Ohio Northern University Students Trailblaze Innovative Methods of Serving Long Term Care Residents Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

As feelings of isolation were at an all-time high in long-term care facilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study shows that 43% of adults 60 years and older report feeling lonely. Ohio Northern students are utilizing skills developed outside of the classroom to positively impact the lives of patients in long-term care facilities. Ohio Northern University pharmacy students have an established relationship with a local nursing home where the students bring various activities to the residents as forms of non-pharmacologic therapy. Listening to their favorite music or watching a movie from the past can bring back positive memories for residents struggling with memory loss and isolation. These non-pharmacologic therapy events also enrich the learning of the students, as they are able to observe first-hand how there is more to the disease state management of a patient than just the medications they are taking.Outreach events in this fashion came to a quick halt as visitors were not permitted inside the facility for numerous months throughout the height of the pandemic. This led to the switch from indoor events to outdoor events, employing students to communicate through the windows using whiteboards and window markers to interact with the residents. New events were created that focused on student-driven reminiscent conversations. Staff members and caregivers noticed great changes in the emotions and mood of residents after these events, noting that simply interacting with the students made a remarkable impact on the residents at a time when they were feeling the most alone.