“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” Eleanor Roosevelt
By now, you have all either read about or personally experienced the effects of Hurricane Harvey and its impact on the Texas Gulf Coast. In our communications with state agency staff, well over 100 nursing facilities and assisted living facilities responsible for over 4000 lives were evacuated as a result of the storm, some as recently as this past weekend. While many communities are currently making efforts to return home, others are evaluating whether there is a home to which they can return. While there was much needed focus and attention given to supporting the efforts of those evacuating, there was a larger contingent of facilities who were able to shelter in place. They did what had to be done to ensure the health and safety of the residents for whom they care.
I am aware of numerous stories of tireless effort and commitment made by staff in communities across the region as they worked together to protect and care for their residents, both sheltered in place and evacuees from other facilities.
For the residents, and families and staff in the affected areas who are working to put their lives back together and find a sense of order through the chaos, we must continue to provide support, encouragement, and assistance however we can.
We will also begin working to collect the stories of countless staff members and communities who put the men and women they care for before their own needs and despite their own losses.
That is also why the Heroes of Long Term Care Hurricane Relief Fund was created. It offers everyone a chance to give back to those who gave so much to our state’s most vulnerable residents during Harvey.
Help them put their lives back together and show them we are grateful for everything they did.
Onward and Upward