Michigan Press Photographers Association Conference First Place Winner
Escaping Isolation
87 year old Joan Piccione suddenly found herself isolated in her nursing home in March of 2020. By June the staff suggested it was time for hospice. Her family decided to care for her themselves hoping this would help her get better and if not at least she would spend the end of her life with her family.
Joan Piccione arrives at her daughter Maria McAvoy’s home in Troy, Michigan on June 22, 2020 from the hospital. Previously she was a resident at American House, however due the isolation Joan’s health declined at an alarming rate. The nurses suggested hospice so her family decided to take her in so they could see and care for her in hopes that she would recover, or they could at least be with her at the end of her life.
Joan Piccione, unable to move on her own has to be wheeled into her daughter Maria McAvoy's home and carried up the stairs to her sons room where she is to stay till her nursing home, "American House" is opened to visitations. Maria's son gave up his room and has to sleep on the couch until then.
Cheryl Piccione, Joan’s daughter in law, assists Joan Piccione with lunch while she is propped up in an old hospital bed on June 26, 2020. When Joan’s family last visited her she was healthy and strong, able to walk and move around almost completely independently. In just a few weeks of being confined to her room at American House she could no longer walk, sit up or even lift silverware to eat.
Joan has been experiencing some skin problems and keeps insisting she sees a dermatologist, however it is July 2020 and COVID-19 cases are rising at alarming rates. Joan is at very high risk of getting extremely ill if she catches COVID-19 therefore, it is too dangerous to go to the doctor to get help with her skin.
Joan’s granddaughters Katie and Aly Piccione travel from Virginia to visit and help take care of their grandmother. Anyone who had been in contact with other people would wear a mask when in the same room as Joan, to which Joan would ask everyone to take them off so she could see their faces.
One of the side effects of Joans medication is drowsiness and everyday after her medication she takes a nap. It took some physical training for Joan to be able even to lift her head and legs for us to get her in a comfortable position for sleep.
Joan holds a photograph of her late husband Nick Piccione on August 27, 2020. She talks about how much she misses him and wishes they could be together.
Joan is embraced by her great granddaughter Mary Kate Piccione while her mother Nicole Piccione takes a picture on July 7th 2020. Nicole is Joans eldest grand child and came over from Gross Point Michigan often to help take care of Joan so the McAvoys could do things as simple as going grocery shopping.
Joan leans against oldest daughter Lisa Piccione on July 10th 2020. Lisa had come from D.C. right when they sprung her from the nursing home to help ease the burden on the McAvoys. At first the family thought Joan would be with them for 3 weeks and then the nursing home would be open again because that was what the Michigan governor had announced. Lisa stayed in Michigan for 7 weeks before returning home to her family. Nursing home are still yet to open 8 months later.
Maria’s daughter and Joan’s granddaughter, Riley McAvoy takes her vitals each morning since Lisa Piccione returned home to Washington D.C. after living with them for 7 weeks. Because Riley is out of work she is able to help out full time and Joan even pays her for her service.
Every morning after breakfast Joan’s family is now in charge of giving her all her medication with applesauce and doing her vitals which they would send to American House by noon everyday. This was a tedious and time consuming task especially since Joan did not like to do it.
Joan and Maria sit out on the back porch singing along to Joan’s favorite artist Frank Sanatra on July 9th 2020. Joan enjoys her summer evenings on the patio but to do this she has to be carried down and up the stairs in her wheelchair by the Mcavoy family everyday.
Joan sunbaths with son Stephen Piccione and daughter in law Cheryl on the back patio on July 11th 2020. Through physical therapy she is now able to sit up, eat and even walk to the bathroom with a walker. This is a remarkable improvement from when she came from the hospital and she just keeps improving mentally and physically through the help of her family.