Thank You for Keeping Mom Safe through COVID

Dear Ms. Malone,

This is an email I have wanted to write for at least a year, a thankyou for keeping my mother, and all the residents of Proctor Place, safe during the pandemic, and now, for the opportunity you gave me to actually visit my mother, after two years (August 11-20).

So many times over the past school year I was leaving a long day of teaching, sometimes sitting in line at the gas station here in New Jersey, and would find an email from you, filled with information about how Proctor was doing and the steps you were taking to make sure everyone was healthy. My husband and I have been greatly impressed with your decisions; while the news last year was filled with terrifying accounts of illness and death at other assisted living/nursing home facilities, we could breathe a little easier, knowing that you were keeping an eagle sharp eye on both the news and your residents. Mom and I always shared our admiration for you, on our Sunday night calls, both of us happy and relieved with the measures you were putting in place.

And what a joy it was to be able to stay at Proctor again, in order to visit Mom this summer. Even as Delta took hold in the past three months, thank you for keeping the guest rooms open! It was a miracle to me, and to Mom as well, that we could share all those extra hours that my physical stay at Proctor enabled. Over the past nine years, the guest rooms at Proctor have gifted me invaluable time with my father, before he passed in 2012, and with Mom as we weathered both hard times and celebrated good times. I’m so grateful that Proctor offers the guest rooms — my Peoria home! (And thank you, as well, for the coffee station outside the cafe, a delightful convenience.)

I must add that, strongly enhancing that feeling of “home,” credit goes to your generous, caring, and warm staff. Ms. Carlson was absolutely wonderful to me during a frantic phone call when I was reconfirming my chance to stay in the guest room, so patient and kind. Terri Carmen is my mother’s right hand and went above and beyond to provide me with everything my mother decided I needed (:)) plus, of course, helping my mother in countless ways during the course of everyday life. I was able to speak to both of these incredible women in person, but wanted you to specifically know how giving they were. In addition, what a great staff you have throughout: fabulous Claire in the dining room, Jasmine in the cafe, and Kaitlyn and Jake at the front desk. All of them made me feel so welcome and, even more important, they go out of their way on a daily basis to offer my mother the best possible service and friendship.

In these troubling times, what a relief it has been and continues to be, to know that Mom is safe and happy. When I tell my friends about Proctor, they are, frankly, awed and wish they could have the same care for their parents. I hope to visit again in the spring and meanwhile thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do.

Sincerely,

Diane Corley