Quarantine, with benefits: Wildwood senior living community keeps residents safe, engaged
The Anthology of Wildwood, 251 Plaza Drive, is making sure the senior living community’s 43 residents and the employees who meet their needs are as protected as possible from COVID-19.
When concerns about the spread of the virus arose in mid-March, administrators quickly gathered personal protection equipment for the staff and instituted self-quarantine for residents, spokeswoman Sarah Vercautern said.
“We had a few employees test positive for COVID-19,” she said. “They were asymptomatic.”
The employees went on quarantine for two weeks and had to test negative before returning to work.
“With policies in place to limit contact, we were able to avoid a rampant outbreak,” Vercautern said.
Anthology also found ways for residents to stay engaged with one another while being confined to their rooms.
Games such as Bingo and Wheel of Fortune were played in the hallways with residents participating from their doorways.
Amazon Alexa devices – virtual assistants that perform a number of tasks on demand – were provided to residents who wanted one.
“It gave them access to the news, trivia, games and things like that to combat the feeling of isolation,” Vercautern said.
She said quarantine restrictions have been lessened recently, and residents are able to meet with each other as long as they wear masks and remain 6 feet apart.
The community also has begun allowing half-hour outdoor visits between residents and family members, by appointment. Previously, visits had been limited to phone calls and face-to-face contacts through virtual technologies.
“We ask that everyone wears a mask and avoids physical contact,” Vercautern said. “Visitors and residents are screened for symptoms before they meet.”
All employees were tested at the onset of the pandemic, with random testing continuing, Vercautern said. The company gave hourly workers a temporary $2 raise from the end of March through April.
“We knew it was stressful for a lot of our employees, and we wanted to make sure they knew they were appreciated,” Vercautern said.
