Moments of Truth

From Riverbend Post Acute Care, Kansas City, KS
By Madeana Galler, Therapy Resource

Riverbend nurses and therapists have united forces like never before. The two teams have joined forces to ensure the safety of all of their residents, and all the while gaining a deeper level of appreciation for one another through many Moments of Truth.

Jordanne Gerdes, COTA, and Amy Jacobs, PTA, have owned the shower schedule together with their partner CNAs. They also dried and styled the patients’ hair in preparation for Easter.

On April 9, 2020, TPM Justin Fricke’s church organized a prayer vigil for Riverbend, inviting the community via Facebook to come to the facility and pray over the facility, staff and residents. About 45 cars lined the parking lot, each person stayed in their car, a church member led the crowd in singing three hymns, followed by a short devotional on David and Goliath (overcoming COVID) and concluded with a prayer. There was an overwhelming feeling of support from the community, leaving many employees in tears of joy. Additionally, Justin’s wife’s work donated a truckload full of snacks and drinks to the facility.

Lisa Wainscott, OT, and her mother bought all the residents balloons. Lisa and Justin Smith, PT, personally passed out a balloon to each resident as a way of spreading love and gratitude.

Local restaurant, Mr. GoodcentsSubs, has donated grab-and-go style meals for the staff on a regular basis, and Plowboys BBQ donated meals for an entire week to the facility.

On April 13, 2020, Clinical Market Lead Maureen Purvis’ church family came to the facility and prayed over it.

Maureen Purvis, CML, Justin Fricke, TPM, Cory Schulte, ED and Jackie Brown, HR Resource, have been tirelessly and resolutely working together with the staff.

Facilities within the market sent handwritten posters with words of encouragement.