Fall 2020
Quarterly Guide for Seasoned Montanans
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keeping in touch
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How to Vote in Montana’s 2020 Election:
What You Need to Know
Barbara Kingsley
Gov. Steve Bullock has issued a directive that allows counties to expand early voting and mail-in ballot options for voters, opening the door for more people to cast ballots safely from home: • For years, all registered Montana voters have been able to request absentee ballots without needing a particular reason. But Bullock’s directive will allow counties to vote almost entirely by mail if they so choose. • Montana allows in-person absentee voting starting 30 days before Election Day. And although some counties may conduct the November election almost entirely by mail, officials will still need to provide some in-person voting options. Here’s what else you need to know: How do I register to vote? You can register to vote in person or by mail. Download a registration application from the secretary of state’s website, which should be mailed to or dropped off at your county elections office by Oct. 5. To register in person, stop by your county elections office weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. You should bring a valid Montana driver’s license or state-issued ID card with you. If you don’t have either, you can provide the last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your identity. If you don’t have a Social Security number, you can attach a copy of a photo ID, or a recent paycheck, utility bill, bank statement, tribal ID or government document that confirms your name and address. If you miss the registration deadline, you can file for late registration from Oct. 6 through Election
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Day, Nov. 3. You can file for late registration only at your county elections office, though state officials warn that lines may be longer than for standard registration. Check Montana’s voter information portal to see if you’re registered to vote and to make sure your information is up to date. How can I get an absentee ballot? Are there important deadlines? Every voter is eligible for a no-excuse absentee ballot, meaning you don’t need to cite a particular reason to get one. You can find an absentee ballot application on the secretary of state’s website. Fill it out and mail, fax or deliver it to your county elections office. Applications must be received by election officials by noon Nov. 2 to get a ballot in time for the general election. Some counties may elect to distribute mail-in ballots or mail-in ballot applications directly to registered voters following Bullock’s directive. Check with your county elections office for the latest updates on how to vote absentee in your area. By Oct. 9, ballots will be mailed to residents who have already submitted applications — and to registered voters in counties that are expanding mail-in voting. The ballots must be received by your local elections office by Nov. 3, Election Day, at 8 p.m. How do I know my absentee ballot is secure? Every county electronically tracks ballots that are distributed. Voters can track the status of their ballot through the state’s voter information portal. Ballots are enclosed in a secrecy envelope and then enclosed in an
outer signature envelope to protect the secrecy of the ballot. Absentee ballots have been popular in Montana for years, and the state just conducted its June primaries entirely by mail.
When is Election Day? When are polls open? Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open in most of the state from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., though they may open later in counties with fewer than 400 registered voters. In those more rural counties, polls must be open by noon. In-person voting will still be available following Bullock’s directive to expand absentee and early voting. But you should check with your county elections office or go to Montana’s voter information portal closer to Election Day to see how and where you can cast your ballot. Can I vote before Election Day? You can vote early by requesting an absentee ballot, which you can complete and drop off starting Oct. 5. Counties may decide to further expand early voting following Bullock’s election directive. Consult Montana’s voter information portal to see when and where you can cast an absentee ballot before Election Day. What form of identification do I need to vote? You’ll need to present either a Montana driver’s license or another state-issued photo ID. You can also bring a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck stub, voter registration confirmation or government check that verifies your name and address. Will I be able to vote in the same place as I always have? Not necessarily. In some states,
a likely shortage of poll workers is expected to lead to a consolidation of polling locations. Keep up with the secretary of state’s polling locations guide to see where you will be able to cast your ballot in person. AARP is urging older Americans to ask the candidates 5 key questions: • Just over half of all older Social Security beneficiaries rely on the program for at least 50 percent of their income. If elected, how will you ensure that current and future Social Security benefits are not cut as part of deficit reduction? • Half of the people with traditional Medicare spend at least a sixth of their income on health care. If elected, how will you protect Medicare from benefit cuts, as well as lower health care costs and ensure that older adults continue receiving the affordable health care they have earned? • Unemployment during the coronavirus crisis reached the highest levels since the Great Depression, and older Americans have been affected disproportionately. If elected, how will you help Americans over the age of 50 recover economically from the effects of the coronavirus? • Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world. If elected, how will you cut prescription drug prices for all Americans? • COVID-19 has caused death and suffering for too many older Americans who require long-term care. If elected, how will you make sure these citizens can access safe and affordable long-term care at home, as well as in facilities like nursing homes and assisted living? MT55
T’ai Chi Chih: healthy and healing exercise
Ashley Nerbovig Montana 55 With soft, unbroken gestures students of the T’ai Chi Chih class progressed through their movements, taking the time to gain the benefits of the meditative exercise. Instructor Lynne Roberts guided them through the 19 simple moves and one pose in near silence last month at The Women’s Club, 2105 Bow St. The quiet is important for the students to feel all the benefits of T’ai Chi Chih, which helps people gain physical strength as well as a calm mind, Roberts said. Focusing on the body and taking time to work through the moves help to connect student’s brains to their bodies. Especially during the pandemic when many people are dealing with extra stress, focusing on making soft, consistent motions can quiet a person’s mind, Roberts said. Karen Adams, 56, said she started the class as a New Year’s resolution and enjoys that her brain isn’t running through mental lists
while she’s in class. It isn’t only exercise, it is a form of healing, Roberts said. It can strengthen the immune system and help those with arthritis and chronic pain. She’s seen how her students become healthier through her classes. Other teachers have moved their classes outside due to the pandemic to keep their students practicing. Chris Frandsen teaches Yang style T’ai Chi, called T‘ai-Chi Ch‘üan, from about 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Bonner Park. Frandsen, who’s official title is Sifu, began teaching the free class in the park after the COVID-19 pandemic meant he could no longer teach at the Open Way Mindfulness Center in Missoula. “We’re in Bonner Park because we’re homeless,” Frandsen said. Roberts started as a dancer in California before becoming an accredited T’ai Chi Chih teacher in 1988. She’s lived in Missoula for more than 31 years and taught classes at The Women’s Club,
the Senior Citizen’s Center, Peak Health and Wellness Club and Red Willow Learning Center. Margaret Mollberg, 73, said she began taking Roberts’ class to improve her balance. “You strengthen all your leg muscles,” Mollberg said. The small movements include slight knee bends, lifting the heels and making wide or small gestures with the hands. One move, called “joyous breath,” is done by inhaling while pushing up with outstretched hands and exhaling while pushing down. The exercises can be done either standing or sitting. The form was designed in 1974 by Justin Stone, who died in 2012. It was developed to allow people to go at their own pace. It focuses on circulation and balancing a person’s chi, or energy. The moves blend the strength, poise and grace of yoga that “invigorates the body, and inspires meditative clarity,” Roberts wrote about T’ai Chi Chih, also known as The Joy of Movement.
T’ai Chi Chih isn’t about perfection, Roberts said. It is about relaxing the body and allowing the mind to be present. She sees her students improve in softening their movements in every class, she said. Her goal is to help her students develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle for their bodies, minds and spirits. For students who can’t come to her classes in person, she’s begun putting up videos on YouTube, https:// youtu.be/fVpmz2cJ22c. T’ai Chi Chih can benefit anyone at any age, she said. Roberts closed her class with the six healing sounds of T’ai Chi Chih. Each of the six sounds corresponded to a certain organ in the body. As the students breathed through the sounds together, the classroom sounded for a moment like a windy forest. Before she dismissed them for the day, Roberts reminded her students to focus on things that bring them joy. MT55
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Connecting During COVID-19
Photo by Ross D Franklin AP/ MT 55
Zita Robinson, left, who’s 77 and diabetic, blows a kiss to her granddaughter Traris “Trary” Robinson-Newman, 8, who blows a kiss back to her Aug. 4 in Phoenix. Robinson has been careful around her granddaughter amid the coronavirus pandemic. RACHEL CRISP PHILIPS Montana 55 The ongoing coronavirus pandemic puts many people, especially seniors, at an almost daily risk of severe illness or worse. Some families have been physically separated for months and ache for more interaction. But a silver lining lies in the abundance of inventions and ideas that help
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maintain social connections in the age of social distance. “We have one granddaughter, and we’re trying to teach her to talk on the telephone, so we’ve talked to her on the phone a lot as well as FaceTime,” said Kathleen Martinell of Dell, Montana. Martinell, as well as several of her family members, have underlying health conditions that make the risk of catching coronoavirus a
fatal threat. “We have only seen Grace in person twice since March, and both of those times we were at least six feet away. I have not touched her, hugged her, or kissed her since March,” Martinell said. “This is probably one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done in my life.” Social isolation is an increasing health concern, preceding the
pandemic, as studies have shown that prolonged isolation can be as unhealthy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This is especially risky for older adults and can exacerbate health problems such as lung disease, heart disease and diabetes. “All of this is very new, but with the reality that until a vaccine is available, older adults are more vulnerable. Especially
those with underlying health conditions, they’re going to have to remain very careful about their interactions with the rest of the population — including their grandchildren,” said Susan Kohler, CEO of Missoula Aging Services. From high-tech to low-key, there’s a multitude of ways for grandparents to stay close to their families during this time. One of the most basic activities that’s been on the rise is the time-honored tradition of sending letters through the U.S. Postal Service. Inviting grandchildren to get involved in letter-writing (or coloring, depending on their age) is a great bonding activity and educational opportunity that can be done alone, or together over video chat. “I have been writing a lot of letters, because somehow a letter, you know, you can pick it up and read it two or three times, and I just feel closer to people when I write,” said Martinell. Another way to connect through the mail is to send the same coloring book back and forth, taking turns to color the pages “together.” After a few rounds, the completed pages can be placed in the most prized positions on relatives’ refrigerators. Bridging the gap between old and new technology, services such as MyPostcard.com lets users turn their smartphone photos into custom cards that are then automatically mailed to the recipient. There’s also been an increase in the popularity of pen pals, especially among senior communities. “Get a young person to help you learn from technology. You can always approach the school and see if the school would be willing to adopt an older adult, or several, so that people could become pen pals with them,” said Kohler.
On the top tier of the technology spectrum, AARP Innovation Labs recently released Alcove, a free virtual-reality home for the Oculus Quest. As the first familyoriented app to launch on the system, Alcove was developed to help combat social isolation with virtual experiences such as health and wellness activities, photo sharing and games. In between these extremes, there are myriad methods to adapt to any comfort level. Smart picture frames can be programmed to update automatically, allowing friends and family to send photos directly to their grandparents’ living room. Video conferencing apps can be used to provide a virtual “seat” at dinnertime, to give long-distance piano lessons, or to read a chapter from a book at bedtime. There are a lot of benefits to scheduling regular times for phone or video calls so that grandchildren, especially the younger ones, have a routine to look forward to. Have fun with themed days and art projects, such as “Tutu Tuesday” or “Singalong Saturday,” or sign up for an online course to learn something new together. It can also be a huge help to plan the social schedule around times that mom and dad need a break, or when the kids need assistance with homework. Digital communication allows for anyone with the internet to be practically present and completely involved with family functions. Keep children engaged in conversation by focusing on their interests and asking specific questions, such as: What was your favorite thing you ate at
breakfast? What three things made you happy today? Can you tell me a joke? What’s the most interesting thing that you learned at school this week? “We are ordering tablets to help older adults who are not as technologically savvy. The primary focus is for tele-health, so they can connect better with their healthcare providers. However, research shows that they’re more
Getting outside is always a healthy choice, but fresh air and open space makes it one of the safest places to be social during the pandemic.
interested in learning if you also teach them how to use Facebook or something as a way to start connecting with their grandkids,” said Kohler. “We hope to work with them and give them tablets to use so that they can go through telehealth more effectively and connect with family and friends and grand-kids in a way that they haven’t done in the past,” Kohler said. A lack of reliable internet is often a hurdle to communication, especially in rural areas. One workaround is to make short video or audio recordings while offline, and then send them to
loved ones the next time a steady signal is available, or physically mail a flash drive filled with photos (this can be re-used and passed around several times). Moving ahead into winter, folks can expect more of the same precautions, and solutions, as flu season begins to take hold. More in-person classes and events may migrate online, and some caregivers have already moved meetings onto the Zoom video conferencing platform. “This is just a hard time, and we need to remember our neighbors who may not be getting out. There’s still socially distant kinds of things; you can have picnics and be more apart from each other, but still connect with each other while the weather’s good. So I encourage people to spend as much time they have available and encourage the older adults to come on out, join with you, and continue those connections,” said Kohler. Getting outside is always a healthy choice, but fresh air and open space makes it one of the safest places to be social during the pandemic. The recommended six feet of social distancing should still be followed, and masks worn when distance isn’t feasible, but one of the last best things about living in Montana is the abundance of the great outdoors. Despite longing for more interaction with her granddaughter, Martinell has reveled in the Montana summer. “I have enjoyed and appreciated the beauty of where we live more this summer than I have in 68 years,” said Martinell. “I think I just have enjoyed the beauty of our world more since this.” MT55
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Missoulian file photo
University of Montana students Colton Rothwell, reflected, Orion Bos, middle, and Lydia Evanger, right, built a greenhouse out of used windows during Spontaneous Construction at Home ReSource in Missoula last year. Executive Director of Home ReSource Katie Deuel said the community support the local non-profit has been seeing in the wake of the pandemic is encouraging.
Before and after the pandemic: Home-improvement is a creative outlet Mazana Boerboom for Montana 55
Lost in Home ReSource’s maze of lumber, toilets, lawn mowers and an assortment of other random treasures, Tracy Sullivan dug through a box of light fixtures. “I’ve been working on a lot of projects since the quaran-
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tine. Right now I’m putting in a recessed light for the house,” Sullivan said. Sullivan has been working from home. After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of the world and her social life was paused, she decided it was time to delve into her creative side more.
She’s been interested in home improvement projects for a while, and she had the artistic and handy skills already. “The scale of the homeimprovement projects is definitely new, but it’s stuff that I had wanted to do anyways,” Sullivan said. “It’s just kinda nowhere to
go, nothing else to do.” Since March, Sullivan has completed countless projects, from building a fence around her yard, to setting up a woodworking workshop, to helping her 9-yearold niece carve a fairy house out of a stump. Sullivan said she often finds herself in Home ReSource on
weekends or her lunch breaks looking for treasures to inspire her next project. Some of her favorite finds were a set of school lockers taller than herself and an old motorcycle seat she attached to her fence as a garden-seat. “(I’m) really hoping … that people are more conscientious in general about being kind to each other despite different opinions and just more sustainable living,” Sullivan said. “… I think that’s a small piece of something really big and important that’s happening right now. It has the potential to make some real change.” Executive Director of Home ReSource Katie Deuel said the community support the local nonprofit has been seeing is encouraging. When COVID-19 first hit in March, they shut down for a few weeks and started getting a lot of messages from people who said they needed Home ReSource again. “When COVID hit, that was the first time the store wasn’t selfsufficient, and then we did raise money from the community and still are — people who just want us to be here and were willing to throw in an extra five or 10 or 20 bucks,” Deuel said. “Yeah, it was another real sign of support from the community, that they need us here.” Deuel said she got a lot of community response saying things
like “‘my plumbing broke’ or ‘my doorknob broke’ or ‘my lock is jammed.’” She thinks a lot more people either wanted to or needed to do home-improvement projects themselves. With the increase in unemployment, people had more time and less money on their hands, so Home ReSource was a crucial resource in Missoula. “I think our response has been to keep our community and our staff safe and continue providing the important services that we provide to the community,” Deuel said. “And our hope is that we continue to do that and finish really strong and finish in a position where we can pat ourselves on that back and say, ‘look we’ve provided everything the community needs and more.’” One of Home ReSource’s frequent customers is Don Rasmussen. Rasmussen has lived in Missoula all 59 years of his life and he’s always loved fixing things, especially cars. He said he’s been working on cars even before he could drive them. Almost 10 years ago Rasmussen discovered he loved to build unique furniture, something he could do with his wife. He loves getting creative with some old weathered wood or an interesting windowpane. He generally builds the furniture, anything from cribs
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to benches or farm tables, and his wife Marie does the finish work and painting. “We build, you know, I’m gonna say one-of-a-kind furniture just cause you know I can build similar pieces, but ... they’re always unique and different,” Rasmussen said. “My favorite part about it is probably just being creative and you know using my brain and my hands together and seeing what we come up with.” He uses a lot of recycled material, only using new wood for the sake of structural integrity. He loves the look of distressed wood. “It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s pine or spruce or cedar or what as long as it’s old and got some character to it,” Rasmussen said. Rasmussen and his wife often have several projects going at once. They work on furniture whenever they’re not at work and then sell their pieces at the Prairie Sisters Market, which focuses on vintage items at markets in Montana. He’s humbled to see return customers at the market who are looking to see his latest crafts. Another Prairie Sisters vendor is Jean Jenkins, part of a duo with Betty Hilmo. The two women call their booth at the market “Welcome Creek Vintage.” They met each other at work and in 2014 decided to start refurbishing furniture
together as a hobby. Hilmo had a barn on her property full of antiques she’d collected, in hopes of one day owning an antique shop, and the collection was the perfect place for them to start. They often take vintage furniture and give it new life, whether that’s with Jenkins’s hand-knit chair cushions or Hilmo’s signature bird designs. Jenkins said a lot of the time spent for the hobby is in actually finding the furniture. They watch on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and go to estate sales. She laughs when she remembers Hilmo waking her up early on a Saturday morning and saying she’d found a buffet, but she was too far out of town so she couldn’t pick it up herself. “He said you can have it if you’re within 45 minutes,” Jenkins remembers Hilmo saying with urgency. “I can’t get there, so can you guys go get it?” Jenkins shook her husband awake saying, “We gotta go get this buffet right now!” They were able to get there on time, and piece ended up being one of her favorites in the most recent Prairie Sisters Market in September. They call it “The 45 Minute Buffet.” “Betty and I both love history things and we just hate to see them … end up in the dump,” Jenkins said. MT55
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A Pandemic Upshot: Seniors Are Having Second Thoughts About Where to Live Judith Graham Kaiser Health News
Where do we want to live in the years ahead? Older adults are asking this question anew in light of the ongoing toll of the coronavirus pandemic — disrupted lives, social isolation, mounting deaths. Many are changing their minds. Some people who planned to move to senior housing are now choosing to live independently rather than communally. Others wonder whether transferring to a setting where they can get more assistance might be the right call. These decisions, hard enough dur-
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ing ordinary times, are now fraught with uncertainty as the economy falters and COVID-19 deaths climb, including tens of thousands in nursing homes and assisted living centers. Teresa Ignacio Gonzalvo and her husband, Jaime, both 68, chose to build a house rather than move into a continuing care retirement community when they relocate from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Indianapolis later this year to be closer to their daughters. Having heard about lockdowns around the country because of the coronavirus, Gonzalvo said, “We’ve realized we’re not ready to lose our independence.”
Alissa Ballot, 64, is planning to leave her 750-square-foot apartment in downtown Chicago and put down roots in a multigenerational cohousing community where neighbors typically share dining and recreation areas and often help one another. “What I’ve learned during this pandemic is that personal relationships matter most to me, not place,” she said. Kim Beckman, 64, and her husband, Mike, were ready to give up being homeowners in Victoria, Texas, and join a 55-plus community or rent in an independent living apartment building in northern Texas before COVID-19 hit. Now, they’re considering buying
an even bigger home because “if you’re going to be in the house all the time, you might as well be comfortable,” Beckman said. “Everyone I know is talking about this,” said Wendl Kornfeld, 71, who lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She has temporarily tabled the prospect of moving into a continuing care retirement community being built in the Bronx. “My husband and I are going to play it by ear; we want to see how things play out” with the pandemic, she said. In Kornfeld’s circles, people are more committed than ever to staying in their homes or apartments as long as possible — at least at the moment.
Their fear: If they move to a senior living community, they might be more likely to encounter a COVID outbreak. “All of us have heard about the huge number of deaths in senior facilities,” Kornfeld said. But people who stay in their own homes may have trouble finding affordable help there when needed, she acknowledged. More than 70,000 residents and staff members in nursing homes and assisted living facilities had died of COVID-19 by mid-August, according to the latest count from KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). This is an undercount because less than half of states are reporting data for COVID-19 in assisted living. Nor is data reported for people living independently in senior housing. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.) Nervousness about senior living has spread as a result, and in July, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care reported the lowest occupancy rates since the research organization started tracking data 14 years ago. Occupancy dropped more in assisted living (a 3.2% decline from April through June, compared with January through March) than in independent living (a 2.4% decline). The organization doesn’t compile data on nursing homes. In a separate NIC survey of senior housing executives in August, 74% said families had voiced concerns about moving in as COVID cases spiked in many parts of the country. Overcoming Possible Isolation The potential for social isolation is especially worrisome, as facilities retain restrictions on family visits and on group dining and activities. (While states have started to allow visits outside at nursing homes and assisted living centers, most facilities don’t yet allow visits inside — a situation that will increase frustration when the weather turns cold.)
Beth Burnham Mace, NIC’s chief economist and director of outreach, emphasized that operators have responded aggressively by instituting new safety and sanitation protocols, moving programming online, helping residents procure groceries and other essential supplies, and communicating regularly about COVID-19, both on-site and in the community at large, much more regularly. Mary Kazlusky, 76, resides in independent living at Heron’s Key, a continuing care retirement community in Gig Harbor, Wash., which is doing all this and more with a sister facility, Emerald Heights in
“What I’ve learned during this pandemic is that personal relationships matter most to me, not place” - Alissa Ballot, 64
Redmond, Washington. “We all feel safe here,” she said. “Even though we’re strongly advised not to go into each other’s apartments, at least we can see each other in the hall and down in the lobby and down on the decks outside. As far as isolation, you’re isolating here with over 200 people: There’s somebody always around.” One staff member at Heron’s Key tested positive for COVID-19 in August but has recovered. Twenty residents and staff members tested positive at Emerald Heights. Two residents and one staff member died. Colin Milner, chief executive
officer of the International Council on Active Aging, stresses that some communities are doing a better job than others. His organization recently published a report on the future of senior living in light of the pandemic. It calls on operators to institute a host of changes, including establishing safe visiting areas for families both inside and outside; providing high-speed internet services throughout communities; and ensuring adequate supplies of masks and other forms of personal protective equipment for residents and staff, among other recommendations. Some families now wish they’d arranged for older relatives to receive care in a more structured environment before the pandemic started. They’re finding that older relatives living independently, especially those who are frail or have mild cognitive impairments, are having difficulty managing on their own. “I’m hearing from a lot of people — mostly older daughters — that we waited too long to move Mom or Dad, we had our head in the sand, can you help us find a place for them,” said Allie Mazza, who owns Brandywine Concierge Senior Services in Kennett Square, Penn. While many operators instituted move-in moratoriums early in the pandemic, most now allow new residents as long as they test negative for COVID-19. Quarantines of up to two weeks are also required before people can circulate in the community. Many older adults, however, simply don’t have the financial means to make a move. More than half of middle-income seniors — nearly 8 million older adults — can’t afford independent living or assisted living communities, according to a study published last year. And more than 7 million seniors are poor, according to the federal Supplemental Poverty Measure, which includes out-of-
pocket medical expenses and other drains on cash reserves. Questions to Ask For those able to consider senior housing, experts suggest you ask several questions: • How is the facility communicating with residents and families? Has it had a COVID outbreak? Is it disclosing COVID cases and deaths? Is it sharing the latest guidance from federal, state and local public health authorities? • What protocols have been instituted to ensure safety? “I’d want to know: Do they have a plan in place for disasters — not just the pandemic but also floods, fires, hurricanes, blizzards?” Milner said. “And beyond a plan, do they have supplies in place?” • How does the community engage residents? Is online programming — exercise classes, lectures, interest group meetings — available? Are one-on-one interactions with staffers possible? Are staffers arranging online interactions via FaceTime or Zoom with family? Are family visits allowed? “Social engagement and stimulation are more important than ever,” said David Schless, president of the American Seniors Housing Association. • What’s the company’s financial status and occupancy rate? “Properties with occupancy rates of 90% or higher are going to be able to withstand the pressures of COVID-19 significantly more than properties with occupancy below 80%, in my opinion,” said Mace of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. Higher occupancy means more revenues, which allows institutions to better afford extra expenses associated with the pandemic. “Transparency is very important,” Schless said. We’re eager to hear from readers about questions you’d like answered, problems you’ve been having with your care and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit khn.org/ columnists to submit your requests or tips. MT55
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Room to roam Montana’s outdoors offer safe options
Crafting a summer getaway? 12 Fall 2020
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Outdoor recreation during the pandemic RACHEL CRISP PHILIPS Montana 55
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact daily routines, it’s only natural that stircrazy Montanans seek the great outdoors to get a good, deep, clean breath away from it all. As they say, Montanans have been practicing social distancing since 1889. “Going on a hike on your favorite trail is probably one of
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the safer forms of exercise that you can get right now,” said Morgan Valliant, conservation lands manager for the City of Missoula. Though dedicated outdoors enthusiasts may know their local backcountry better than the backs of their hands, being aware of the latest information is of utmost importance for amateurs and experts alike. Always check beforehand at
http://stateparks.mt.gov for Montana parks, or https://nps. gov for National Parks, to learn about updates to any special regulations or closures at your destination, and write down any important phone numbers. Also take some time to look into alternate destinations in case your first choice is too crowded to continue. With an increase of folks hitting the trail instead of the gym, some
recreation areas can get quite congested, especially at the trailhead. In these cases, it’s best to move on and not add to the fray. “One of the great things about the state we live in is there’s no shortage of trailheads, or trail loops, or other places to go and recreate. And so we’re really encouraging folks to not necessarily follow their routine that they’ve always followed, and
being willing to look at the map and look at other areas that you haven’t been to,” Valliant said. It’s also crucial to recognize physical limits when planning an outing. Don’t push yourself too far and risk a preventable situation that puts yourself and emergency personnel in harm’s way. Regardless of where you’re going, follow the Montana state mandate for masks in indoor public spaces, as well as outdoors if social distancing is not possible. Check with local county and city regulations as well, and be prepared for changes as new information becomes available. Basic recreation etiquette, such as “pack it in, pack it out” and making space for others along the trail, is still the best policy. Many public toilets and trash cans may not be regularly serviced, so prepare for personal needs as well. Start a habit of bringing along extra masks, sanitizer, wipes, gloves, and trash bags on every trip. “We lean heavily on our users to help to take care of the land that they own, really focusing on that ‘pack it in, pack it out’ kind of stuff. It’s just one of those things that, now more than ever, it’s really important that we all take care of our public lands,” Valliant said. To contain the spread of the virus, the National Park Service recommends that people either recreate alone or with a closed group of household members who already share the same “bubble” of exposure. When encountering others outside the group, six feet of social distanc-
ing is recommended. To get a feel for what that looks like, use a measuring tape at home to compare objects such as a kayak, bike, or walking stick so as to set a personal frame of reference. Before tackling the trail, take a few minutes inside the car to gather all gear and ready your mask before getting out. A bandanna might do in a pinch, but it’s wise to bring a mask (or two) designed to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. Observe any posted signage, maintain a safe and respectful distance from others, and be prepared to mask up at any time. While maintaining social distance, it’s safe to step off the trail for a moment to let others pass. But the key to keeping
the land intact is to stay in one place when off-trail – step aside and stop. Also avoid splitting groups (or conversations) across both sides of a trail, or weaving around the trail while walking. “In a lot of our grasslands, you get enough people doing that and you’ve got basically a whole bunch of user-created damage and braided trails that start to form. So really focus on figuring out who needs to yield, and then whoever yields steps a few feet off on the trail and just waits; rather than continuing to walk and create a braided trail that someone has to come in and repair and revegetate later,” said Valliant. “We can still have good social distancing and not damage the resources that we all value and are trying
to protect.” As fall and winter settle in, bringing flu season into the viral mix, expect precautions to remain until the pandemic has passed. Do your best to stay informed of changes in regulations, follow recommended safety measures, and help stop the spread of coronavirus. “I think the biggest thing that users can do is realize that we do live in a very special place, and we are incredibly lucky to have these great outdoor opportunities, but if the pandemic really gets bad again in the fall and winter, then we’re going to be right back where we were in the spring,” said Valliant. MT55
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