Gardens at Georgia Tucker assisted living facility receives second round of vaccines

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - All of the residents and almost all of the staff at the Gardens of Georgia Tucker assisted living facility are now fully vaccinated.

Kelly Coburn, the executive director at the facility, says it feels like a weight has been lifted.

“I think we feel very relieved. We do know that we still have to be safe and wear our mask; visitors wear a mask, but it still just gives us a sense of relief. It really does,” said Coburn.

Residents and staff received their final shot last Thursday. COVID-19 infections in nursing homes have been spiraling upward in recent months, according to AARP.

Coburn and other staff members are all hoping that now that they have received the shots, they can get back to all of the activities and people they’ve missed while being isolated in quarantine.

“We have been isolated for a while, and it’s nice to know that we can get out in society now and have a voice and a way to welcome others who may come,” said Mary Lou Blakeman, a Georgia Tucker resident.

The Gardens at Georgia Tucker has also adjusted their guidelines for visitation. Now, residents can have family members visit inside their rooms in addition to visiting outside. Residents say that makes residents feel like things are back to normal.

“I want to see my children and get with them. I haven’t seen them. I have some little ones I haven’t seen in a long time, so I’m anxious to see them,” said resident Julia Kelly.

Most residents like Nelson Rodger say receiving the vaccine just felt like getting another shot.

“I wasn’t surprised at the soreness. I was just surprised that there were no other symptoms or ill effects from the shot. It was not unlike a normal flu shot to me,” said Rogers.

Other residents had reactions to the vaccine.

“I was just anxious to get one, and I had a minor problem with them, but that went away a day or two ago. I had a little tenderness in my arm, and that was it,” said Blakeman.

Other residents had different reactions to the vaccine but are still happy to have had it.

“It worked out. I had a high fever the day after the shot and stayed in bed all day, but after that, I was ok,” resident Julia Kelly said.

Now residents are looking forward to more of their freedom.

“Well, I guess the thing I want to do most is get off campus and go have dinner with my family,” said Rodgers.

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