By: Heather Yakin
Times Herald-Record as featured on recordonline.com

NEWBURGH – For seniors who are dealing with physical or cognitive decline, taking part in social give-and-take, keeping busy and involved with enriching activities can make a big difference.

For Laura Rios of Montgomery and her mother Ana Paulino, who turns 86 on Sunday, the EverCare Life Adult Social Day Care program has been a boon.  

Anna Paulino, 86, and her daughter Laura Rios work on movement exercises with the virtual help of Christine Wentworth, the manager of the adult day care program at EverCare Life. The care is provided remotely via cell phone.

“It was perfect. It was full-day,” Rios said, and provided supports her mother needs.  

Christine Wentworth, manager of EverCare’s social adult day care program, said the staff has worked hard during the shutdown to provide as much of the regular program as possible. Before COVID-19, the seniors started off the day at the program with a hot breakfast, followed by a day of socializing and activities: exercises to build physical strength, coordination and stability; puzzles and games and crafts, geared to each senior, to improve their social, physical and mental well-being.

“It’s a very rich program,” Wentworth said. “The aging population has a huge amount of loneliness, depression, anxiety. We want to improve all of that.”

The program had to find a way to recreate that in a virtual model, one that could work over the phone, because a lot of their adults aren’t computer savvy. So, they created their own telehealth model that combines COVID-19 screening, wellness checks, education and activities.

Since the shutdown, instead of twice-weekly visits to the day program’s Newburgh location, Paulino has twice-weekly calls. Rios said the program is working on setting up some three-way calls so seniors can talk directly to friends from the program.

Paulino has been living with Rios since the pandemic began. She’s very frail due to chronic illness, and had started becoming “very, very forgetful,” Rios said, and her mom gets excited for them.

The 25-30 minute calls make a big difference for her, Rios said.

Laura Rios, right, has been helping her mother, Anna Paulino, with virtual adult day care at their home in Montgomery.

“It keeps her occupied and interested,” Rios said. “It’s a nice little wakeup call. It gets her going in the morning. I’m there with her, so she’s comfortable.”

EverCare sends “care packages” to clients, Wentworth said, with cards, coloring books, craft activities and other materials that can be used for little games to work on cognitive ability, memory or fine motor skills. The packages also show clients that they care.

“You can’t believe the feedback that we get,” Wentworth said.

Rios said Paulino particularly likes “purse bingo,” a game where the counselor names an object and her mom searches her bag to see if she has it.  

Seniors have been hardest hit in this pandemic, Wentworth said.  

“Some of them have watched their friends die, watched their loved ones die,” she said. “It was really important for us to provide this invaluable service at this time when there’s so much uncertainty and fear.”

Infectious disease experts say most cases of COVID-19 are mild to moderate, like the common cold. But it can be more severe in older adults and people with chronic health conditions.

There are simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family, according to the NYS Department of Health.

#1 Make a plan

Create plans for school, work and home.

• Make a list of people and organizations who can help if you become sick. Consider: family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, health care services, and other resources like mental health services.
• Join a neighborhood website or social media page to stay connected to neighbors, information, and resources.
• Plan ways to care for family members at risk for serious complications, such as older people and people with chronic health conditions.

#2 Prepare as you would for a winter storm.

There is no need to buy large quantities of supplies. But it’s a good idea to pick up a few extra items each time you go to the market or pharmacy. That way, you’re prepared and can avoid crowds.

• Pick up some extra foods like canned goods, dry pasta, and peanut butter.
• Have soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen on hand.

# 3 Get ready for possible changes in daily schedules.

• At School:
  • Make plans to care for your children if schools are closed temporarily. Just like you would for snow days.
  • Make plans for alternate after-school care in case they are closed temporarily.

• At work:
  • Ask to work from home or take leave if you or someone in your household gets sick, or if your child’s school is temporarily closed.

#4 Stay informed.

• Stay connected on your state and local health department’s social media pages and websites for timely and accurate COVID-19 information.
• Be aware of false information circulating on the internet. Accurate and up-to-date information is available from the State Health Department at www.health.ny.gov/coronavirus or its hotline at 1-888-364-3065, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website and social media platforms at www.cdc.gov/COVID19
• If you live alone and become sick, you may need to ask for help. If you have a chronic disease and live alone, ask your friends, family, and health care providers to check on you.
• If you decide to attend a public event, practice good health habits.
  • Try to keep at least 6 feet of distance between you and others at the event.
  • Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, and kissing.
  • Wash hands often or use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs and handrails.

#5 Prevent the spread of colds, flu and COVID-19.

• Everyone should:
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat.
  • Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and discard in a closed container.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keep a distance of at least 6 feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

• For people who are sick:
  • Stay home.
  • If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen.
  • Keep sick household members away from others. If you have a separate room that is best.
  • Use soap and water, a bleach and-water solution, or EPA-approved household products. You can make your own cleanser with a mixture of 1 cup of liquid unscented chlorine bleach in 5 gallons of water.
  • Avoid sharing personal items.
  • Anyone at high risk for complications should talk to their health care provider for more information.