With the spread of COVID-19, it can be a scary and challenging time for caregivers and seniors.
Seniors are at the highest level of risk for the coronavirus; it is essential to ensure their safety.
The information spread by some news outlets that senior living communities have daily outbreaks is false. Most assisted living communities, such as The Kensington Reston, have adapted and upped their safety protocols.
Sustaining a safe and COVID-19 free environment is now a priority of many senior living communities.
The perks of transitioning your senior loved one to an assisted living or memory care community are beneficial to their health and well-being.
Before the pandemic, seniors were already susceptible to loneliness and isolation. With COVID-19, those risks have increased, but senior living communities can help with those challenges and maintain safety.
Adapting to uncertainty and ramping up senior living safety
Safety has always been important to The Kensington Reston, but we’ve now added additional protocols to help maintain our team members, residents’, and visitors’ health.
Our staff has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, wear masks throughout their shift, and practice social distancing.
Residents at our assisted living and memory care communities are fully vaccinated and vaccinations are required for new residents moving in. We also offer a vaccine clinic.
To prevent possible outbreaks, seniors wear masks during life-enrichment activities and whenever else it is appropriate. The staff is excellent at reminding our residents to wash and sanitize their hands periodically and keep track of senior’s temperatures and blood oxygen levels.
For family members that may want to visit their senior loved one, outdoor activities are recommended. For those who have been fully vaccinated, you can visit your loved one indoors while wearing a mask.
New ways to socialize and stay active
For seniors to live their best lives and age comfortably, they need ample opportunities to socialize with family members and friends. As social beings, it is essential to their happiness and overall well-being.
Fortunately, with technology, there are many ways senior living communities can help seniors ward off feelings of loneliness and isolation. While life-enrichment activities may have changed due to COVID-19, they are still available to seniors.
Virtual events
Virtual meetings and events have become quite popular, especially here at The Kensington Reston. Caregivers and family members can stay informed and continue learning how to provide the best care to their seniors, right in the comfort of their homes.
Another perk to virtual zoom meetings is if you or your loved one miss an event, you can find the event recording and watch it anytime.
Video calling
Seniors enjoy communicating and engaging with their loved ones on a digital platform, and it gives them something to look forward to in between their limited in-person visits.
Social-distanced group activities
When seniors have access to life-enrichment activities, it helps reduce their stress and increases their overall mood. Some examples of safe activities for seniors to engage in are crafts, puzzles, films, exercise, and music.
Individual activities
There are still ways to make sure seniors stay active and maintain connections with others during quarantine and isolation.
Activities include:
- Virtual field trips
- Listening to or playing music
- Reading books or listening to audiobooks
- Watching movies
- Crossword puzzles
- Card games
- Caring for plants and flowers
- Arts and crafts
- Crocheting or knitting
- Writing a penpal
- Learning a new hobby
How community living can keep seniors safe
A community setting can be one of the safest places for a senior to reside. With the increased safety measures and a 24/7 care team, senior living can provide the best treatment.
With rehabilitation and clinical services, a day club, activities, and dining, all in the same place, seniors have fewer reasons to travel and put themselves in danger.
While you may feel guilty transitioning your parent or spouse to an assisted living community, when you see how safe, warm, and comforting their environments are, you will likely feel more confident about your decision.
A community setting can be especially beneficial for seniors with memory disease and even less costly than in-home care. Seniors in need of memory care often require daily assistance from multiple caregivers, which increases their chances of being exposed to viruses.
The Kensington Promise
The Kensington Reston understands the unique challenges that come with caring for seniors during COVID-19. This is why it is Our Promise to love and care for your family as we do our down.
We offer an enhanced assisted living and memory care community that focuses on our residents’ safety and high acuity care.
Our cozy rooms, beautiful grounds, comforting staff, and fun-filled calendar will make our senior loved one feel right at home.Contact us to learn more about the rehabilitation services, virtual events, programs, and day club our exceptional communities offer our residents and their families.