Daughter Takes Job At Nursing Home To See Mother During Pandemic

A Norton, Massachusetts woman found a unique way to spend time with her mother amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

MJ Ryan, a longtime health care professional, told CBS Boston she decided to take a part-time job at her mother's nursing home in order to see her in person. She said he mother, Theresa Ryan, 90, suffers from dementia and technology like FaceTime is confusing to her.

MJ said Theresa was declining for months and she was desperate to find a way to see her in person before the nursing home told her about an open part-time laundry room position from 3-11 on Thursdays. She said she eagerly took the job and noticed a change in her mother during her first shift.

“By the end of the evening she was laughing and talking about going to the casino,” MJ said. “She really came back. I said this is worth the laundry.”

MJ said she now has an even greater appreciation for essential employees, who she credited for keeping the facilities safe amid the pandemic.

“The true heroes do this work every day,” MJ said. “It’s amazing the hard work people do. Without laundry and housekeeping and maintenance and all the other people who showed up all through this crisis too and continue to show up and risk their own health and family’s health. The whole group of them are unbelievable.”