Making Connections in Iowa
Making Connections in Iowa
By Carol Mau
Vice President of Operations, Iowa
[email protected]
One of our core values at Mosaic is “Connection.”
Which means we create and convey trust and truly put people first. During this time of the pandemic, “connection” has taken on a special meaning. More than ever, we’re championing collaboration, partnership and communities to ensure the people we serve are not only safe—but also connected, engaged and continue to feel a sense of belonging. Isn’t that something we all want?
Mosaic in Iowa Goes Above and Beyond During COVID-19
All of us can feel alone and separated from our loved ones during this terrible pandemic, something that none of us could have predicted. I am thankful for our staff, partners and volunteers who have stepped up to the plate in keeping those we serve safe, yet engaged and connected.
For example, our staff has arranged fun, no-contact activities for people. They include things such as regular Zoom calls with families; letter writing campaigns to friends and family members to maintain those important connections; celebrating birthdays with decorated car “parades” in front of Mosaic homes (much to the delight of the persons having the birthday); and balloon deliveries to brighten up a front yard.
Additionally, several people we serve love to fish in the lakes and ponds in Iowa, and they didn’t want to stop during this time! For those individuals whose fishing areas aren’t within walking distance, we drive them one at a time—with the driver and passenger both wearing personal protective gear (PPG)—to their destination. One of our more prominent fishermen is Mark Conaway. He even drew a perfect fish and then made it into quite a stylish PPG mask.
Pictured above: Mark Conway wears his artful PPG mask that speaks to his favorite hobby
Family Satisfaction Survey Yields Favorable Results
Mosaic constantly seeks feedback on what we do and how we can do it better. This drives our performance and how we can improve. We recently conducted a Family Satisfaction Survey among families and guardians nationwide to determine if they felt we were on the right track in helping their loved ones—in other words, those we serve.
The highest-rated response of the 10 questions asked was, “Is staff or provider courteous and friendly?,” was at 97.6%. The second highest was “Staff/provider is punctual and arrives when scheduled” at 96.78%. Third place was “Overall satisfaction with Mosaic services” (95.54%).
All the responses but one fell above the 90 percentile. We have an opportunity to adjust and improve in the area of “I receive adequate, timely information about changes at the agency, including staff changes”—which came in at 82.06%. Although some might consider an 82.06% response a positive one, we at Mosaic know we can do better.
We were grateful for many of the positive comments from the families, such as, “My daughter has (been) presented with challenges and every time, Mosaic has taken the time to come up with viable solutions when myself and or (other) agencies may have thrown up their hands in frustration. Mosaic is committed to making life work for my daughter.”
It is comments like these that keep us focused on our mission, and we know in our heart of hearts that the work we’re doing is God’s work, not our own—and there’s always more work to do.
About the Author
Carol has served with Mosaic for more than 21 years, including more than two decades with one of Mosaic’s largest agencies, Mosaic in Central Iowa. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Further Reading
Direct Support Professionals – Mosaic’s Everyday Heroes
Their actions are at the heart of Mosaic’s mission. Their presence helps people feel connected. Their goal is to help others have a better life.
When asked why they do the job they do, many Mosaic Direct Support Professionals respond with something like, “This is what I’m called to do.” To many, their job is more of a vocation, a way of life.
September 13-19 is Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week. The annual observation calls attention to the work of Direct Support Professionals, who serve in many fields and offer people the daily supports they need to live a full life.
Mosaic’s theme for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) Recognition Week is Everyday Heroes. This year, especially, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the day-in, day-out heroic work DSPs do to keep people healthy and as independent as possible.
Serving nearly 4,000 people, Mosaic has not been spared from the illness and death COVID-19 brings. We’ve had a number of people we support get sick with the virus, and a handful of people have died. But our DSPs masked up, gowned up and put on gloves to continue to be there and serve people every day – even those who were known to have the virus.
Many times, they risked exposing themselves, but they continued to work. Many times, they saw people they knew and care for get sick, but they continued to work. And a few times, after seeing someone they had come to love pass due to the virus, they continued to work and serve others, even while they grieved a loss.
Direct Support Professionals are often unnoticed because they put the person they serve in the limelight, not themselves. But this week, make an effort to notice – and to thank – the Direct Support Professionals who serve at Mosaic. (In AZ, add “and Soreo.”)
Read more and watch a video featuring some of Mosaic’s DSPs online.
Protect Yourself and Others – Get Your Flu Vaccine
Flu season is here, and the COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more important for people to get a flu vaccination this year.
Why? The flu and COVID-19 carry many similar symptoms. But COVID-19 carries a far higher rate of infection, illness and death.
In a piece from the Journal of the American Medical Association published earlier this year, two doctors (one associated with Harvard Medical School and the other with Emory University School of Medicine) stated that at its peak week in April, the number of deaths from COVID were 10-44 times greater than the number of deaths during the peak week of any of the last seven flu seasons.
September and October are the recommended times to get vaccinated. Receiving a flu vaccination diminishes the chances of contracting the seasonal flu. While it doesn’t protect a person from COVID-19, it does help reduce the severity of symptoms that COVID-19 can bring.
To protect our workforce and those we serve, Mosaic has put together a robust plan that will allow each member of our workforce – even those who are uninsured – to receive a flu shot free of charge.
Additional ways to help prevent catching and spreading the flu include the same basic techniques used to help prevent catching and spreading COVID-19: wear a mask when you’re not able to maintain physical distance from others, and wash your hands frequently.
Protect yourself and others from a double-whammy this flu season; get vaccinated for the flu and encourage those you love to do the same.