By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Last month, seniors centers in Ohio got the green light to open back up. But now, with less than two weeks till opening, senior centers are still waiting for a road map to do so safely.
“I’m feeling a little bit of stress and anxiety,” Wood County Committee on Aging Executive Director Denise Niese said Wednesday to the WCCOA board.
Niese is still waiting to hear specifics about how screening should be conducted for those entering senior centers. Also there is no news yet on how testing will be handled, and how it will be paid for.
Niese has been in contact with state officials, searching for how to open the county’s eight senior centers safely.
“Bottom line – we didn’t get any answers from that phone call,” she said of a recent call.
A webinar is scheduled for this Friday to help senior centers across the state prepare for opening. That doesn’t leave much time, Niese said.
“So we’ll have 10 calendar days to get this put together,” she told her board.
“There’s a lot of frustration around the state,” about the lack of state guidance, she said.
State officials have advised that senior centers screen people before they enter the buildings. That is easier said than done, Niese said.
“A lot of our seniors don’t have cell phones,” she said.
According to current plans, the senior center in Bowling Green will open first, with others following so all are open within six weeks. The hours will be limited to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only.
“Not all eight centers will open at one time,” she said. Staggered openings will allow for problems to be better handled as they arise.
“If we have a hiccup we’ll have to address it,” Niese said.
That includes the huge hiccup if the county’s COVID level rises to red again.
“If we turn into a red county, then everything shuts down again,” she said.
Board member Dr. Tom Milbrodt asked Niese about how the state plans to handle COVID testing for seniors.
“I would love to answer that, Tom. I have no idea,” Niese said.
“This is a moving target folks,” she said.
With the most susceptible population to COVID-19, senior facilities have been on hold while most other settings and services have been back in business. Gov. Mike DeWine announced last month that senior facilities will be allowed to open Sept. 21, with reduced capacity and safety standards in place.
The Wood County Committee on Aging has created its own reopening plan with four phases.
Phase 1 involves 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.
Phase 2 will allow for centers to be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for face-to-face appointments for nursing, social work, or technology assistance. Those entering the centers will have their temperatures taken and will be asked a series of health questions. Home-delivered meals and medical transports will continue.
During Phase 3, the Committee on Aging 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.
The reopening plan has been distributed to staff and is available to the public via the WCCOA website or a hard copy by request.
