HASTINGS — During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary Lanning Healthcare Hospice has been trying to bring extra joy to patients who have been unable to receive visitors. Saturday, those efforts will bring some beautiful music to hospice patients and those around them.
Carrie Edwards, MLH Home Care Services Director, said she is excited that an area polka band has agreed to play for residents at Good Samaritan Village Perkins Pavilion and Edgewood Vista. MLH sees hospice patients within these care homes. The polka band will give an outdoor concert to maintain social distancing.
Edwards said Hospice Case Manager Robin Lauder, RN BSN, reached out to the St. Cecilia Polka Band, which is made up of four high school students. Other staff members have placed whirligig stands and bird feeders outside of patient windows.
“I am proud of our staff members for adding some extra special touches for our patients while we are working through the pandemic,” she said. “These staff members are on the frontlines every day, seeing patients during this unprecedented time. It says a lot about them that they also are going the extra mile to bring happiness to patients who are missing their loved ones.”
The polka band plans to play outside of Perkins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 30, and then moves to Edgewood at 10:45 a.m. The band then will play at the personal home of an MLH patient.
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