Explore
By Jennifer Eulberg, MA, LPC
For this once again planned pre-pandemic blog topic, I would like to start with a “Thank You”. I’m thankful for my clients and all of those individuals willing to take a look inside themselves and work toward better understanding of themselves, others, and the world around us. Engaging in therapy is not easy. It certainly isn’t a weakness! Doing the work of internal investigation, confronting traumas, challenging brain patterns, and sharing your most personal thoughts takes incredible strength. I thank my clients for the honor and trust of being a part of their journeys.

To this end, I would like to go a different way than I perhaps normally would with “explore”. While it is often the realm of my work to help clients explore their inner worlds as well as their closest relationships, I have to admit many of us are a bit sick of that concentrated, and lately unrelenting, journey. The possible explorations outward and into the community is a place of mixed messages, mixed opinions, and frankly, mixed levels of restrictions. So then, where to explore?

This question led to my immense gratitude of those who share their stories with me and the world. While this sharing is built into my work as a therapist, it is an available and abundant resource for all of us. Whether you have a large network of friends and/or family or not, we all have unprecedented access to stories of others. Available access points to such journeys can be found in (but not limited to) the following: podcasts, vlogs, blogs, posts, and good old-fashioned memoirs and biographies.

Right now, it’s easy to get lost in the isolation. What month, day, time is it? It’s difficult to navigate our options going out: which stores, counties, states are “open”? Do I feel safe going out?

To me, it is a wonderful feeling of connectedness to our larger humanity to explore the worlds of others. If you happen to feel stir crazy with the staying in and/or if you are unsettled regarding where, when, and how to go out, I encourage you to explore the ways you can connect with others through hearing, reading, listening, or watching their stories.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month! If you, or someone you know, are struggling, please reach out. Tell someone YOUR story.  Please know mental health therapists everywhere are here to help! If you are interested in speaking to someone at Sandhill Counseling, please reach out to our intake coordinator at 636-379-1779.

How to Remain Connected to Loved Ones
Living in a Long-Term Care Facility
By Geoffrey Schaefer, MSW, LCSW
 
During this COVID-19 pandemic, many loved ones are currently isolated from their families. With stay at home orders and social distancing guidelines, most of us are feeling, bored, isolated and disconnected. But for those elderly who reside in Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities, they are really feeling the pinch of isolation and loneliness.
 
Here are a few my thoughts on breaking down the barriers of social isolation in LTC facilities:

1. Let’s go back to old school ways of communication. Write letters and send post cards. Call your loved ones via telephones and cell phones. Many LTC are not set up for virtual communication technologies and many elderly folks are too intimated by using them.
2. Be creative on how you can visit them; call the LTC and ask them how they are promoting safe social distancing visitation. Ask if they can provide masks and other protective clothing. Visit through windows or drive by in cars. Make banners and present them to your loved ones.
3. Send care packages to your loved ones. Send photos, mementos of love, their favorite snacks and desserts. Ask them what they need and send that to them.
4. Once the facility grants visitation with your loved one, please practice safe hygiene. Take your temperature and if you have a fever, please refrain from visiting them. Use Personal Protective Equipment (masks, gowns, etc.…). Usually the LTC will inform you of their guidelines and hopefully they will provide you those supplies but be prepared to bring your own. Wash hands or use sanitizer prior to and after the visit.
5. Lastly, call the LTC and ask them to set up virtual ways to visit your loved one. Ask them to assist the loved one with the video chat. This will ease the frustration level of the elderly.

During COVID-19 pandemic, we all can be creative with how we can be social. For those living in an LTC, socialization is an important part of their well-being.  We all in our community must help each other during this unprecedented time. Through helping and caring for each other, we will get through this!

I will finish with this thought:
            “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think, with deep gratitude, of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
— Albert Schweitzer