Corona Daily 389: The Dishwashing Lady

57-year old Mary Daniel from Florida is the founder and chief executive of ClaimMedic – a small company that helps people deal with their health care bills. The company kept her busy. She drove across Jacksonville to meet customers every day.

From 3 July, she has taken up the job of a dishwasher with Rosecastle at Deerwood. This is a residential facility for senior citizens, retired or suffering from dementia or other disorders. The dishwashing job will pay Mary $9 per hour.

Before joining, she had to subject herself to a detailed background investigation, biometrics check by FBI and the Florida police. She underwent a 26-hour training on various subjects. She attended an induction and orientation program that explained how to interact with residents. Her dishwashing job didn’t require much of it, but it was all part of the eligibility requirement.  

She gave Covid-19 tests a few times, and fortunately was negative each time. Also a TB and a drug test. A 20-hour video training included information on infectious diseases.

Having legally qualified to do the job, Mary has started scrubbing dishes, mopping floors, cleaning the kitchen. This is the first time she has taken up a manual job.  

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Mary’s husband, Steve, used to work as an orange juice salesman. A very sociable person as salesmen are expected to be. At 59 years of age, he prematurely developed Alzheimer’s. Mary took care of him. In July 2019, when it became impossible to leave him alone at home, Mary moved him to the care centre Rosecastle at Deerwood. He was healthy, moved around the center, chatted with people, and continued to recognize Mary, his companion of 24 years. After Mary finished her ClaimMedic work, she would visit him, watch TV with him, help him get ready for bed each night, and lovingly tuck him in bed before driving home.

On 11 March, Mary was told she can’t visit the center any more. Florida governor’s order prohibited visitors to all care homes.

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Through March, April and May, Mary tried everything. She reached out to the governor’s office more than a 100 times, but received a mechanical response pointing to the order. She promised to wear a full PPE before going to see her husband. The governor’s office refused.

She tried window visits. When she stood on the street outside Steve’s room, a thick glass separated them. Steve cried. With dementia, he couldn’t understand why Mary comes to the window, tries to talk, and instead of meeting him, walks away to her car. She stopped for fear of making it worse for him. Facetime didn’t work either.

She wrote to the director of the care center. Could she volunteer please? Could she bring a therapy dog? Could she get a job at the center – any job?

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After more than 100 days of separation, Mary heard about the dishwashing vacancy. She jumped at it. After working, she would be able to see her husband. That was the perk.

On 3 July, after washing the kitchen, she went to Steve’s room. Steve recognized her even with her mask on. Mary, he said, and hugged her. Both of them cried. Later they watched TV. Mary made his bed, and tucked him in.

Ravi