The doors to apartment units in the hallways are open and only a few feet inside are residents playing bingo. Hallway BINGO has become one of the more popular activities at Heritage Woods and White Oaks at Huntley. The irony of hallway BINGO as an activity at assisted living facilities is BINGO’S popularity usually brings residents together because of its ease of playing and odds of winning. With the ongoing threat of COVID-19, separation of residents at assisted living centers has become the norm. Residents are no longer eating their meals in the dining hall or participating in their usual gathering place for group activities.
But they are finding the staff at senior facilities such as Heritage Woods and White Oaks using creativity in helping break up their day in what might otherwise become overwhelmingly dull.
Besides hallway BINGO, Heritage Woods and White Oaks is doing everything possible to maintain safe distances and keep residents mentally active.
Heritage Woods Administrator Megan Benzel points out their “Jolly Trolley” full of word puzzles, adult coloring pages, individual craft projects, and books for residents. Staff will visit each apartment with a “non-social, social hour” where they’ll offer beverages.
Despite state and federal projections on the length of sheltering-in-place, Benzel isn’t certain on the length at Heritage Woods and White Oaks because it’s a rather fluid situation. What she does know is “all three meals per day are served directly to residents in their apartments. They still have the same choices as they would if they ate in the main dining room,” Benzel said.
Heritage Woods and White Oaks has placed a portable hand washing sink at the front door of the community for use by medical providers.
“We have restricted visitors to only imminent end-of-life situations, to a family member directly involved with the daily care of a memory care resident, and emergency personnel,” Benzel said.
While some assisted living and memory care facilities are having trouble getting enough of a supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), Heritage Woods and White Oaks are working with their medical suppliers and the Kane County Health Department securing adequate supplies of necessary items, according to Benzel.
“The residents have been handling the situation quite well and have been so incredibly thankful to the staff for their help. I have received so many emails and calls from families and residents who appreciate the efforts being made by our team to deliver meals, make daily rounds to visit each resident, and keep them busy in their apartment,” Benzel said.
FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom are more than ever an important social tool, especially for families that may not visit inside the facility with their loved one(s) in assisted living and memory care. Heritage Woods and White Oaks has encouraged families to keep in touch through cell phone and computer applications.
At Sun City Huntley by Del Webb, Board President Dennis O’Leary indicated that as recommended precautions became stricter, facilities closed on March 17.
“Shelter-in-place will be lifted when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) pronounces it is lifted. At that point in time, the board and staff of Sun City Huntley will meet to determine when and how the facilities will be reopened,” O’Leary said. This should not stop family members from contact with their loved ones.
“We obviously do not restrict residents from contact with their family members. But residents should follow recent CDC and state-mandated guidelines and policies. There are a lot of people using the ‘virtual communication sites’ for group conferencing such as Zoom and Webex. This is to keep contact with friends and loved ones,” O’Leary said.
The date of lifting shelter-in-place continues changing…so Sun City Huntley is currently not publicizing a date to reopen, according to O’Leary.
“We first canceled classes, trips, and events on March 13 and speculated that they would remain canceled until at least May 1. We realize the date is subject to change depending on CDC recommendations,” O’Leary said.
As most people familiar with Sun City Huntley know, Del Webb is normally very active. O’Leary described life at Sun City Huntley before shelter-in-place was announced.
“With hundreds of classes, committee and council meetings, trips, and other in-house entertainment activities, our rooms, parking lots, and physical fitness/activity areas were always full to overflowing. Shelter-in-place today is the antithesis of the Sun City Huntley normal way of life,” O’Leary said.
As the staff at Heritage Woods and White Oaks has reworked and adjusted popular activities to maintain as normal of a day-to-day existence as possible under serious constraints, Sun City Huntley staff has been diligent in providing information, updates, and suggestions to residents, according to O’Leary.
“They can join in on online yoga classes, share ‘boredom busters,’ and engage in ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ by surveying each resident with a well check phone call. Our neighborhood representatives and block captains are helping residents set up home delivery services for groceries and making frequent calls to those living alone,” O’Leary said.
Although the Prairie and Meadow View Lodges have been closed because of COVID-19, residents have coped with the temporary adjustments.
“Our facility consists of lakes to enjoy and walking paths that are seeing a lot of use on nice days. Whisper Creek Golf Course has remained open for play,” O’Leary said. He reminded us of the strength of the residents at Sun City Huntley and how many grew up during wars that threatened their lives.
“Practicing hiding under school desks during atomic bomb drills and building bomb shelters were part of their life. The Cold War shaped their psyche. Unlike many younger generations that have not endured difficult times, our residents know how to take care of themselves. They are handling it quite well,” O’Leary said.
O’Leary wanted to finish his thoughts with a final reminder that maybe “you could leave some toilet paper and hand sanitizer on the grocery shelves. We don’t always move as fast as our younger counterparts.”
