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Tall order: Man uses bucket truck to visit mom on 3rd floor of assisted living home

Ohio arborist Charley Adams used his bucket truck to visit his 81-year-old mom in her third-storey room at her assisted living home. Joel Beeghly/Facebook

People are getting creative when it comes to visiting loved ones during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Take Charley Adams, for example, an Ohio arborist with a bucket truck who hasn’t been able to visit mom Julie, 80, at her assisted living home due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

Adams, the owner of Adams Tree Preservation in Poland, Ohio, took his bucket truck to the side of Julie’s home, raising himself up to meet her at her window last week.

“Her spirits were kind of down because she’s used to being able to get out, go places and do things. And so I just had the idea that I’d bring the bucket truck over,” Adams told CNN. “I called her, and I told her to come look out the window, and there I was.”

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The 45-year-old made sure to check with Windsor Estates Assisted Living before making the grand gesture for his mom.

They spent around five to 10 minutes chatting, and he asked if she wanted any movies or books to help stave off the isolation boredom, CNN says.

Click to play video: 'How to care for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic'
How to care for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic

With the facility on lockdown, it’s been hard on his mom, Adams said.

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“She kept calling me and saying she wanted to go out to dinner,” Adams told Good Morning America (GMA). “I kept explaining to her, ‘Mom, that’s not possible … you can’t do that right now.’”

Since his visit, which has been getting a lot of attention on Facebook, he says his mom’s days have been much brighter.

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“[Friends and family] are calling her. It’s been really great because all of the phone calls really cheer her up,” Adams told GMA.

“If this little story can make somebody, even if it’s just for two seconds, smile, it means we’re doing something right.”

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

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To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

meaghan.wray@globalnews.ca

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