For senior living communities, the COVID-19 pandemic was a true test of everything we prepare for in a healthcare and housing community for seniors. As a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) serving a continuum for seniors (Independent and Assisted living, Skilled Nursing Green House Homes and Home Care), Hover Senior Living Community experienced an enormous and transformative change almost overnight.
Hover Senior Community
Increased guidance by regulatory agencies including the CDC, State and County Health Departments began happening weekly or more often. The panic of making sure we had extensive amounts of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) be-came an immediate priority. We made sure staff and residents had regular COVID testing, and eventually onsite vaccination clinics.
A year later, Hover Community celebrates that as a campus of over 200 older adults and nearly 160 employees, we have had only a handful of COVID cases among us. We nurtured existing and new staff through the nationwide concerns about COVID in senior communities and have been able to build an even stronger team of caregivers.
We have embraced technology as a means for our residents to stay in touch with families and friends, play online games with grandchildren and still be able to participate in virtual group experiences. We are focusing on rebuilding our dedicated group of volunteers and getting amazing social events planned in our beautiful courtyards as soon as we can.
A year later, we are now reopening under our new regulatory guidelines that allow for family visitation, small group activities, and group dining. Imagine the joy of finally seeing your grandchildren inside your own apartment versus outside your window. As one of our residents said, “Let’s get that beauty salon back open!” and we are!
Article courtesy of By Nancy Schwalm, Chairman, Board of Directors, Hover Senior Living Community