Retirement communities remain an important option for seniors, even during a pandemic

Those who were considering a retirement community for themselves or a loved one before the pandemic may have reconsidered thanks to COVID-19. But local communities say that senior living facilities are still a good option as long as the community follows—and goes beyond—health guidelines.

“There are many benefits to living in a retirement community especially now during a pandemic. Most seniors are alone in their homes and may have a spouse who has passed away and possibly children who live out of state. Even when there is not a pandemic, depression and anxiety often become a serious issue for most senior citizens due to loneliness,” says Sherry Wills, marketing and admissions coordinator for Sycamore Glen Retirement Community, a community that offers independent and assisted living in Miamisburg.

As part of the Kettering Health Network, Sycamore Glen has followed both state and hospital guidelines this year. All employees and residents wear masks, areas of the building are cleaned and sanitized daily, visitors are screened and must make a reservation to visit, employees are tested bi-weekly and residents are served meals in their apartments instead of the dining room. These precautions have enabled residents to continue to enjoy the community’s social life with socially distanced activities and to make once-a-week visits to the grocery store.

“We even had a car show (with social distancing measures in place) during National Assisted Living Week,” adds Wills.

Bethany Village, a Graceworks Lutheran Services continuing care community in Dayton, has also been able to keep its community feel while keeping residents safe.

“During the stay-at-home order, we tried to facilitate in-person visitation by having family members stand outside the windows of the nursing home and call their loved one. As the state loosened its restrictions, we were finally able to have families visit outside. Our maintenance department built visitation stations with Plexiglas dividers,” says Ryan Ireland, director of communications and marketing for Graceworks Lutheran Services.

To keep residents engaged, the community created a Life Enrichment Facebook Live series, which has featured activities like visiting the Packard Museum, touring an art gallery, learning about Medicare and partaking in a virtual wine tasting with Rumbleseat Wine.

Residents have also found ways to interact while remaining socially distanced. Ireland says that residents have started creating what they’re calling bench warmers—mini sculptures that are being left on benches around campus for people to enjoy.

When asked about the benefits of choosing a retirement community, Ireland points to safety and community.

“Faithful caring is at the heart of everything we do. Both safety and community play a large part in faithful caring, especially now, during a pandemic,” he says.

Wills says her own aunt is an example of what seniors can gain by choosing a retirement community during this time.

“My own aunt lives in our community and before she came to us, she was in another assisted living community who did not allow any type of visitation or socialization at all due to the pandemic. Our family was very concerned because she began to lose hope and the desire to live. Since she has come to us, she is flourishing even in the midst of her cancer diagnosis. I have seen her come back to life,” she says.