The Times Union interviewed Susan Conlon and Karen Bona, day center managers for Eddy SeniorCare, part of St. Peter’s Health Partners, for its story on helping seniors stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eddy SeniorCare is the Capital Region’s only Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The program supports older adults at home by bringing together under one roof a wide array of medical care, home health care, therapy, and other support services.
From the article:
The day center has been closed since March because of the pandemic, but clients are still trying to accompany older adults by “doing visits, checking in, giving them activity sheets, trying to do activities over there broadcast channels and having the conference calls,” said Susan Conlon, the Day Center Manager of Eddy SeniorCare.
One of the activities they offer now is bingo through conference calls. They mailed everyone a bingo card and set up a conference line for them to call and play twice a day. They also arrange group or individual phone conversations with the seniors, talking about the latest current events including COVID-19 and the protest marches.
“They are anxious. If they’re not talking about it, it’s kind of stuck in their head,” said Karen Bona, day center manager. “Having the opportunity to express their reactions to the world around them alleviates some of their negative emotions, like anxiety.”
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