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Better Health D
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020
“During the pandemic
it has been especially hard to provide opportunities for social engagement while keeping health and safety from the virus in the
forefront of our decisions.” Joseph A. Paul, IT Director for The Loomis Communities
By Cori Urban
with and see their loved ones, Zoom, Facetime and Skype “ (I) love it, especially since and phones so they can join albeit digitally.” from virtual birthday parties it allows us to be together and in whenever they please; For Charles M. Johnson, He remembers working and dinner nights to a quick be safe and to hear each other, administrative assistants Zoom interactions with loved with a resident in assisted hello from grandchildren. which is sometimes difficult create these sessions for them ones reassure him during the living who was trying to get a “You know it is making a dif- with masks,” she said. so they can host their own COVID-19 pandemic that digital picture frame to work: ference when you hear them Though she uses other apps, meetings should they want they are doing well. “Her family lives away from talking about their Zoom calls she likes Zoom for larger to. A handful of residents purThough he talks on the tele- the area so she hasn’t seen with other residents in the groups and has decided she chased their own licenses to phone and emails them too, them in quite some time. I hallway or on the community wants to be “an expert on stay in contact with family. he likes the opportunity the was working with her son regrounds,” he added. Zoom.” The Loomis Communities online Zoom calls give him to motely, and when we got this The pandemic has limited The seniors Paul knows has fostered this embrace by “talk face to face without the picture frame working so the the ability of Carolyn A. Hoyt, generally have embraced the offering assistance through IT interference of a mask.” family could upload photos of Loomis Village in South various methods of staying Help Desk tickets, one-on-one Such reassurance is import- for her, she broke down into Hadley, to travel to see friends in touch. “Most people never sessions and other opportuant for seniors as they strive to tears of joy.” out of state and locally. She heard of Zoom; now it is their nities. “The support from not be mentally and emotionally Technology allows this is president of the resident’s best friend,” he said. only The Loomis Communihealthy as well as physically different type of interaction association at Loomis Village. He has been amazed at the ties but also from family and healthy during a pandemic both in and out of a pandemic The president and vice willingness and ability of most friends helped them embrace that has claimed the lives of to stay connected with friends president of each of the three residents to pick up the use this new technology,” he said. more than 220,000 Americans. Before the pandemic, the resident of Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield kept in touch with loved ones by random phone calls and visits; but safety protocols made visits difficult if not impossible. Using the Zoom technology has “has improved the frequency of connecting,” he said. Social isolation can have negative health implications for everyone. Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression and cognitive decline. But for those living at The Loomis Communities — a continuing care retirement community — there is a focus on various dimensions of wellness. “During the pandemic it has been especially hard to Carolyn Hoyt gets some online conferencing tips from Joseph Paul, IT director for the Loomis Communities, in the library of provide opportunities for Loomis Village in South Hadley. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN) social engagement while keeping health and safety from the virus in the foreand families. campuses of Loomis Commu- of technology like they have. “It is now and always will be front of our decisions,” said The communication allows nities comprise the “Gang of Some have struggled more a learning process, but we are Joseph A. Paul, IT director for residents to maintain a sense Six,” and they usually meet than others, but staff memseeing residents expand and The Loomis Communities of normalcy. “While it is a bit every month to discuss combers and family help them do their own thing.” that includes Applewood in different talking digitally rath- mon issues. They now meet through the learning curve. With the technology that Amherst, Loomis Village in er than in-person, especially on Zoom, and “actually we’re The Loomis Communities The Loomis Communities South Hadley and Loomis in the past few months, the in closer touch via Zoom than purchased Zoom subscriphas put into place — includLakeside at Reeds Landing in tablets with Zoom and Facewe were in person,” she said. tions for each community to ing iPhones, iPads and Alexa Springfield. “Technology has time capabilities have allowed She also belongs to a small conduct meetings and has devices —residents have the played a large roll in enabling residents to remain in contact support group at Loomis offered residents handssense of not being isolated residents to feel some sense of with their loved ones,” Paul Village that meets every week on training to get apps on from the outside world. “The their computers, tablets technology keeps you connormalcy by being able to talk said, noting creative uses with on Zoom. 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nected,” Paul said. The Loomis communities is also enacting a new resident interface at all three communities in independent living, assisted Living and skilled nursing: Connected Living will allow residents to connect with not only other residents but with family and friends as well. It allows them to access community information, RSVP to events, schedule notifications, interact with the resident directories, record and share stories, with this all being controlled through their computer or an iOS/Android app. “Connected Living allows us to support multiple platforms plus voice control with Amazon Alexa, putting the residents at the forefront of today’s technology,” Paul said, adding that the pandemic has moved up the timetable on the use of telehealth, and now residents are able to connect with their doctors from the comfort of their own home and from staff offices. The Loomis Communities also used YouTube live to stream various events such as concerts and fitness classes to all three communities. They used technology to host outdoor “drive-in” movie nights where residents and guests go out to enjoy a feature film on the big screen. Religious services are available through social media, YouTube and Zoom. “Technology is here, and it is here to stay,” Paul said. “The generations are now are becoming more and more accustomed to utilizing technology, and that will continue to grow.” Johnson expects that the pandemic “will pass,” and when it does, he thinks he and his loved ones will continue with their scheduled get-togethers via Zoom. But he is “hopefully optimistic that we will be able to return to hugging family and friends as it has been an important part of our relationships,” he said.