Connect, Create, & Uplift During COVID19

We are no strangers to adapting with the changing times. In fact, we as humans have an inner strength and resilience that is even more powerfully-felt within the communities we belong to. While we are used to the word “community” evoking images of family gatherings, shared laughter with neighbors, old traditions with friends and communal religious rituals, now is the opportune time to challenge ourselves to connect creatively within our senior living communities.

As our global family continues its efforts combating the COVID-19 pandemic, we can spend this valuable time finding alternative ways to connect with others that are equally uplifting, strengthening our bonds with ourselves, our families and friends, and all manner of the larger communities we belong to. If you’ve been on our Heathwood Assisted Living at Williamsville and Heathwood Assisted Living at Penfield Facebook pages lately, you’ve seen some of the superbly creative ways our Heathwood families are getting innovative with staying connected . We tip our hats to you for rising to the challenge and helping show us how to have some fun with it!

If you’re used to seeing your family a certain day of the week, keep that routine! FaceTime, Zoom, Google hangouts, and other technologies are helpful tools to keep up socially-distanced get-togethers . You can still enjoy a happy hour, a chat over a lunch date, mass and prayer services—just with an iPad, laptop, or other mobile device. Many of these platforms have interactive features to allow for group chats and group video sessions. Wishing you could send a birthday card to that friend of yours? Send them an e-card ; if they don’t have an email, make them a homemade card and show them on video chat. Coordinate a birthday parade where each well-wisher comes by (six feet apart of course)!

While the bingo halls may be on hiatus for now, you can have fun surprising your friends by inviting them to a bingo game—that you created! Virtual bingo games allow you to create your own bingo boards and invite a number of friends to join you for a game. Imagine the themes you can think up (and have a hoot with)!

If you’re more of an introvert and would prefer to use this time to work on your connection to self, consider the ways you can renew yourself-connection. Journaling, playing music, yoga, meditation , reading—these are all ways to reconsider how you can explore and express both your bodily self and your spiritual self. Even as you enjoy this independent time, though, you’ll never have to feel alone, knowing you live in the best retirement community , surrounded by a loving, caring community at Heathwood Assisted Living we’re here for you when you need it!

“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”

-American astronomer Carl Sagan