Bryan Reynolds [00:00:05] Hello, hello, hello, welcome to Episode 12 of The Linkage Podcast by the Episcopal Retirement Services. This episode is for the week of July 13th, 2020. Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Bryan Reynolds Vice President of Marketing of Episcopal Retirement Services, and I'm here with Kristin Davenport, our Director of Communications for ERS and our executive producer. How are you today, Kristen?  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:00:29] I am doing well, Bryan. It's good to talk with you.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:00:32] Yeah. Good to catch up. Good. Good to be back together again this week. So the Linkage podcast is dedicated to educating our audiences about our audience, about the issues regarding aging, informing people about the mission of the IRS and how that comes to life and our everyday interactions with our residents, our clients, our families and our staff members. So, Kristin, you want to get us started on what's coming up on today's show?  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:00:59] Yeah, I think we have a great episode today. We've got three interviews. We've got Sharon Boudroua. She's a resident at Canterbury Court up in West Carrollton, Ohio. And then we have an interview with Barbara Talbot, a resident at Deupree House. And of course, joining us again are president and CEO Laura Lamb, who will keep us in the loop on what's been happening all around ERS.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:01:24] Great. Well, thanks, Kristin.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:01:26] And speaking of Affordable Living our community up at Canterbury, it kind of reminded me that I just to remind our listeners that our annual Gala is coming up here on October 9th. This year, the Gala is going virtual. The Together We Rise Virtual Gala and we're looking forward to celebrating the year with many of our donors and our residents. And this year's theme is really revolving around Affordable Living, particularly talking about the Manse Apartments, which is going to be a new community. It's currently being renovated in Walnut Hills. So a lot more to come on that. Just wanted to do a special thank you to our sponsors, the Model Group who have been great partners of ERS over the years, particularly in renovating and building our Affordable Living communities. And Ridge Stone Builders and contractors who have also been great partners in helping us with our renovations and our master plans at our continuing care retirement community. So I think we're going to have some a great event coming up Kristin.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:02:38] These live virtual events are going to be the new normal for a while. And I'm glad to know that our Gala will be no different. That should be exciting.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:02:47] Yeah, and there'll be some great entertainment that night as well.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:02:50] So I'm looking forward that on October 9th.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:02:53] So with that, you want to introduce your first interview?  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:02:57] Yeah, absolutely. Bryan, I got to interview Sharon Boudroua. I met Sharon last fall when we were out at Canterbury Court in West Carrollton, taking some photos of the beautiful garden that the residents have worked on so hard there, so diligently for many years. They've they've had a garden there and they grow a lot of things. When we were there, we were seeing the pumpkins that they had grown and the turnips that they had grown that they share with the community. And Sharon retired after busy work life to Canterbury Court in 2011. Her family is really important to her. She's got three kids and eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She loves baseball. And I had a really great conversation with Sharon. So let's meet Sharon Boudroua.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:03:48] So welcome, Sharon.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:03:50] Hi. How are you today?  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:03:52] Very good. Thanks for being with us. We're checking in with residents and we're finding out what they're doing to to keep themselves occupied during this time of Covid 19 when we're all staying distanced. And I heard from the community manager at Canterbury Court, Jan Belkhoff that you were involved in the community garden there. And I just wanted to check in with you today and see how it's going up there. So please share with our listeners what's going on at the community garden at Canterbury Court.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:04:26] It's going very well. We had a late start with some plowing and stuff. All the rain that brought my garden doing pretty good.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:04:34] Yeah. Was a very rainy spring. I had so much water in my yard. There were some days my dogs didn't even go out there. I'm sure you guys experienced that, too. So tell us a little bit about what you're planting this year.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:04:48] I didn't plant as much this year as I usually do because I hurt my knee, and my kids are having to do most of the work. They don't do it up to the way I wanted it done. So we've got tomatoes and green peppers and cucumbers and zucchini. And I think she planted some collard greens.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:05:10] Wow, that's quite a bit. If that's not up to your normal amount, that's still pretty impressive and way more than I have planted in my garden. So good. Good job done that.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:05:24] So usually we have watermelon and we don't have watermelon this year?  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:05:30] OK. I've never had any success growing those. I have a very small garden. My kids were in 4H. And a few times they've tried growing different vegetables. It always seemed like green peppers were one of the ones you could count on.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:05:46] Yeah. Right. And hopefully my tomatoes. I need tomatoes.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:05:52] When I was up visiting Canterbury Court last fall, when you guys were finishing up the gardening, there were a lot of turnips and ... You had just finished harvesting all the pumpkins. Will there be any of that this year?  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:06:07] Potatoes this year.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:06:09] Oh, potatoes. Wonderful. And I know the residents at Canterbury Court. I know they've been really generous with the community and they've shared their their surplus when they've gotten an abundance of something, which is a great way for you all to give back in the community.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:06:25] Yeah. Yeah, and it's fun. Get you out in the sun, get a tan that way.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:06:32] So have you been a lifelong gardener? Is is something new that you've taken up in retirement?  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:06:38] Well, I don't know if I just got up or took me up. Not sure. I had a friend here and she had a garden and she became sick and got to where she couldn't do it. She got cancer. So I would help her. And then she passed away. So I inherited her garden. And that's how I got started. And it was fun.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:07:01] So that's interesting. So it's something new that you really did get interested in once you had already been retired. So have you always lived in the Dayton, Ohio area?  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:07:14] Yes, I grew up in Centerville. 

 

Kristin Davenport [00:07:19] And how long have you lived there at Canterbury?  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:07:23] Nine years.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:07:24] Wow. Quite a while. That's Canterbury Court was the first Affordable Living community that ERS had and as part of its system of communities and it's one that is a favorite of ours. You guys have a beautiful greenhouse there and quite a bit of land around the community. And in it is really an opportunity for the residents to garden. And I'm glad you're taking advantage of that.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:07:53] Seems to be quite a few more gardens out there this year than what we've had.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:07:58] Everybody has a little more time on their hands.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:08:01] Yeah. Yeah.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:08:03] So when you're not gardening, what else do you like to do Sharon? Tell us a little bit more about what you're spending your time on these days.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:08:11] Well, almost this summer I spent my time go after my grandkids ballgame, spent somewhere along the line. They grew up. No, I have two great grandsons to play ball, but I'm not ready for that tee ball stuff, that'a nerve-wrecking and long.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:08:30] Baseball is your sport. Well, that's wonderful. Are you a Cincinnati Reds fan?  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:08:35] No, I really don't watch it on TV or anything.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:08:39] You're not the greatest year for sports fans. It's it's tough going all around.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:08:44] Yes, I've heard that from my son. He doesn't know what to do with himself. No ball games.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:08:51] Well, I really hope that your garden grows well this year. Hopefully we'll get a little bit more rain. We had so much rain in the spring, but now my yard is very dry. I'm sure yours probably is, too. We need kind of a balance of the sun and the rain to keep those vegetables producing.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:09:09] And my kids must have been watering a lot because it's looking good.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:09:16] Well, I'm glad you're getting out and staying healthy and getting some sunshine, because those are all wonderful things for us. Sharon, it was so nice to meet you today. I'm so glad we got to chat a little bit. I hope everything turns out well with your garden and you've got a lot to share with your neighbors. It sounds like you will.  

 

Sharon Boudroua [00:09:34] Yeah.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:09:38] Well, that was such a good interview Kristin, with Sharon Boudroua. I really enjoyed hearing about her love of gardening and they do some great work up there. And I think baseball will be here before you know it, hopefully maybe in a different fashion. But as a fan myself, hopefully we get to watch them on TV.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:09:59] Here's Sally Sharon. I'll get to enjoy that. And, you know, she's definitely got that green thumb going up there at Canterbury Court. So it was good to touch base with her and hear how she's doing. And I guess next up, we've got our interview with president and CEO Laura Lingham.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:10:21] So we're back again this week with president and CEO Laura Lamb. Hi, Laura. How are you?  

 

Laura Lamb [00:10:26] Well, how about you Bryan?  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:10:28] Doing really good. Thanks so much. Pleasure to be back and talk about some of the things that have happened over the week. I know we've been talking about Covid a lot over the last couple of weeks, but there's been a really important initiative. We talked about this maybe about a month ago, a really exciting initiative in the organization called We Can Do Better, which really relates to the discussion on racial disparities and injustices. And I wondered if you could talk a little bit about what we're doing as a company to really keep the conversations moving.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:11:04] Well, I'd love to. Thanks for asking. So, as you said, We can do better is what we're calling our initiative to just really make sure that we're continuing the dialog about injustice and racism in our society and taking a look at, you know, all of our lives individually and collectively, whether that be personal or within the context of our work with ERS. And then the broader community to say, you know what? What can we do? How can we be better to be additive and supportive of what we think is a needed change in our in our cities and our and our country related to race and an injustice. So we have been meeting with the staff based on their interest and frankly, their their desire to have this conversation. We have had all company invited staff meetings over the last, it's been six weeks now. Actually, eight weeks if you count our original dialog. So we hold them via Zoom. All staff are welcome to attend.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:12:20] We have huge attendance numbers. It really speaks to the fact that people want to have this dialog. They want to talk. They want to be educated. They want to educate. So, you know, listen, educator, kind of the two kind of goals in our in our meetings. And the outcome hopefully is a changed perspective, is a changed awareness. So we we really have listened to our staff.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:12:54] So the meetings are a combination of panelists where folks that have a different perspective are asked questions and then our staff can ask them questions as well. We've watched a variety of of videos together on on Zoom and then unpack them. So, for example, we've watched Difficult Conversations with a Black Man, an episode of that that. We talked about micro aggressions. And what is that about white privilege and what is that and who has it and what does it mean and how does it shape our view of the world and our opportunities that we have? And then we talked about Black Lives Matter, and why that that is the phrase that we're using. It's not it's not All lives matter. It's definitely at this moment. And this time we have to create an environment in our country where black lives matters. And that's really the focus.  

 

[00:14:02] Well, and that's been, I think so educational and helpful. You mentioned these learning sessions on microaggression and white privilege and other topics, and they really do help arm you with some good information to use in your personal life and also to have great dialog with others. So I really appreciated that. But on top of that, you know, you I think at the top you mentioned those those perspectives in interviews. And I feel like that's really resonated with staff to hear the stories and experiences of some of our staff, whether they're black or biracial families as well. So I appreciated that.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:14:45] You know, I have to. And I just think that it it really to me, what it says is to really to seek to understand you really do do need to be two things: hear stories. I think the stories of hearing a story from someone that you work alongside of, you know, and and respect and trust and hear that their life is different than yours. And that is so that's the first thing stories. But then specific about that, we after one of our meetings is like the more specific we can be with one another and give examples of, you know, how micro aggressions, what micro aggressions we've dealt with and, oh, what the impact of that is. I feel like that's how we're going to change that because it's really hard to, if you, if you have a coworker or a friend or a family member that leans in and gives you specific stories of their different reality.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:15:54] I think it is very eye-opening. At least that's the feedback that we've received from the staff, is that the the panel and the stories and the being very specific is really what's helping people kind of think about things differently. Right? Maybe than their perspective.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:16:11] Right now, I think it's a great gift. I know that's know, having gone to a school that was very diverse and race and culture and socio economic backgrounds. Having that gift was very important to me growing up. And it's so nice that we can do that within our company. So I really appreciate that. I just wanted to highlight something you said yesterday is just your commitment to having this dialog on an ongoing basis. I think you mentioned something about. We'll do this for a year or two or however long it takes. But you're very committed to this.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:16:48] Well, absolutely. I feel like anything that hurts our staff and our residents, that is work that ERS has to prioritize. And clearly, we have staff and residents that are hurt by this issue. So it it has to come to the forefront of our work. And I'm just so pleased that we have a leadership team, a staff group and a board that understands that if it that hurts those that we work with and those that we serve, it has to be paramount to.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:17:25] The feedback that I know you've gotten from staff. It's been so meaningful.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:17:30] Definitely. I mean, we've had staff members that have said that, you know, they're maybe in their 50s or 60s, that they've never been in an organization that has had such a honest and authentic conversation about race. Now that that is wonderful and it's kudo's to everyone involved. You know, the servant leadership team can create the platform. But if that's not if that's not received by everyone, then we state we stay in the same place.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:18:03] Right. And the staff's feeling open and comfortable in a safe space to have this dialog.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:18:10] Yeah, been great. I've learned so much and. Yeah, and I know others have too. So I want to continue just so I can learn and grow.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:18:19] Well, thank you so much for sharing. And again, leading those efforts. So I wanted to move on to another topic. And you know, we've been talking Covid, Covid, Covid for the last four months. And but, you know, as much as we are putting time and effort and resources behind that, there's a lot some good news in that the organization has also been doing a lot of things really to drive towards the future and our strategies and some of our efforts. And I thought maybe we could take a little time today. We've had some exciting openings or movement to open new communities. I wonder if you could talk about that a little bit today.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:19:08] Yeah, actually, it's fun. There's so much going on at ERS, and it is Covid, Covid, Covid. But I think I wrote in an email to I forget who it was, just staff the board and basically said there is so much good going on non-Covid related. Right. There is good work. So a couple of things I'd like to share today is you. One thing is even amidst Covid, I just want to give a shout out to our Affordable Living team. Despite working differently, despite, you know, having all kinds of social distancing requirements that really make closing and that legal process of closing a deal, a development deal. You know, it's difficult to begin with. And then you add all this. Yeah, they rose to the occasion and they got 'er done this week.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:20:01] So Rachel Court, which is a community in New Carlisle, Ohio, was closed this week. And the minute that was closed, they had to pivot and start working on the next one. But they're doing it and we're learning and we're doing it different. And each and every time we do it, we're we're finding efficiencies and ways to kind of reinvent how we do things based on Covid. So that's exciting. The other thing, and you were involved in this are involved in this, and that is our middle market strategy. So now we have a partnership, a formal partnership with Ridge Stone builders and McCarthy builders and Perrysburg, which is our first pilot for middle market. And if you haven't heard me talk about that, middle market is, I think, one of the greatest needs in our country. You know, we have retirement communities for those that can afford them. Quickly, more affluent people that have assets that can support an entrance fee? And then unfortunately, we have what I was just talking about, our affordable living. Folks that don't have those assets to afford a retirement community. Well, having said that, there's this whole segment, a very large segment that we we say that are stuck in the middle. That they have to just enough.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:21:31] Just too many assets not to qualify for affordable living, but not enough assets to qualify for our retirement community. So they're stuck in the middle. And we are an organization that's really trying to find a out-of-the-box solution for them. And is pleased to say that that is on our strategy. We have been working on this for a couple of years now. We've already broken ground at River's Edge in Perrysburg. And you had the great fortune of being up just this past weekend and Perrysburg for one of our open houses.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:22:13] And wjy don't you tell us how excited you are? I'll turn the tables on you Bryan. I'm going to interview you.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:22:20] Well, it was great. You know what's exciting is the open the opening phases is opening up. We have a model up there. The first unit their villa patio, homes, those are opening up. And we've got some people moving in and seems like a lot of excitement building up in that Perrysburg community outside of Toledo. And it's just a really nice product with very nice amenities, a great layout. You know, there's no steps throughout these patio homes and just a very nice community with a clubhouse. So there when they can do gatherings there, there will be that fitness area, pool. It's just a beautiful neighborhood for, to your point, those people in the middle that have a little bit too much for that can't afford affordable living but couldn't don't have enough assets to move into a retirement community. And of course, then those services that they may need as they age to help them age in place when they need it will be really, I think, different as well. So really excited about about that project. Thanks for asking.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:23:25] You know, really, what we've learned is that it has to be rental. It has to be at a price point that they can afford each month. And yes. And we have to figure out a way not to have lots of overhead to provide the services, but provide the services as it as al la carte or added basis. So I'm excited. We're learning a lot about the middle market. And again, just feel very fortunate that we have had this opportunity to kind of pilot it, learn and see, take those learnings so that we can do it in other areas across the state.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:24:02] Yeah, I think that's what's so exciting is to learn from this. This first effort. Thank you so much, Laura, for joining us again this week is certainly very informational and always inspiring from you. And we'll look forward to touching base next week.  

 

Laura Lamb [00:24:18] Great. Looking forward to it. Bryan, you have a nice weekend.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:24:21] Yeah, you too.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:24:24] Bryan was once again so good to hear from Laura this week and to hear her talk about what we're doing with our We Can Do Better efforts as a company.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:24:34] I think it's such a wonderful initiative and program that we are talking with our staff members and listening to their experiences and also educating ourselves. And I think, you know, again, Laura is so dedicated to this initiative. So we're looking forward to hosting these for some time until we can help make some real progress in our communities and that we live within. And with any ERS as well.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:25:06] Well it aligns with our core values. And inspiring to me personally that we're taking this on and not just thinking that we do enough so we can do better.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:25:16] Absolutely. Well, with that said, I'm going to introduce our next guest. Our next guest is Barbara Talbot of Deupree House here in Cincinnati, Ohio. And I had a really great time sitting down with your her hearing, how she's doing, what she's been up to and what she's looking forward to doing in the future when all this is over. So here's my interview with Barbara.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:25:44] So I'm here this week with one of our residents from Deupree House. With me is Barbara Talbot. Barbara has been a resident at Deupree House for about last seven years and Barbara has been very active and participating in the community.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:25:59] You're the president of the resident council right now, is that correct, Barbara?  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:26:04] Yes.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:26:05] Okay. And also, she's been resident representative for the ERS board. So welcome today. Barbara.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:26:12] Thank you.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:26:13] I'd just like to kind of do a check in with our residents during this time of Covid 19 and just ask, how are you doing?  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:26:21] I am doing just great with a little help from some new friends that I didn't know I had. I'm one of those people whose day starts with the most important activity of opening the front door and picking up the newspaper, the morning newspaper. If it is not there, my entire day is ruined. My entire day is upside down. I don't know what to do with myself that having that morning newspaper waiting for me makes all the difference in my life. Now, since the pandemic, of course, the newspaper carrier has not been able to get into our building. But I found out that the night security guards have been delivering our newspapers and I get two newspapers by subscription one, I get seven days a week and one I get five days a week. And I would like to tell everybody that the proper configuration of newspapers has been at my front door without fail every single morning since we were shut down by the pandemic. And I think that's the most remarkable service. And it makes me just very, very happy. And I am in the process of trying to get the names of those wonderful night guards who are giving us such good service with our newspaper delivery to get us all off to a good start.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:28:04] That's great. I can definitely identify as I'm a person that needs routine in my life to be able to have those things are very comforting. So I'm glad, glad the staff are able to pitch in and make sure that you're getting your your day off to the right, right start.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:28:22] So what what kinds of things have you been doing to stay active and engaged? Well, really social distancing since all this began. Barbara?  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:28:33] Well, you mentioned that I I'm the chairman of the Resident Council of Deupree House, and I was really looking forward to this year. We had wonderful meeting in January and February. At our meetings we have the entire resident body almost filling up our great big events center. And when the pandemic struck, of course, we could no longer gather.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:29:04] Right.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:29:04] And that put an end to our meetings from March until the present time. So I have decided that we, it's really important for us to have our meetings and that I would do them, but I would do them on paper. And I call them the meeting by memo. So I've been getting those out. They run the format of our traditional meetings. They have a lot of information from me about what's going on at Deupree House. And they have the committee report, our committees have been very busy carrying on, doing all the good work that they normally do. And just as much information about what's going on and the new task that some of our staff people have been assigned.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:30:03] Right.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:30:03] In addition, there are conventional tasks. So I have plenty to keep me busy.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:30:09] Wow. That sounds like a lot and a lot of great communication during this time. That's wonderful.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:30:15] I would like to mention that one of the things that has really bothered this since we've had to shut down here was the inability to use our wonderful fitness center, the gym.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:30:32] Right.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:30:32] And that's been awfully, awfully hard on people. Yeah. And it reached the point where recently we were threatened.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:30:43] Saying that if the pool didn't open soon, we were all going to put on bikinis and Speedos and stage a mass demonstration on the Erie Avenue.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:30:55] That's great.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:30:57] Fortunately, we didn't have to do that. Now, I don't know that management got word of that or not, but they did open the pool and the gym on a very limited basis. Yeah, with restrictions, of course. But we're all just very, very happy that we do have those two outlets again.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:31:21] Yeah, that was wonderful. I know. And we had to close those down when we were talking. Anhat was that was something we we really struggled with too. It's so important to keep that physical activity going during this stressful time. So I'm glad that, yeah, it worked out.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:31:41] It's so important for mental health and physical well-being.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:31:45] Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:31:47] So speaking of mental health and physical well-being, are there any things from your past situations of maybe dealing with a crisis or any life experiences that have helped you kind of cope with this current pandemic?  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:32:04] Bryan, when I was a very small child, I remember being very moved by hearing a saying that is familiar to everybody. I think it says, I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. That made an enormous impression on me. And it has always helped me to keep everything in perspective. So I've not had a problem doing that.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:32:43] And I ... am fortunate that I'm able to cope very well and I appreciate all the wonderful things that management is doing to try to make our lives as nice as possible. The fact that we get a warm dinner served to our front door every single day. All the things that they're trying to do, the little extras to make our lives interesting and and keep us involved. So there's very much to appreciate. And there is no need to feel too sorry for ourselves, although we do sometimes.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:33:35] While it's hard, it's you know, I mean, I've talked with Laura Lamb and as we've talked with staff and even residents, at times we realize this is a marathon, not necessarily a sprint, and that we're all in this together. Yeah, I think certainly your generation certainly knows a thing or two about sacrifice and commitment. And so I always love hearing responses from our residents on that question. Thank you for sharing that.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:34:05] And one last question. You know, with the end in mind, what is the one thing you're looking forward to most when this is all is all over?  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:34:13] I think what I'm looking for the most is to live my life in a normal fashion without having to be monitored and supervised. And believe me, I understand, as do all of the residents at Deupree House and Marjorie P. Lee and Episcopal Church Home, that there have to be a lot of rules because we know that management is working so hard to protect us from the virus. We do understand that. We do appreciate it. But we all are very eager to reach the point where we are treated more like intelligent, responsible adults who can make good decisions and don't have to be monitored and supervised. Sure, we are grateful. We know it's it's just this hard on management as it is on the residents is probably harder on management. So I do want to take this opportunity to let them know we're grateful for what they're doing. Even though we may moan and complain from time to time.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:35:41] Well, I think there's so many people that are just in general and our and our society ready for the the close of all the restrictions. And it it does. Yeah. The longer it goes, the harder it does get. So we certainly understand and appreciate that.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:35:59] Well, Barbara, thank you so much for joining us on our podcast. And it was so nice to catch up with you. And it's been a while since we've seen each other. So I'll be really looking forward to seeing you and catching up again here soon.  

 

Barbara Talbot [00:36:13] Oh, thank you. Thank you, Bryan. Thank you for inviting me to do this podcast.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:36:18] My pleasure.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:36:21] Bryan, it was a good interview there with Barbara Talbot. Deupree House is certainly still humming along and they're using memos instead of in-person meetings. But Barbara is still offering her leadership there. She's been a board member, and it was great to hear that she's still keeping things organized and moving in the right direction.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:36:40] Yeah. Yeah, she's absolutely staying engaged and as busy as ever for according to her from that interview. And, you know, we did talk and it's interesting and it is a tough time on some of our residents during Covid, which is one of the reasons why we're doing this podcast with some of the rules and regulations.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:37:01] But they're also so grateful to have the support of our staff and our management and our staff and management. They're just doing such a great job and and the residents do a great job of supporting each other. So I really applaud her leadership during this time. Again, just great to catch up with her. So with that I think we'll wrap up our show. Kristen, thank you so much for joining us for this latest episode of The Linkage Podcast by Episcopal Retirement Services. For more information about us, you can visit our Web site at Episcopal Retirement dot com.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:37:37] We've a lot of great content, including our linkage on line blog resources that you can download to learn more about aging and the services we offer and so much more. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube to see what's going on within ERS and within our communities. If you have any questions or feedback from us and we'd love getting feedback, please e-mail us at info at the ERSLife dot org. The Linkage Podcast is produced by Kristin Davenport and Bryan Reynolds. Feoshia Davis is our associate producer and our technical director is Michelle Hoehn. I'd like to thank our guests today, including Sharon Boudrouaand Barbara Talbot. And, of course, as always, getting updates from our president and CEO Laura Lamb. So on behalf of myself, Bryan Reynolds and Kristin Davenport, thank you so much for joining us. We look forward to our podcasts next week.  

 

Bryan Reynolds [00:38:35] Thanks so much, Kristin.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:38:37] You bet, talk again soon.  

 

Kristin Davenport [00:38:38] Have a great weekend.