OKC Nursing Home Hires Care Aides To Help Residents Connect With Families

A local nursing home is hiring extra staff to make sure their residents can talk to their families and plan events during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Staff at Heritage at Brandon Place said they've had dozens of people apply to what they call care aides.

"All the time, every day, some of them have daily and twice-a-day visitors, so this is really different," administrator Kip McElwee said.

Their first two care aides started a few days ago, but the home is hoping these new hires ease the pain of residents who are not able to have visitors.  

"They are going to help them Skype their families throughout the day,” McElwee said. “They will just go and get things for them.”

Staff said their main focus is making sure their residents don't end up isolated or depressed. They are finding activities where staff can safely social distance and also entertain residents. 

"We thought what better way to give back to the community and offer some employment,” McElwee said.  

McElwee said they have had 75 people apply for positions. The nursing home’s staff is still going through the applications.