This pandemic has been described as a marathon, but no one knows if we are on mile five or mile 15. To keep it all in perspective, Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS) is giving real-time updates and sharing stories of creativity and inspiration.
The ERS pandemic scrapbook will reflect that when circumstances appeared at their worst, the ERS staff, donors, residents and families came together to rise to this unprecedented occasion.
The boundless ingenuity has come from every corner of the ERS universe. The organization has relied upon being agile and responsive. The uplifting stories from the spring until now are numerous, but here are just a few examples of the ERS spirit.
When Life Gives You Lemons
The adage “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” has proved too accurate for the pandemic. When our fitness centers closed, the ERS wellness directors said, “How can we do this differently and still provide the daily physical exercises and some fun and motivation?” They introduced Zoom classes along with ‘The Dirty Dozen’ — 12 exercises that residents should do daily.
Our life enrichment directors reinvented all their offerings, from Zoom presentations by guest speakers to hallway bingo, to name but a few. The residents have been just as creative, and they used their ingenuity to inspire staff with signs, poems and jokes, and they kept their meetings and happy hours safe by doing them virtually.
Make Them Laugh and Smile!
The ERS staff (and a few residents) have dressed as superheroes, tacos, cupcakes, clowns, the Easter Bunny, a leprechaun and the Statue of Liberty to encourage smiles and laughter.
The residents were also treated to a carnival, including games and prizes, Nerf target practice, physically distanced chair volleyball with masks and gloves, daily trivia games, and window visits with goats, bunnies and miniature horses.
Even the ERS Risk Management Team got into the act, performing a lively lip-sync video of Big and Rich’s “Stay Home,” which playfully tells the world, “We’re all in this together. No, friend, you ain’t alone. All you gotta do is stay home!” Watch it at ERSLIFE.info/stay home.
Help From Our Friends
The ERS Emergency Response Fund was launched to support the needs that arise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund has helped residents in Affordable Living, Deupree Meals On Wheels clients, and ERS staff who have worked tirelessly to serve elders. To date, more than $312,000 has been donated to support and sustain the ERS team members and residents.
ERS will continue to promote and uphold the health of residents, staff and families and find creative ways to engage each other through this unprecedented time.
For ERS to chronicle all their food and fund donors, their mask makers, delivery volunteers and numerous other friends would take many pages. Please visit ERSLIFE.info/covid-thanks for the latest ‘thank you’ list. Get our real-time updates at episcopalretirement.com/coronavirus.
For more inspiring stories, please visit episcopalretirement.com/rise.
Episcopal Retirement Services is located at 3870 Virginia Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45227. For more information about senior living at Deupree House or Marjorie P. Lee in Hyde Park, call 513.271.9610 or visit www.episcopalretirement.com.