Although the rest of America struggles to get outside to reenter office spaces, reopen retail stores, or dine outside at restaurants and bars, seniors are asked to continue to isolate themselves.
Seniors are in the same state of uncertainty that parents of young children find themselves. Although parents wonder if school will reopen in the Fall, older adults wonder if they ever will be allowed to return to the senior centers where they could socialize, exercise, eat, and play. With the continued concern over COVID-19, some senior centers remain closed and may not open for activities and congregate luncheons until late Fall, or even, until 2021.
Nutrition directors preparing home-delivered meals to isolated seniors and disabled individuals at home, report an increased number of calls from seniors seeking human interaction. Meals on Wheels numbers have tripled since the COVID-19 health guidelines began. Providers have answered that need. However, seniors isolated at home need more than a meal.
In an interesting side note, younger, socially-active seniors, whether they are in their 70s or even in their 90s, have the experience of some of the isolation that their older brothers and sisters have lived, and they do not like it!
However, one intuitive and tenacious activity director and trip coordinator, Becky Lueken, at Fox Valley Community Services (FVCS) in Sandwich, decided that she could not let her Center’s clients languish. From the beginning of the stay-at-home order, Becky decided she would find a way to keep her seniors attending and has been offering outdoor activities since the middle of April.
Cindy Worsley, executive director at FVCS notes that the Friday before Easter, the organization held an Easter parade, with police, fire, transit staff members, and Board members vehicles driving past the homes of clients and through the streets of Sandwich. When they saw the faces of the seniors waving with tears in their eyes, they knew they had to do something.
“There was no resistance at all,” Lueken reports. “I started with the parade, and the Police and Fire Departments saw our seniors’ faces too. As long as we hold our distance, there has been no negativity at all, and the seniors get so excited about everything we do now,” she said
Lueken sayid she has about 12 seniors attending her outdoor exercising classes. Line dancing is still a small group, but it is building as more people hear about it. The walking club has been walking regularly at the fairgrounds. Approximately 15 seniors attend bean bag baseball, and she regularly has 50 cars in the lot with seniors playing bingo!
The uncertainty of COVID-19 and the necessary social guidelines have affected everyone in the senior community. “As the activity director, I thought I would be the first of the staff to go,” Lueken said. “I feel lucky to be still here, and I make myself useful.”
Lueken realizes her seniors are not very interested in Zoom meetings, “but we are starting a pen pal group,” she said. “I was surprised with the response to it. People cry. They all want to know when we are opening,” she said, “Volunteers miss their time, too!”
Social distancing and proper health standards are adhered to during all events. The seniors may not enter the building or use the restrooms during the outdoor activities, so they must plan their trips to the Center’s parking lot accordingly. They can order carry-out lunches from the Meals on Wheels kitchen at the Center which is delivered to their vehicles at the end of their morning activities.
Fox Valley Community Services is at 1406 Suydam Road, Sandwich. More information is available at www.fvoas.org. Lunch menus are available on the website and on the web through Voluntary Action Center (VAC) of DeKalb County, vacdk.com. Please be sure to call ahead for orders to 815-787-6219 ext. 2. The average suggested donation is $4. No one is denied placine an order due to inability to donate. Any amount is accepted.
Looking forward, Lueken said she is hopeful the Center can open its doors soon. “I think I will keep bingo in the parking lot though, because we can get more bingo players out there and it’s fun! We get 60 to 70 people out there. Everything has been donated, including gift certificates to local restaurants and a lot of volunteer time.”
Many senior providers continue to work remotely while expressing real concern over the continued isolation of the seniors at home. Meanwhile, the staff members and volunteers serving at Fox Valley Community Services are thinking creatively and doing what they can to ensure their seniors are healthy in mind, body, and spirit.
Barb Nadeau is the Community Relations Manager for the Voluntary Action Center of DeKalb County. Barb has worked in television, radio, and print media, as well as in volunteer coordination and networking amongst non-profit social service agencies. She is a freelance writer and television host. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.