Residents enjoying a game of hallway bingo.
SCREEN TO SUNSHINE: SENIOR CARE FACILITIES by Dakota Parks REOPEN VISITATION
From the onset of the global health crisis, protecting vulnerable and high-risk populations in nursing homes and assisted living facilities became the upmost priority. Daily life for senior citizens drastically changed as facilities implemented social distancing procedures, closed guest visitation and created new programing and activities to keep residents occupied. Face-to-face visits with family members changed to FaceTime and Zoom calls and weekly outings were replaced with grocery and pharmacy delivery services. After nearly six months in lock-down, nursing homes and care facilities across the state of Florida are now reopening to guest visitation following CDC guidelines and Emergency Order 20-011. To better understand the way COVID has impacted senior care across the state, Coming of Age spoke to a local care facility and a representative from LeadingAge Florida.
20 COMING OF AGE WINTER 2020
Around mid-March, when COVID-19 was first categorized as a pandemic, Emergency Order 20-006 set out to restrict and close visitation to senior care facilities in the state of Florida and slow the spread of the virus. As the director of communications at LeadingAge Florida, Nick Van Der Linden explained, around this same time senior care facilities across the state began implementing new procedures to protect residents. “Shortly after the news broke about the first Coronavirus case in the United States, our members quickly instituted screening protocols at their entrances,” Van Der Linden said. “They established COVID-19 response teams, instituted mask policies, restricted visitation, closed dining rooms, pools, gyms, common areas and all group activities. They also set up COVID-19 isolation units to prevent the spread if it broke through.” LeadingAge Florida, a leading advocate in the state of Florida for senior living, represents over
250 communities, consisting of more than 500 facilities and 80,000+ senior citizens. The not-for-profit organization provides representation before legislature and education and training opportunities for members. As Van Der Linden explained, in early March, LeadingAge Florida also began coordinating with several health organizations to streamline a single source of information in daily conference calls with members. “I can’t say enough about the resiliency and dedication of our members to fighting the virus and keeping residents and staff safe and healthy,” Van Der Linden said. “They have optimized the use of technology to keep