Taking it in Stride

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily life across the globe, Masonic Villages’ residents, staff and family members continue to make the most of every day. We’re busy celebrating milestones, helping others, finding new forms of entertainment and keeping in touch, one way or another.

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Sending Smiles and Pen Pals & Phone Friends programs. Your words mean the world to our residents. Each location has received dozens of items, letters and phone calls. A seventh-grade class from Hampton Middle School connected with residents at Masonic Village at Sewickley for what is hopefully an ongoing relationship. Writers have really put time and effort into their letters, and staff have enjoyed matching authors’ interests with those of our residents. Learn more about both programs on our website.

At Masonic Village at Sewickley, Bonnie Stoicovy (shown in right photo above) has spent the last six months busily sewing bibs, burp cloths and blankets for her family members and those of other residents. Her newborn twin great-grandchildren (in addition to six children, 15 grandchildren and three other greatgrandchildren) motivate her. She also made about 30 face masks for Masonic Village residents and staff.

Family and friends of Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident Beatrice (Bea) Leone came out to celebrate her 100th birthday on Aug. 16 at a socially distanced outdoor gathering. She entered the festivities in an enclosed golf cart, accompanied by her aide and her son, Mickey Leone. Bea then sat in a screened gazebo while attendees, holding signs, balloons and gifts and wearing face masks, entered one by one to greet her. For residents who prefer to remain safely on Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s campus but miss dining off campus, the food services department brought local restaurants to them. From late August through the end of October, different food trucks visited Masonic Village each week for residents and staff to purchase lunch (shown in left photo above).

“We wanted to offer food options to residents that we may not typically serve in our campus restaurants, while supporting local businesses,” Shawn Kaley, culinary services manager, said. “This was a way to bring the two together safely and give everyone something to look forward to.”

At Masonic Village at Warminster, Trisha Lamb, activities director, and other staff have been finding ways to connect with each resident. A former accordion player, resident Al Poole enjoyed playing Trisha’s new lyre (shown in center photo above). While group events have been canceled, staff have gotten creative in planning smaller scale activities, like a door-to-door watermelon luau and a “cart-ival” in place of picnics and carnivals.

Residents of Masonic Village at Dallas welcomed back students from the Misericordia University physical therapy department in August for their part-time clinical experience. For the sixth year, the two groups are partnering for a Balance & Fall Prevention Program. The residents work one-on-one with graduate students each week, completing an initial assessment, exercising weekly and then completing a final assessment at the end of the program.

No matter what the next few months bring, Masonic Villages’ extended family will continue to find reasons to smile every day with the hope and joy we bring one another.