Eldercare Is Coping with COVID-19 Philip Harder Debuts Feature Film

Read it online in archive! MyNortheaster.com May 6, 2020 Northeast Minneapolis | St. Anthony | Columbia Heights | Hilltop Vol. 42, No. 9 Eldercare is coping with COVID-19 by Cynthia Sowden ment of Health (MDH). As members Since February, residents at of LeadingAge, a trade association Catholic Eldercare’s senior living of non-profit caregivers that deals facility at 817 Main Street NE have with seniors, they took note of best gotten used to eating meals in their practices and began implementing rooms and seeing staff dressed them as the situation evolved. head-to-toe in protective garments, “Early on, we stopped visitors including face shields. Staff have from coming onto the premises,” become accustomed to speaking said Diane Lucas, Eldercare’s di- through a mask. It’s a situation no rector of marketing communica- one likes, but it’s necessary. tions. “The only people coming On April 22, Catholic Eldercare through our entrances are employ- sent out a media advisory from ees and our vendors.” She said the Greg Baumberger, president and staff is in daily contact with MDH. CEO. “As of today, we have eight Baumberger added, “All deliver- lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 ies go to the loading dock. They’re in our Care Center. There are no held there to minimize the spread active cases in our assisted living of COVID.” or independent living communities. He said Eldercare has two nurs- However, it is with great sadness es on staff who are specialists in that we announced we have expe- infection control. Those two have rienced 12 deaths since the virus trained other staff on how to pre- was first detected. We grieve with vent the disease from entering the the loved ones of those who have building. succumbed to this deadly virus and Lucas said one floor of the 174- extend our prayers to them during bed building has become an “iso- this difficult time.” lation unit” where residents with In an April 23 phone interview lab-positive COVID-19 tests are se- with the Northeaster, Baumberger questered. “That’s the most recent said, “In the state of Minnesota, thing we have done to help mitigate there were 221 new cases since the spread,” she said. yesterday. We’re moving up on the Baumberger talked about the curve. For Catholic Eldercare, the “complexity” of the coronavirus. curve arrived sooner.” “We’ve tested people who have As at other Minnesota nursing been negative twice,” he said. homes, Catholic Eldercare leaders “Then, on the third test, they’re saw the virus race through senior positive.” He’s encouraged by the care facilities on the West Coast efforts of the University of Minneso- Spring scenes amid new stay-home extension and began preparing for the worst. ta and Mayo Clinic to develop anti- Joel Bartlett and Kevin Bumgardner of Columbia Heights walked with their dogs Carrol and Gustav They monitored communications body testing. at Kordiak Park (Photo by Karen Kraco). Heights Theater remains closed under the governor’s orders from the Center for Disease Control But it’s not all gloom and frustration, about gathering (Photo by Nik Linde). Fishing off the dock on Silver Lake (Photo by Carol Jensen). (CDC) and the Minnesota Depart- ELDERCARE411 Philip Harder debuts feature film “Tuscaloosa” by Liz Jensen adapted by Harder from the novel Natalia Dyer (Stranger Things) It’s August in Tuscaloosa, of the same name by Glasgow plays Virginia, a patient at a Alabama, 1972. Billy, a recent Phillips, published in 1994. “I met mental institution. Tate Donovan college graduate, works on the Glasgow Phillips in Los Angeles (Argo), plays the lead character’s grounds of an old world mental 20 years ago after I read his first psychiatrist father. Devon Bostick institution run by his psychiatrist novel, ‘Tuscaloosa,’” said Harder. (The 100), plays Billy, the lead. father. At the end of summer he “I was impressed by Glasgow’s Rapper YG (Def Jam recording falls in love with Virginia, one of natural talent to weave humor and artist), plays a civil rights activist. his father’s patients. Meanwhile, romance with complicated social And Marchánt Davis (The Day Billy’s childhood friend Nigel joins issues.” Shall Come), plays Nigel, Billy’s fellow activists in the fight against Harder and Phillips became childhood friend. Tuscaloosa’s white power elite, friends and talked about the pos- “Our casting agent Bess Fifer which includes Billy’s father. Billy sibility of bringing “Tuscaloosa” to from New York cast the kids in finds himself torn between Nigel, the screen someday. But it wasn’t ‘Stranger Things,’ so she had a his father, and Virginia as tensions until 2016 that the idea became connection to Natalia Dyer, who rise and mysteries unfold. Virginia (Natalia Dyer) and Billy (Devon Bostick) meet near the railroad reality. After Phillips hinted that plays Virginia, a complicated “Tuscaloosa,” is the first bridge over Tuscaloosa’s Black Warrior River, played by the BNSF his novel was available for a character thrown into a mental feature-length narrative film from bridge over the Mississippi on Marshall Street. (Provided photo) screen adaptation, Harder made institution against her will,” said Minneapolis writer and director sippi River in Northeast near The Building, the Mississippi River his move. “I took the leap and we Harder. Harder said Virginia is an Philip Harder. Harder has been Sample Room, filmed the entire north of the Broadway bridge, the finally shot the movie a couple unpredictable character who is a longtime creative force behind movie in Minnesota, including Frost Building near Broadway and years later,” said Harder. “While challenging to play, “She blurs the music videos for artists including locations around Northeast Minne- Central, the PNA hall at 13th Ave- shooting, I always relied on my line between sanity and youthful Prince, Foo Fighters, and Hilary apolis, Anoka, Northfield, and on nue and Fourth Street NE, Studio memory of my first read because wild living.” Duff, as well as commercial clients the Carleton College campus. 6, the River Liquor sign (now torn I couldn’t predict what would hap- Harder said the character of including Apple, Disney, and Harder and his film crew shot in down), and Harder’s own house pen in the story,” he said. “That’s Virginia reminded him of the char- Target. many familiar Northeast loca- on Marshall Street. what I hoped to capture for the acter McMurphy, played by Jack Harder, who lives on the Missis- tions such as the Northrup King The film “Tuscaloosa” was audience.” TUSCALOOSA45 Hopeful signs ��3, 7 Farmer’s market Kindness Bingo Letters ……………………………………2 Abuse victims still will open soon with raises SACA The Northeast Experience..….….…………3 access services �� 4 modifications ��7 donations ��9 Items of Note..………4 / In Business ...........8 Arts Insights: Public Works on DeLaSalle students Home, senior and Central at 29th, write to Eldercare Worship Directory........................................9 trail collections �� 6 Lowry ��8 residents ��11 Public Notices, Classified Ads………….....10 May 6, 2020 | Northeaster 11 Pen pals keep Eldercare residents company 13ELDERCARE (Photo provided by Matt Hagen) even if residents must stay in their rooms. The communications staff has enlisted “virtual volunteers” and found new ways to use the center’s in-house TV channel, producing travel shows. Enrichment and Michael Gacek group activities are also broadcast. An Northeaster since 1958, Realtor® since 1985 extremely popular addition is the weekly Now offering 3D virtual tours and “mail bag.” Students from DeLaSalle High School No Contact Listing & Selling have become pen pals with residents. The 35 Years! letters are isolated for three days to make 100s of homes SOLD! sure they don’t transmit virus when they’re Over 100 reviews! delivered to the residents. Once a week, the communications staff reads the best letters over the air. Shop Local, Spiritual needs are also being addressed Hire Local during the lockdown. “This is a difficult time for our residents,” acknowledged Baum- C/T 612-750-6234 berger. “Having six chaplains available is MichaelGacek a real blessing. They are able to give one- @edinarealty.com to-one spiritual care.” Mass is broadcast staff, alumni, friends, and students and to partner with Catholic Eldercare and pro- Follow me @ throughout the facility daily at 11:30 a.m. their families “would let them know that we vide meaningful connections that benefit Staff have helped residents communi- are praying for them during this challeng- our students and their residents.” cate with their families via FaceTime. And, ing time … and also a way for us to con- On the afternoon of April 21, Rogers and /NEmplshomes of course, residents still receive care pack- nect with members of the religious order Hagen met with two Catholic Eldercare ages from their loved ones – after a three- who serve our school.” staff members: Diane Lucas, director for day isolation. Rogers said cards began filling up his marketing communications, business de- Baumberger said he couldn’t say mailbox within days of the project’s an- velopment, and Renee McHugh, director enough about Eldercare employees. “Early nouncement. The cards came from not of therapeutic recreation. The four stood on, the Board of Directors recognized the only students, but their siblings and par- outside the 817 Main Street entrance, personal sacrifice our people are making, ents, some of whom made card making an wearing face masks. Rogers handed a and approved giving them hazard pay to after-dinner activity for the family. Rogers bright yellow bag with the DLS logo on the OIL CHANGE reward them for being with us during this said the goal was to send a special Eas- side, stuffed with letters, to McHugh. The difficult time.” ter greeting to each of the 150 residents ceremony lasted only a few minutes.

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