Local senior centers continue coronavirus precaution

WASILLA — Valley senior centers and senior housing units are continuing to update their response to the recent coronavirus threat to protect their elderly residents.

The Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home is currently closed to all visitors, including family and friends, according to administrator Joshua Shaver.

Medical professionals visiting with a specific reason will be the only ones allowed to enter the building.

Shaver said the Pioneer Home is taking this one week at a time and will make adjustments wherever needed. He said they haven’t talked much about timelines, but they may follow the lead of the school district closure which currently is through March 30.

“It’s definitely one of those constantly evolving situations,” Shaver said.

Since the Pioneer Home residents have to isolate themselves from the public, Shaver said the staff is assisting them talk to their loved ones with remote communication methods like Skype, Facetime and Facebook video chat.

Shaver noted a good, old fashioned visit from the mailman can do wonders to keep their spirits up.

“A lot of our elders love to receive handwritten letters and cards, and this would certainly be a great time for that,” Shaver said.

Shaver said staff has stepped up their cleaning efforts, sanitizing heavy contact surfaces several times a day. He said they’re also screening all employees and other people at the door. He said the questionnaires could lead to checking temperatures and vital signs if anyone is suspected of being ill.

“Just continue to be patient with us. Hopefully we’ll get through this issue sooner rather than later,” Shaver said.

The Wasilla Area Senior Center is in a different situation than the Pioneer Home. They manage independent housing units for senior citizens, so allowing visitors is up to each resident’s discretion, according to CEO Chuck Foster.

While WASI residents are still able to have guests in their units at this point, all other social activities, exercise programs and dine-in meals in the cafeteria have been shut down for the time being.

Foster said seniors can still pick up their meals or have them delivered. He said the overall number of food delivery requests has skyrocketed and they’re working hard to keep up with the demand.

“The snow today didn’t help but we’ll do what we need to do to take care of seniors,” Foster said.

Foster noted that WASI staff upped their security and posted numerous signs across the campus to warn any potential visitor to avoid entering if they have returned from out of state in less than 14 days and/or think they have any kind of spreadable illness.

Foster said this time period where seniors are encouraged to self isolate and limit exposure to visitors can be tough but there’s things they can do to make the best of the situation. He said it’s a good time to catch up on a book they’ve always wanted to read or binge a new TV show.

Staying active in both body and mind is vital to the elderly population. Foster encourages all seniors to venture outside for a stroll if they can. If not, there’s numerous basic exercises that can be done around the house. If anything, he said to at least take breaks to walk around the house between episodes.

“It’s a matter of continuing to move,” Foster said. “The thing I’m emphasizing to everyone is this is gonna pass… We know there is an other side to all of this.”

Primrose Retirement Community of Wasilla has implemented the following protocols to protect residents.

“There will be one point of entry (main entrance) into our communities. Access is restricted to employees, essential third-party medical providers, and family members (wearing masks and limited to the resident’s apartment) during certain pre-approved situations such as end of life care. All persons authorized to enter our community will immediately clean their hands using alcohol-based sanitizer and be screened using a questionnaire and temperature check. We encourage family members to communicate with loved ones via phone calls, emails, video chat, or other remote options. There will be daily screening of all Primrose residents. Transportation will be provided only to medically necessary appointments (as determined by leadership team in coordination with medical professionals). We will be providing meal delivery for all residents capable of dining in their apartments. There is no fee for this delivery. Additional dining modifications will be made for those who require it. All group activities have been cancelled. Alternative options are being developed and offered. Vendor deliveries will be made to outside zones for staff to deliver. Infection control practices, including frequent cleaning and sanitization, are being followed.”

Mat-Su Senior Services issued the following statement: “The mission of Mat-Su Senior Services is to promote independence, security and quality of life for seniors and other eligible individuals in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough with respect, trust and compassion. With that in mind, and recognizing the health and safety concerns posed by COVID-19, MSSS is taking immediate steps to safeguard our seniors and staff.

Following the guidance of the State of Alaska and the CDC, Mat-Su Senior Services will be making a number of changes, including closing the Palmer Senior Center Headquarters, Adult Day Services, and the Chore & Respite services for a minimum of two weeks, starting 3/18/20.

MSSS Administration will be available by phone/email during normal business hours 8am-5pm.

You may keep yourself informed on this health emergency situation we recommend regularly checking www.cdc.gov and www.alaska.gov.

For MSSS updates, you may check www.facebook.com/matsuseniors, or call (907) 745-5454.”

The Santa Cop and Heroes Program recently received a grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation to support local seniors across the Valley. They’re currently seeking volunteers to get on standby to deliver items, such as food or medication to local seniors.

For more information, call 907-745-1133 or e-mail santacopprogram@gmail.com.

Online donations to the program can be made at santacop.net. To donate by check, make checks out to “Santa Cop & Heroes Program” and indicate that your gift should be directed to the “Coronavirus Response Fund.” Mail checks to 1150 S. Colony Way Ste 3, PMB 205, Palmer, Alaska, 99645.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com