Life is about to return to near normal; the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available as early as December 15th. However, not everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get it immediately.
The CDC along with state and local health departments are currently working on distribution and prioritization plans, with health care workers and older adults being given high priority to receive the vaccine first. These vaccine distribution plans include provisions for distribution centers to work directly with senior living communities to speed up the distribution of the vaccine to those most in need, or at risk. This means individuals within senior living communities are going to be some of the first to receive the vaccine, even before those seniors in the general public. As we move in to 2021, senior living communities will continue to be some of the safest, most cost effective and enjoyable places to live.
Over the last year, with so much uncertainty, COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, plans for new senior living communities were placed on hold or delayed significantly. This has created higher demand, resulting in a limited supply of available senior living apartments. In the coming months, as vaccines are administered, smart seniors who have been afraid to venture out, or have been told by their children to stay at home, will begin to look at and reserve apartments in the more desirable senior living communities. This limited availability and higher demand make it imperative that those considering senior living begin their search as soon as possible.
Many believe all senior living communities are the same and that they are all affected by COVID-19 restrictions in the same way. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
To protect their residents and comply with local and state guidelines, each community must approach COVID-19 and the spread of the virus a little differently.
Independent living communities serve individuals who are just that, independent and can look after their own needs. Most seniors interested in independent living are looking for an alternative to living at home alone. These types of communities provide resort style experience, with fine dining, daily activities, new friends and wonderful experiences. Independent living communities normally work with third-party professional organizations who specialize in providing health care services while at home.
In general, independent living communities, where they do not share a building with the other types of senior living communities are not required to lock down or restrict resident movements. While still observing social distancing and local guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, residents are able to go about their normal lives while enjoying a great community of fellow residents.
Assisted living communities provide dedicated permanent staff that are trained to address resident health related needs. These individuals have a higher health risk than those in independent living and while these communities had very little COVID-19 related issues, they were required to lockdown their communities, restricting the movement of their residents. When combined in the same building as independent living, all residents are restricted at the same time.
Memory care is a kind of specialized care for individuals living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Communities typically feature safe and secure environments where staff can closely monitor the health of residents. The challenge with COVID-19 is that seniors may not remember that they need to social distance, wear a mask or take other precautions. This makes it even more important for the community to restrict resident movements.
Sycamore Reserve, located on the north side of Indianapolis, opened in January 2020 and some say is the very best independent community to live in. We have a great choice of apartments with 14 different floor plans for people who are independent and can look after themselves. We never had to lock down, nor will we. We have had gourmet dining and a bunch of activities for our residents throughout 2020 while following absolutely the very best Covid 19 secure protections.
Doctors say four things will allow you to live up to 43% longer.
Good diet, Social interaction, Fitness, and low stress. We deliver all four, plus more.
To find out how Sycamore Reserve can help you live a truly independent lifestyle, please contact Shawn Gann, Assistant Director and Director of Sales & Marketing at (317) 516-5200.
Tags: Sycamore Reserve, senior living, independent senior living, nursing homes, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine
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