Moving forward
With an eye on the changing pandemic, communities adapt to keep residents safe and engaged
Amid
the twists and turns of the pandemic, senior living communities are moving forward. Residents are vaccinated. Activities are taking place again. Families and friends can visit. Tours are available for those considering a move. People who may have delayed a move because of the pandemic are ready to make a change. Consumer demand for senior living is picking up, property managers say.
“Relatively speaking, things are going well,” says Bill Casper, executive director at Westminster Place, a life plan community in Evanston with several different types of housing depending on one’s needs. “We have done a good job of managing our way through the pandemic.”
Casper describes his role as something like a race car driver, making quick turns at various points to keep everyone safe while still moving forward. The sentiment is echoed by managers at other retirement communities. Protocols and guidelines change along with the virus, and what works to stop it. The highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus has added yet another wrinkle.
But retirement communities feel prepared for whatever comes next. That includes whether residents need a booster shot of the vaccine or a different approach to keep residents and staff safe. At the same time, senior living communities have introduced new technology and other innovations because of the pandemic that will be kept going forward.
“We are balancing our way through the situation,” says Casper.
Safety first
Senior living communities have a good safety record. A majority (64%) of senior living communities reported no COVID-19 deaths in 2020, according to an analysis by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. The organization provided grant funding to NORC at the University of Chicago to examine mortality rates by property type.
The analysis found that 67% of independent living communities, 64% of assisted living properties and 61% of memory care communities studied saw no COVID-19related deaths in the 10 months of 2020 that COVID was known to be present in long-term care. Overall, including all senior living communities (independent living, assisted living and memory care), 64% saw no COVID-19 cases, according to researchers.
Cases of COVID-19 in long-term care settings dropped significantly as the vaccines rolled out at the end of 2020. Local senior living communities were quick to administer the shots. “Our residents are 100 percent vaccinated,” says Casper.
Most staffers at senior living communities have been vaccinated too. Some communities are mandating vaccinations for the staff. Mercy Circle, a life plan community on Chicago’s South Side, says all staffers must be vaccinated by mid-September. About 85% of the staff was vaccinated as of mid-August. “The vaccine requirement allows us to reach the goal post to have everyone vaccinated,” says Frances Lachowicz, executive director at Mercy Circle.
A celebration was recently held to mark an 85% vaccination rate among the staff at Providence Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Saratoga Grove, a senior living community that shares the campus in Downers Grove. All vaccinated employees were entered into a drawing for a $5,000 cash prize, which was won by Jennifer Sacatropez, a nurse who has helped patients and residents throughout the course of the pandemic.
Widespread vaccinations have allowed communities to return to a more normal routine. “Vaccines have made a difference,” says Megan Tengerstrom, vice president of operations at Providence Life Services.
The Delta variant of the virus has led to some recent modifications. Senior living communities are careful to follow up-tothe-minute guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Life resumes
In-person programming and activities are up and running at senior living communities. “Residents are out and about,” says
Mike Flynn, CEO at
Friendship Senior
Options. The group manages two life plan communities, Friendship Village in Schaumburg and GreenFields in Geneva. Residents are enjoying fitness classes and other programming.
Communities still encourage social distancing. Warm weather allows more events to be held outside. Masking requirements for residents can vary, depending on the changing COVID-19 situation. Testing can also fluctuate.
One of the most difficult aspects of the pandemic has been the restrictions on visitors. Senior living residents missed seeing their friends and loved ones in person. Communities made a lot of accommodations last winter and spring to bring families together using technology and creative outdoor events.
Visitors are generally now allowed in person, with some modifications. Temperature checks and health screening questions are common, though protocols may vary.
At Westminster Place, for example, visitors are asked to be masked indoors in common areas. Visitors are screened for symptoms upon entry and asked about recent travel. A designated area is set aside for visiting.
Even pandemics have silver linings. Residents are now more adept at using technology to connect with family and friends. New cleaning protocols are here to stay, according to property managers. At the same time, senior living communities are experimenting with new ventilation systems to help reduce disease transmission. Ultraviolet lights, shown to be effective disinfectants, are also being tested.
“Everybody has learned a lot,” says Casper. “We’ve learned to be very nimble.”