Doing a Pivot in Thornton

from CPRA Byline - Winter 2022

Agency News

DOING A Pivot

Thornton REACHES THEIR ACTIVE AGING POPULATION DURING THE PANDEMIC

By: Jessie Romito, Active Adult Program Manager, City of Thornton

Pivot….Pivvvvot….PIVVVVVOT! It’s a safe bet the creators of the TV show Friends never envisioned that scene (or word) being so relevant 22 years later. “The Active Aging industry has felt the effects of COVID-19 and the need to pivot like all industries. The level of creativity, sensitivity, and responsiveness required from the staff working with active agers bore the creation of innovative ways to serve during the unknown.” says Thornton Active Adult Program Manager Jessie Romito.

At the Active Adult Center in Thornton, Colorado, the tiny staff team of 13 faced a unique challenge of opening a brandnew facility during a pandemic. “We can COVID Pivot” became the team motto and with a passion and dedication to maintaining services even from a distance, ideas on how to engage and connect through food while still staying safe, turned into reality. A curbside lunch program was born from that passion. The team utilized the new facility design to implement a three day per week drive-up meal program allowing patrons to register for healthy and nutritious meals in advance, and drive-thru to pick them up. “But more importantly, this program also offered a brief time to safely interact with others and share a smile,” says Romito. “For patrons who have been coming inside for meals at the Active Adult Center for decades, transitioning to curbside meals wasn’t easy.” A new process and eating without friends didn’t initially sound appealing, but the small and mighty team of staff and volunteers made it a positive experience. From holiday designed bags to a Santa and holiday lights and inflatables for the Christmas lunch celebration, the staff helped the program develop its own pizzazz. The program ran like clockwork, and from September 2020 to July 2021,

patrons made the daily drive to see the staff, get a hot meal and feel like they were still able to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Serving an average of 400 meals per week over three days the team viewed this “COVID Pivot” as one of their biggest successes, and rightfully so. In the blink of an eye they created an entirely new reservation process, meal serving process, and trained volunteers on reservation check-in and parking lot safety. Beginning in July of 2021, the team made the decision to slowly begin the transition back to inside meals and can you believe it, there was some resistance! “Patrons had really grown to enjoy the curbside program and were hesitant to pivot back to the old ways,” says Romito. “They have since pivoted and have been thrilled to be back in the company of lifelong friends, devouring delicious meals together.” Staff and patrons alike saw how adaptable humans can be, and we all learned that sometimes trying new things isn’t as scary as we talk ourselves into thinking they are.