In March of this year we cared for Joyce and her family. Joyce came to us from a retirement community and spent her last three and a half weeks of life at Clarehouse. A month after Joyce died, we received a letter from her son, Steve, which beautifully illustrated what our care meant to their family. Steve began –
“On behalf of my sister and I, let me add to what must be a stack of letters singing the praises of Clarehouse. We were pleasantly surprised to hear that Clarehouse had a room available for my mother and were happy to move her there for her final days. As a pastor, I had visited the facility a few times before, but never as a family member. It was a new and sobering experience to be on the other side.”
It was around this time that the quarantine began and we were forced to implement changes at Clarehouse in order to keep our staff and families safe. Steve continued –
“Just a few days after my mother’s admission, the COVID-19 virus began affecting nursing and hospice facilities and, as you are well aware, even directly impacted Clarehouse. We were so impressed to see you and your staff step up to take care of the guests and their families in light of the loss of your volunteer force. Had we not already seen the facility at full force, we would not have known the difference. My mother continued to receive the best care possible and my
sister and I knew the extra efforts and precautions that were being made to ensure this. I was so thankful that my mother was able to be at Clarehouse when she passed. I am also so thankful that my sister and I were able to be with her during her final days and especially as she took her last breath.”
Thank you Steve, for sharing your mom, your family story and your assessment of our care - care that we are inspired and honored to offer, even as we navigate these changes to our world.
Melanie Craddock, Donor Relations Manager