We read with interest the front page article on April 16 about the public reporting of COVID-19 cases in the local nursing homes. We wish to provide some additional context with regard to the Buckley Health Care Center.
Our mother has been a resident at Buckley for the last two years. During that time she has received loving, professional care. For the last couple of months we have not been able to visit her because Buckley has had to stop all visitation to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Our mother is hearing impaired so having a conversation with her on the phone has been nearly impossible. To help families and friends communicate more easily with loved-ones, Buckley Social Workers have made themselves available to orchestrate FaceTime and Zoom calls with family on tablets brought from home by staff. We are kept informed as to the status of the spread of the virus to Buckley residents. Our mother has been spared so far, because Buckley staff are doing all that they possibly can to contain the spread.
The staff at Buckley is under high duress right now. Some staff have quit to protect themselves. Others are home from work because they have contracted the virus. Some staff have recovered and are now back at work. Overall, they are seriously understaffed and working long hours. Each of the staff is daily putting him or herself at risk to contracting the virus. To us, the staff at Buckley are heroes. They have earned our respect, support and gratitude.
Terry Plotkin
Greenfield
Stephen Plotkin
Greenfield
Daniel Plotkin
Northampton
Larry Plotkin
Venice, Fla.