Hudson Memorial Nursing Home started giving out its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to residents on Jan. 13. Seniors have been one of the hardest hit demographic groups during the ongoing pandemic.
The age at which one is considered to be a senior citizen varies; groups like The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) start the elder age category at 50, while other organizations start the elder age category as late as 70 years old.
Starting with the classification age of 50 for a senior citizen, 230,291 seniors had died from COVID-19 as of Jan. 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an overwhelming majority of the 329,593 total COVID-19 related deaths reported on Jan. 13.
Doctors, nurses and other health care workers were the first to start receiving the COVID-19 vaccines in Arkansas. Next up were senior citizens that live in residential communities and nursing homes like Hudson Memorial.
Shirley Jones, 80, has been a resident of Hudson Memorial for three years and was one of the first there to receive the vaccine.
“I’ve had COVID-19 and it took its toll on my health,” Jones shared.
She said that the battle with the virus took so much out of her that she doesn’t really remember her state through a lot of it and she is still fighting to recover and regain all of her faculties.
“My memory and all is still not back where it was,” Jones said. “I have worked very hard to get it back to where it is now. It has been quite a journey.”
Jones said she was excited to get the shot because she does not want to contract the virus again. Besides contracting the virus, Jones knows firsthand the emotional toll of COVID-19.
“I’ve lost two dear friends. It hurts and I worry about my family,” Jones said sadly. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Never. It is scary.”
According to the Arkansas Department of Health, by Jan. 11, 21 Hudson Memorial residents had died as a result of the virus.
Jones also had a message for those that don’t take the virus seriously or question the impact the virus has had on the lives of millions of Americans.
“If it doesn’t hit you, it is going to hit someone you care about,” Jones said.
With the first dose of the vaccine behind her, Jones said she does see a glimmer of hope and is looking forward to the day where she can simply experience human touch from her family.
“I miss the hands-on contact with my family. It has been hard. I see my family but it is through a glass,” Jones said. “I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren that I’m close to and I need to hug them.”
Laverne Douglass, who recently celebrated her 98th birthday at Hudson Memorial, also shared her thoughts on getting the vaccine.
“I saw no reason to not take the shot so I took it,” Douglass said. “I haven’t seen my family and I’m looking forward to seeing them. I’m upset all the time about not being able to see them.”
“We’re extremely excited to protect our residents, staff and family members,” Carolyn Merritt, administrator of Hudson Memorial, said. “It is not just a decision you make for yourself but it is also a decision you make to help protect those around you. as well.”
“It has been a long haul for our residents here. They weathered the storm and now they want to see their families,” Merritt added.