By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
On Wednesday, the staff from Wood County senior centers got the first of many mandated COVID-19 tests as the senior facilities prepare to reopen. The testing is required every two weeks by the state for people working in senior centers.
The current pot of money paying for those tests won’t last past Dec. 31 – which has raised concerns for Denise Niese, executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging.
“There’s no way we can sustain that because of the costs,” Niese said to the WCCOA Board Wednesday afternoon. The tests for the 43 employees cost between $200 and $250 each, she said. And according to the state, all the employees must be retested every two weeks.
Niese is hoping some CARES funding may come through to help with the expenses.
The testing is just one of the hoops that have to be jumped through before county senior centers can reopen next month. Complying with the “moving targets from the state,” Niese said the facilities will start taking appointments with seniors on Nov. 3.
Based upon the restrictions put in place by the state, all Wood County Committee on Aging senior center locations (Perrysburg, Rossford, Walbridge, Grand Rapids, Pemberville, Wayne, North Baltimore and the Wood County Senior Center in Bowling Green) have remained closed.
The Wood County Committee on Aging is continuing to work with the Wood County Health District to reopen centers safely.
The WCCOA has completed Phase 1 of its reopening efforts. That involved staff putting decals for social distancing on the floors, and plastic shields on desks. The centers are already stocked with cleaning supplies and face masks.
Now the agency is working on Phase 2 to allow centers to be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for face-to-face appointments for nursing, social work, or technology assistance. Home-delivered meals and medical transports will continue.
During Phase 3, the WCCOA will look at which in-person programs can be put in place based on the state parameters. Non-contact activities may begin with physical guidelines in place and monitored. Grab-n-go lunches will be made available for seniors.
And in Phase 4, the centers will potentially open for congregate dining. Reservations will be required by 2 p.m. the prior day. The centers may implement timed servings based upon the number of seats permitted. Seating times will be structured to allow for disinfecting of tables and chairs prior to next seating.
In preparation for opening on Nov. 3, staff will begin their new required routine next week. Staff will be required to reach out to their supervisor and answer three questions about travel, exposure to others with COVID, or current symptoms they may be experiencing.
Upon arriving at work, all employees will have their temperature taken.
Seniors coming in for appointments must go through the same process.
Meanwhile, the Wood County Committee on Aging is continuing its virtual programs for local senior citizens. Grant funds have been used to purchase tablets and portable jetpacks for seniors without access to the internet.
Niese said she has been “pleasantly surprised” by the response to virtual programs being offered. The programs getting the best response from seniors have been the Silver Sneakers exercise programs, she said.
On-line programming is being offered via the WCCOA Facebook page and the Zoom meeting platform. For a schedule of these programs and/or additional information, contact Programs@wccoa.net or call the office at 419-353-5661 or 1-800-367-4935.
