Bartlesville Long-Term Care Facility Creates COVID-Safe Hugging Station

A long-term healthcare facility in Bartlesville is making it possible for residents to have physical contact with their loved ones again, in a COVID-free way.

“It’s definitely a blessing,” Sue Long said.

The power of touch has made the visit between Sue Long and her 83-year-old mother, a lot more hands on since COVID-19. 

“This is awesome, I can touch,” Long said.

For the past year, Bartlesville Health and Rehab Community has focused on keeping its residents safe by not having face-to-face visits.

The new hugging station just outside the front doors give her mother a safe way to visit her daughter, who drove all the way from Hamilton, Kansas. It was built by the maintenance team just two weeks ago.

Jake Woods, who is part of the maintenance team, said a shower curtain separates the resident and visitor, while the sides are made from plexiglass.

“We used rings for the holes and the gloves are used from delivering cattle,” Woods said.

Woods said it’s rewarding because this gives the facility the ability to schedule more visits.

“It’s a layer of plastic, but it’s like wearing a mask, it’s protection, I know she is safe, but I can see her, and I can be close,” Long said.

Long said it sure feels good to have the freedom to be together again.

Even as COVID-19 cases drop, Bartlesville Health and Rehab Community doesn’t plan to remove their hugging station any time soon.