Retirement Community Facilitates Face-To-Face Visits

Facetime, Zoom, Skype: they are all great. But we are learning at Bradford Village Retirement Community that nothing beats face-to-face, even if it's 25 feet in the air.

The Coons family is used to visiting with their grandmother, Janet Klaus, almost every day.

“This has been an adjustment for our family,” said Jana Coon, Janet Klaus’s granddaughter.

So Bradford Village is teaming up Imperium Utility Services to let loved ones visit face-to-face from the second floor.

It's been well over a month since they've been able to be this close to each other.

The windows stayed closed, so phones were still used to talk. And no matter what is shared, this is precious time. You see that the moment the bucket is lowered.

“We love our mom. There's no doubt about it, and mom is sweet as she can be... but she was ready to hug and kiss us,” said Larry Hiedebrecht, who is visiting his mother.

Janet Klaus's family says that sort of engagement is especially important. She suffers from early onset dementia.

“It really helps her see our faces to remember us, not get lonely and not get scared being there by herself."

Grandma never felt alone.

“Priceless, it really is,” Klaus said. “Memories, it’s great."

As Oklahomans come together to provide a needed lift.