BY SYDNEY HOOVER
Over the past week, people could be seen standing outside of Medicalodges in Eudora writing on windows with window chalk to elderly family members living in the facility.
Now, as Douglas County begins its 30 day stay-at-home order, they won’t be able to communicate with family members through the glass barrier of the window, as eastern Kansas begins to feel the effects of the coronavirus.
“It’s been pretty tough. We’re making the best of it,” Medicalodges Activities Director Lori Balderston said.
Balderston said she continues to plan games and events for the residents that allow them to maintain a six-foot distance from one another, but many are feeling depressed with visitors unable to enter the facility.
For other senior citizens living independently, even a trip to the grocery store has become a fear as officials warn of the dangers of COVID-19 for those over 60.
“We’re really afraid,” Vice Mayor Ruth Hughs said. “The thing is we’re so vulnerable and if you watch TV, it scares the pants off of you.”
With the virus continuing to spread across the nation, local organizations are altering their services, and some are asking for the community’s help in the coming weeks and months.
What local resources are available
Although nearly all upcoming events are canceled and “nonessential” businesses are closed, staff at the Senior Resource Center of Douglas County continue to be available for residents despite the center being closed to the public.
“Our staff are still hard at work over the phone and via email with taking calls from any seniors or their family … to help people navigate the resources that they need to stay safe and healthy and hopefully live a good quality of life even if they are stuck indoors,” Senior Resource Center Executive Director Megan Poindexter said.
With that, resources through the center are still available in some capacity. Poindexter said Senior Wheels trips are limited, but seniors in Eudora can still use the service to go to the grocery store or get to health-related appointments.
She said the service has expanded, so now instead of grocery shopping on their own, seniors can request a driver to get groceries for them and deliver them to their homes. She said this service has been successful so far, and said anyone in need of the service should plan ahead in case grocery stores are busy.
Drivers can also go to Just Foods in Lawrence to pick up food boxes for low-income individuals.
Gary Scott, who drives for Senior Wheels, said over the past week many of his scheduled trips have been canceled. When he does drive someone, he takes precautions to ensure the safety of the passengers.
“I was taking the responsibility of wiping down the vehicle and everything in there that could be touched and then making that safer for everyone,” Scott said.
Meals on Wheels will also continue to operate throughout Douglas County. Zach Ahrens, vice president of Strategic Initiatives for Midland Care Connection, said so far the program hasn’t seen issues with a lack of volunteers, as the Midland Care staff can deliver meals when there is a need.
Ahrens said the program is currently operating as it normally would, but staff members are preparing for potential changes in the future with “shelf-stable meals” if they are unable to gain safe access to a client’s home.
“We look at this that we are truly running a marathon, not a sprint,” Ahrens said. “Not only are we concerned about making sure that the daily needs of our clients are met, but we’re also looking far down the road at how we can continue meeting those needs and sustain this program.”
Meals on Wheels luncheons at the Eudora Community Center are canceled for the time being, but clients can still receive grab-and-go meals.
For seniors counting on a new assisted-living option, the Homestead of Eudora facility is still set to open on time, a spokeswoman for Midwest Health said late last week.
Visitors in existing open Homestead facilities have been limited to essential caregivers, and employees are having their temperature monitored during their shift, said Ali Ellis, marketing director for Midwest Health.
"As far as I know, at this time we're still moving forward with opening, licensing and finishing the [Eudora] space," Ellis said. "The state may have priorities at the moment, but as far as I know, we are still on track for a spring 2020 opening."
How you can help
At Medicalodges, Balderston said although residents are unable to have face-to-face contact with friends or family members, she continues to receive donations and cards from the community that help lift residents’ spirits.
Through an Amazon gift card donation, she purchased the dry-erase boards and window chalk so residents could communicate through their windows and play tic-tac-toe or hangman with family members outside. She also said she hopes community members will continue sending homemade cards to give to the residents.
“I think with the cards and stuff coming in, it’s helping their spirits a lot. So if we can just keep that coming, it really helps on my end,” Balderston said.
Cards can be mailed to 1415 Maple St.
Medicalodge residents will also be able to video call friends and family with tablets the facility recently purchased.
For services such as Meals on Wheels, Ahrens said though there is not currently a need for volunteers, anyone interested in helping can contact Midland Care Connection to provide their name and contact information if a future need comes up.
He also said Meals on Wheels will continue to need donations to sustain its services.
Poindexter said one of the best and easiest ways to help senior citizens who may be homebound due to the pandemic is to give any neighbors who may be in need a phone call.
“Call them and check on them, see what they need. Offer your assistance and your services and if nothing else, they get a friendly phone call and they know people are thinking of them,” Poindexter said.
Hughs said having community support has been important for the senior community over the past week. She said her friends in an exercise group continue to round robin email to check on each other, and receiving phone calls from neighbors has been uplifting for her.
“Several people have done that to me and it’s just been such a bonus. I just feel like people are reaching out and caring about me,” Hughs said. “I’m sure there are people who have neighbors that aren’t being checked on, so I just ask everyone to go out there and make contact.”
Reach reporter Sydney Hoover at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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