, except for providing direct medical care.
“We’ve found them to be very flexible, and agreeable to do most anything that they can help with,” said Patricia O’Connor, vice president of long-term care operations at Catholic Health. “They've been doing housekeeping and working in dietary, and even assisting in activities and visiting one-on-one with residents, you know, assisting with bingo and any of the other programming that we're doing, and residents just really love seeing them.”
In the past, the thought of activating the National Guard was better known during times of natural disasters or needing to maintain order during social unrest. But National Guard spokesperson, Colonel Richard Goldenberg, says the COVID pandemic has demonstrated the Guard’s more diverse abilities.
“One of the core parts of service in a part-time military force, like the National Guard, is that you will be called upon to serve in your community,” he said. “Buffalo residents and Western New Yorkers have seen this time and time again, whether it's adverse weather, whether it's the rising waters on Lake Ontario, or now for the past few years going down to get a vaccine or a booster and seeing a National Guard soldier there at the Welcome Desk. It's been part and parcel of what we do to help out in our community.”
In December 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced National Guard units would be made available to assist nursing homes in need of staffing support. Catholic Health is addressing both workforce and volunteer shortages.
“We've lost a lot of volunteers. For the longest time during the pandemic, they weren't allowed in the building. And now they're allowed back in, but people have found other things to do, or they've just not decided to come back into the facility,” O’Connor said. “(Guard members are) providing some support in that regard. They're helping out, and then it gives our staff a chance to take a day off and take a break. And it's also bridging the gap, because we are hiring. And we are bringing new people in while we're onboarding those new people.”
O’Connor says residents and their families were notified ahead of time so there would be no worries, but staff are taking steps to minimize contact with any residents who may have memory or comprehension issues.
The feedback has been generally positive, and even the Guard recognizes the unique opportunity for its members to interact with residents, many of whom are veterans.
“It is one of the unexpected outcomes of seeing our members in uniform arrive at the facilities around the state,” Goldenberg said. “As seniors see these young men and women in uniform appearing in their facilities, it does in many ways trigger some of their family memories and have their own personal experiences or their family stories that we're proud to share with them.”
National Guard members are scheduled to continue their service until March 15.
