Happy New Year!

It's a new year! Salisbury was dead quiet this morning when I came to work. Since it's a holiday and a Friday there are a number of people taking the day off. But there are still five or so folks working at the LSA Office - always work to be done and things happening in an organization of our size that cares for people 24 hours every day, including the New Year's holiday.

LSA operations are completely different from the rest of the world and I want to make sure the world remembers that. At the stroke of midnight last night: nursing assistants were making rounds to check on and meet the every need of hundreds of residents around LSA; laundry staff are washing clothes, nurses were assessing and monitoring and delivering care. Some residents stayed up to watch the ball drop in Time Square, and shared a "Happy New Year" with staff. Many of our independent living people were partying, or at least stayed up to watch in the New Year. At 5 and 7 am this morning while many of us were asleep, cooks were starting the stoves, nursing assistants started assisting residents with all of their daily activities, independent living residents headed for breakfast and to lead their normal lives, nurses began treatments and delivering medications, staff put all the washers and dryers in service, maintenance staff is monitoring and repairing, housekeepers began mopping and cleaning, administrative staff arrived to answer phones and go about their neverending work, and on and on and on.... Over 700 staff will have worked before the day is over!

We take for granted that all of that care and service just happens by magic. Care and life doesn't just happen at LSA either. Care and life happens at every long term care organization, hospital, etc. in the world. And it happens in our homes as we care for loved ones there.

Let's pause to remember all those in need and all those care givers who meet those needs! Let's remember! And let's say a prayer for all. Happy New Year!