I would be interested to hear how the retirement community handles Covid. Were residents wearing masks- was there indoor dining en masse? Did it seem like the pandemic was over as it seems like where I live?
No, this retirement community is the opposite of how yours is being run.
There are 125 residents in the complex. NONE of the senior citizens have caught the virus, during the pandemic.
They did have some staff members test positive though. So they strengthened protocol.
. Back in March of 2020, I was visiting Mom, and we were about to watch an NBA game, and the announcer came on to say BASKETBALL WAS SUSPENDED. So I said 'Mom, remember that virus we have been talking about? Looks like it is taking over right now.'
The very next morning there was a large note on the breakfast tray---ALL VISITORS MUST VACATE PREMISES BY MIDNIGHT...
And they shut down and locked down that veery day.
NO MORE GROUP DINING---ALL MEALS were delivered to rooms.
NO MORE GROUP ACTIVITIES---They cancelled exercise classes, movie nights, music shows, the hairdresser, the gym, the bar, the game room, the BUS that took people to do errands----EVERYTHING WAS CANCELLED
It was sad because they had an amazing array of extracurricular activities and amenities and everything was shut down for almost 2 years.
No visitors were allowed for over a year. Then 1 guest allowed with a rapid covid test taken at front desk, but only allowed for the day. No overnights.
last spring they reopened the group dining, the bar, and the Starbucks stand and errand van for awhile but when the virus spiked again in Reno, they closed it all down again.
Before my recent trip, I received an email saying that most everything would be reopened Feb 1st. But when I was there , the restaurant area was still closed because of staff shortages. The administrators explained that they have high standards for staff, wanting them all to be vaccinated and to ONLY work at this one senior centre. They don't want staff to be working at more than one senior centre because that increases chance of contamination. So they pay top dollar and expect that loyalty.
Right now, they only have enough staff to deliver the 3 meals a day and cannot have the restaurant service they used to offer. Although they do have a small Starbucks type of breakfast/lunch area that is popular.
Things seem to be slowly going back to normal. My Mom has a caretaker visiting every day for 3 hours and has a staff member each morning and each evening. But NOW she is able to have myself, or one of may brothers, come and visit for a week or 2 , every single month, like we used to do.
She has her own little 2 bedroom apartment, with a nice little kitchen and a balcony overlooking the large yard. She can watch the birds from the balcony and see her neighbours and wave hello, which was nice during the lockdown.
The honesty in the answers was appreciated though. They were all so nice about it.
