Due to the coronavirus pandemic, “our residents have not been able to have visitors since the beginning of March,” Lindsay Clark, a community services representative at Wooded Glen Senior Living said.
The parade is a way for residents to see their loved ones during this difficult time, Clark explained.
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“Our family members are really excited about it too because a lot of them haven’t even laid eyes on their loved ones - maybe through a Zoom call or something, but we have a lot of residents who have elderly spouses at home and technology isn’t their thing, so this might be the first time they have seen them since the beginning of March,” Clark said.
She added that all residents will be able to safely sit outside and social distance around the building as individuals slowly drive-by.
During the pandemic, Wooded Glen Senior Living has helped residents communicate with their loved ones through Zoom calls and special activities.
On Mother’s Day, the facility compiled videos from loved ones as a gift for each resident and recorded the residents’ reactions for their loved ones, Clark said.
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“It was very emotional because you could just see their faces light up when they saw their family members,” Clark said.
She explained that socialization is a huge part of senior living.
“It’s definitely hard because there’s a lot of depression when they can’t come out of their rooms or when they can’t sit in the dining room and eat together,” Clark said.
Clark added that the facility does not know when residents will be allowed to have visitors, but hopes things “will start turning around soon.”
Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that assisted living facilities will be allowed to have outdoor visitation beginning June 8. This does not apply to nursing homes.
Clark said, “I just hope that they feel a lot of joy and they feel so loved seeing their family members and their loved ones just coming to show support to them” during the social distancing parade.
Wooded Glen Senior Living is located at 2900 N. Bechtle Ave. For more information, call 937-342-3084.
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