This has been a tough few months for everybody, but especially for people whose loved ones are residents of senior living communities. In order to keep seniors safe, families aren’t allowed to visit. So, they may worry about how their loved ones are coping in quarantine.
At Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill in Dacula, staff members are working hard to ensure that quarantine doesn’t mean isolation. For instance, they arranged a special tea party window visit, complete with Ferrero Rocher chocolates, for a resident whose granddaughter was moving out of town and wanted to say goodbye.
Fun and Games
Daily exercise routines are still in place. Some days, socially distant masked residents do stretches on the patio; on other days, they take walks or do chair yoga. There are always games going on at Arbor Terrace. One staffer developed a system in which residents earn tickets by completing word searches and other brain games. The tickets can then be used to buy prizes in the “Bingo Store.”
And speaking of bingo, residents play regularly, sometimes in the common areas, sometimes even out by the pool. Residents have also taken advantage of the warmer weather by doing art projects outside.
Birthdays and Holidays
Birthdays are always a big deal at Arbor Terrace. Residents are treated with something sweet to eat, balloons, cards, and even a singalong. In May, they celebrated the birthday of a sweet woman who turned 99. In June, it was a party for a 90-year-old, complete with cupcakes and a virtual visit with her son.
Arbor Terrace staff members also love to celebrate the holidays. All of them. On Easter, there was a visit from the Easter Bunny along with treats and songs. Residents stayed socially distant while they joined in the singing.
The community’s Mother’s Day celebration lasted a whole week. Mothers were treated to beautiful bouquets, ate steak, lobster, and cheesecake, and got the chance to make FaceTime calls to family members.
On Cinco de Mayo, the beverage cart came around with salsa music and margaritas.
For Memorial Day, the community honored those who served and never came home with a “missing man” table in the dining room. And flag-waving residents lined up outside for a drive-by parade of their family members.
Even holidays you may not know about are on the calendar at Arbor Terrace. On Saturday, May 16, residents enjoyed a special drink in honor of National Mimosa Day!
Socializing and Snacking
Residents are still getting the chance to connect at their weekly “Wind Down Wednesday” events with cheese and crackers, and of course, some wine.
Those who prefer something sweeter can indulge when the ice cream cart comes by their room, usually with music for an impromptu dance party.
Even when they aren’t under quarantine, staff members at Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill are busy organizing special events for their residents. To find out more about the fun things they’re planning, or to see if Arbor Terrace would be a good place for you or your senior loved ones, call them at 770-999-0421.
