When COVID-19 first began to spread it was made clear that seniors were one of the most susceptible groups to the deadly disease. Nursing homes and senior living communities quickly took strict measures to help keep their residents safe. This has left many of our communities’ eldest population in lockdown for over a month.

It is important to remember that social distancing does not mean isolation, especially for seniors. Isolation can have devastating physical, mental and emotional effects. So, while we cannot physically visit the seniors in our community, here are some ways we can support them during the Stay Home, Stay Health order.

Adopt a Grandparent

Merrill Gardens has launched an “Adopt a Grandparent” program. “We are proud to offer an option to help connect younger people with our residents at Merrill Gardens, in hopes of creating intergenerational friendships.

Your location does not matter – if you have an interest in getting to know a resident at Merrill Gardens, we can make the connection! Simply fill out the short form below and we will be in touch with you.

Here are some ways that you can connect:

Have a chat: Phone calls or video calls
Be a pen pal: Send letters or postcards back and forth
Get creative: Send any cheerful pictures or poems or even your own artwork”

Click here to sign up.

Send Cards, Letters or Artwork

Auburn Senior Activity Center

The Auburn Senior Center is delivering meals to seniors in their homes. To add an extra bit of cheer with these lunches, the Senior Center has asked anyone who would like to drop off a letter, card or homemade artwork. You can drop them off between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Senior Center (808 9th St SE). When you arrive at the front door, ring the doorbell, drop off the notes, etc. and one of the team members will come up and collect them.

“It may seem like a small thing for you, but it makes a huge difference in the life of a senior who might not have anyone else,” said Mayor Nancy Backus.

The Senior Center is also seeking masks for seniors who do not have one.

Prestige Care Senior Living

Prestige Care [also] invites Auburn community members of all ages to send positive notes, warm wishes and fun artwork to its residents to spread cheer and uplift spirits during this unprecedented time.

“Prestige Senior Living Auburn Meadows is welcoming cards, letters and other paper gifts such as drawings and homemade artwork. Items will be sorted and disinfected before being delivered to residents.

Prestige asks that community members keep the following recommendations in mind:

Messages should be handwritten and in large, easy-to-read print.
Keep the messages positive. Prestige encourages writers to make their letters kind and heartfelt.
If including a drawing or painting by a child, please consider having them sign with their name and age at the bottom.
Please don’t date your letters.

Prestige is taking extra precautions, asking those bringing items meet a staff member at the entrance. All letters will be opened and screened unless it is a private message sent from a family or friend of the resident. All items will be disinfected as they come in.

Community members can also mail their letters to the address below.

Prestige Senior Living Auburn Meadows
945 22nd St. NE
Auburn, WA 98002

Donate to the Pacific Police’s Senior Care Kits

The Pacific Police Department put a call out to anyone wanting to help create care kit for the 75 residents at Rainier Vista. “I would like to give each [resident] a care kit,” explained the Facebook post. “Each kit will be unique so the residents will love this. Donate whatever you think would be helpful during the shelter in place order. Items such as crossword puzzle books, sweets, snack foods, slipper socks, bath items. Probably a value of around $10-$15 per kit to keep it as even as possible. I am excited to see all of your creativity with this.”

If you are willing to contribute, please contact the Pacific Police Department ((253) 929-1130) to share how many items or care kits you will be donating. The kits will be accepted all week at the Pacific Police Department (133 3rd Ave SE Pacific, Washington 98047)from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you know of any other ways to support our seniors, let us know in the comments or by contacting us at [email protected].

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