Montedomini Senior Citizen Center

By Tarcisia Barazzuti, Arca Cooperativa Sociale a r.l. Coordinator

On March 10, we were ordered to close the Airone elderly day center. The news arrived in the afternoon, and left our dear elderly guests astonished and in disbelief. Owing to the Coronavirus crisis, we had, just a few weeks earlier, suspended a number of activities and projects like our collaboration with Florida State University.

Our fundamental, productive collaboration involves a series of meetings between our elderly guests and FSU students. Our guests always appreciate and anticipate these meetings with the “young Americans,’ and enjoy spending a few hours together to cultivate a cheerful and uplifting mood.

The suspension of our activities due to the Covid-19 emergency led us to think about what we could do for our elderly friends, many of whom live alone and sometimes have troubles with their short-term memory. It is therefore important, at this time, not only to prevent social isolation, but also to remind them of the rules they need to follow, such as staying at home, limiting social interactions, in addition to helping them carry out their daily errands like grocery shopping, picking up their medication etc.

Fortunately, there are a number of associations working to help people in need. The City of Florence has a help line that elderly and vulnerable residents can call to seek help and information.

We do collaborate with the City’s help line and organize a constant and continuous round of phone calls to our guests so that they do not feel alone in facing this difficult moment. We are aware and certain that our presence will help them cope with loneliness, and look forward to the day when they will go back to spending their days at the center with the “young Americans,” and not to mention learning a few English words!