It has been said that difficult times bring out true character. Most would agree that navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the toughest things we have had to face.

Prior to the pandemic, we felt Walnut Hills had an outstanding, caring, dedicated team, and we knew that we live and work in a community that rises up in the face of adversity and an area where people take care of their neighbors.

The past few months of living through a pandemic have affirmed those beliefs and have even brought our appreciation for our team and our community to a new level.

The outpouring of support from our community has been outstanding. Businesses and individuals are dropping off care packages and goodies (i.e. ice cream, popcorn, cookies, donuts, and fruit trays)  for our team. A group of more than a dozen of our Walnut Hills’ independent living residents and some total strangers have made and donated hundreds of homemade fabric masks to help protect our team and our residents. Area families, church youth groups, and students from area schools are sending encouraging cards and artwork for our residents and team members. Businesses and organizations have donated other personal protective equipment (PPE) like face shields, mask extenders/ear savers, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.

The response of our team during this pandemic has also been phenomenal. We have seen great examples of creativity. Team members are stepping up with new ideas to provide engaging activities for our residents, with social distancing precautions in place. Our team members have been open to trying new ways of doing things. We are thinking “outside the box” on a regular basis. Our team has been working together to meet the needs of our residents and to keep both our residents and our team healthy and safe.

Creativity, Openness, and Teamwork are three of our core CROFT Values. We are encouraged when we see these Values in action, even at a higher level than before.

The community traits of loving your neighbor and supporting others are reasons individuals have chosen to live at Walnut Hills.

The genuine caring spirit of our team members is the reason many families choose Walnut Hills for their loved one and why many individuals choose to work at Walnut Hills.

It is part of who we are. These traits do not just appear in the face of a pandemic. They are ingrained in us. For more than 49 years, Walnut Hills has provided high quality care to older adults and their families. The pandemic has proven to be the ultimate testing ground. We feel we have passed the test with flying colors.