31/12/2021
This years been tough, i was unsure what to say, so instead i wrote a poem for my team the highs and lows of this past year, i am so so proud of their love and care, dedication to our Residents and the home, and want to share it, its been tough, but we got through it together.
Love you all xx Nikki xx
When the world stood apart, we stood together
January came, we welcomed it in
Surely a better year was about to begin
We worked hard through yet another lockdown,
Making residents laugh and acting the clown
Vaccines were coming we hoped for covid to bring less harm,
such high hopes we had for that little jab in our arm!
We went to work and for us life remained very stable
The keyworker term had long become our new label!
I worked alongside you all with such pride,
little knowing the virus at our home was about to abide!
We had our jabs and felt this year would be good,
life would be easier surely it would!
February came, local covid cases were high
The figures, the news, it almost passed us all by
Then one day a positive result came through
I hoped that would be it, if only I knew
We tested the home, awaited results with an anxious mind
All the time the team helped our residents and were oh so kind
More results came back staff and residents were posiTive,
Our minds immediately were scared what if some people didn’t live?
Covid had snuck and it hit us full on
Staff tearful and scared couldnt believe covid had won
Lateral flow tests kept showing that damn second line,
yet we were all to unwell or tired to reach for the wine
The virus snuck in, We just wished we could see,
each positive result we thought that could have been me
Each day we showed up afraid and unsure
Who next would have covid knocking at their door
Our residents were sick, or fed up in their room
Thank god for quizzes, what’s app, Facebook and zoom
Staff who were isolating felt so much heartache,
was an awful time knowing they couldn’t help whilst we were were in outbreak
We had a death, and then another and another
Our beloved residents, who were someone’s dad, aunty or mother
Watching people we loved get so sick made us cry,
but we couldn’t even hug as we watched people so special die.
The handover was depressing each update bad news
Staff were bewildered how many can we loose?
We followed infection control and washed hands till they were raw
And cleaned and scrubbed every surface and door
Slowly but surely we began to win the fight,
no positive results, we saw some light
I had time to think, to reflect and feel pride
My wonderful team were so supportive at a time most would hide
Staffing improved and people came back to work
No more covid what’s app group going beserk
Throughout we kept people happy, engaged and so calm,
They were all so scared they could come to some harm
We lost people who were so important I could still cry,
staff struggled so much as some couldn’t say goodbye
March was a blur, using Milton for crockery and trays,
all the relatives for our team were just so full of praise
We cleaned everything, wore visors and changed uniform in the studiO
Some staff would dettol themselves before home they would go
April came and we were covid clear it was formal
Yet nothing for us really seemed very normal
Staff felt tired, low and some so sad
None of us could get over the time we had had
Visitors were allowed in, which we loved and were happy
Yet why did we continue to feel so low and so snappy
We welcomed new staff with love and delight
But so many of us had lost our spark and our fight
May arrived and we were all still reeling,
little bickers became big but we were all still healing
We got together and well-being meetings were completed,
staff who worked through or had isolated shared stories whilst together seated
We all had faced individual battles of our own
It did us good to hear them and have a good moan
Staff who had covid had been unwell and infected people they lived with,
staff who worked through had felt they had no more to give
But we came together, listened, and all tried to understand
We slowly grew strong again together hand in hand
June arrived, followed fast by July,
we still felt uncertain oh how this time did fly
July was fantastic, unlimited loved ones welcomed in
So our visiting co-ordinator role did begin
August was good we had fun in the sun
Finally it felt better times had begun
Most restrictions in the uk had come to a stop,
we could see families and friends which we needed a lot
September arrived and we won a Health and well-being award
The hard work and dedication recognised was such a reward
We were all in the paper for all to see,
no one could be prouder of you all than me
We won this due to your hard work, love and care,
it was so well deserved I hope your all aware!
October and November where busy but fine,
with activities and work seeming to keep us in line
December arrived and Christmas was almost here,
this damn new variant will not bring us fear
We’re back at our best, and continue to improve,
none of us got stuck in that dark awful groove
Fun Activities daily got us in the festive mood,
With singing and dancing and of course lots of food
It’s been so hard this past year, I feel grief has been rough,
Both covid or natural causes any loss seems more tough
Caring for people so well will bring this sadness at the end,
but you should feel it with honour as we get to become our residents friend
I’m so proud of you all, you should have high self esteem,
such a resilient and caring and wonderful team.
See looking back on this year despite having a moan,
I look back with such pride and know I’ll never walk alone..
Thank you so much to all the staff, and family and friends of Grange-Lea who have just been amazing this past year, love you all so much, im praying for a kinder 2022 xx
