An independent senior living facility opens up to full capacity nearly a year after shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richmont Village is progressing back to a normal, pre-COVID-19 daily life they once had before their shut down in March 2020. The senior living facility, located in Bellevue, Neb., houses 86 residents and staffed by 27 workers.
Richmont had a few COVID-19 cases throughout the last six months. The facility was able to prevent the virus from spreading as residents recovered quickly. They also placed restrictions through the year from limiting visitors and capacity to pausing all the planned group activities or even moved them to the hallways.
For Richmont resident Donna Larson, she didn’t let the pandemic prevent her from doing the things she loves the most, knitting cat blankets, solving crossword puzzles and keeping a positive flow in the community with fellow residents and staff.
“We’ve always been a community, so to speak, and I think maybe this has brought people [together],” Larson said. “We have gotten on the telephone and talking each other. Like the people on my floor, we get on the phone to check to see if everybody is all right, and I think maybe there’s a feeling of more of a feeling of closeness even more than what we had before.”
Though, Larson hardly gets visits from her grandchildren. Last time she saw her family was Christmas Day as she looked out of her window to see them waving in the courtyard.
“I have three big granddaughters and of course they have just grown like weeds I think since I saw them last, so I think that’s the hardest part with the family, in particular,” said Larson.
When the COVID-19 vaccine was available for senior citizens, Jennifer Pryjmak, executive director of Richmont Senior Living, quickly took the chance to give the residents and staff protection.
“We took it as a blessing actually because we didn’t know that we were going to have the opportunity so to have that opportunity we jumped on it,” said Pryjmak.
Floor by floor, the residents were administered two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the hallways outside of their apartments. Larson described these injections as similar to an annual flu shot.
“I was so tired,” she said. “I didn’t think I could get out of my chair. But other than that, no reaction at all [and] I was just like, ‘Oh Good.’ I was so pleased that the management had arranged that we can all get our shots.”
Transitioning towards March, the Richmont staff prepared everything they needed to open back to full capacity. This gives Pryjmak and the rest of her staff a bright hope for a promising future approaching for the community.
“We were all like so excited to come to work the next day because we know it’s gonna be so different, and they needed it and the impact that it’s had on residents,” Pryjmak said. “I can already feel it.”
Richmont Village residents are gradually transitioning back to normal after receiving their vaccines. Some of the lifted restrictions include a full capacity dining hall, conducting daily activities such as arts and crafts, exercises and secret driving tours. While congregating in Richmont, everyone is required to wear a mask.
“Right now, we are still screening as they come in [and] that’s a part of the protocol, even as staff, we are screening,” Pryjmak said. “We’re still being very hopeful but whatever it takes to get life moving ahead, we’re going to do it, and I think it’s to that point now. Who cares. If we’ve got to wear masks, we’re going to wear masks because we want to move on with life.”
As for both Larson and Pryjmak, they trust to wait out the pandemic and hear from the CDC regarding when it’s safe to congregate safely without the restrictions put in place. Larson will be selective in her decisions as she knows the virus, and other variants, are still present.
“We are a little more comfortable knowing that we are protected, to a degree,” Larson said. “So I don’t have to rush out to do any of the things I used to do just because I’ve got the shot. I don’t think that’s using common sense.”
As the residents and staff await for things to get back to normal, Pryjmak looks forward to the close bonding she has with the residents and staff. She describes everyone in Richmont Village as a large family.
“The connection that you have with people, it really opens your eyes to that,” she said. “It really shows that you need to be able to see those smiles. You need to be able to have those hugs. You need to be able to just have that connection. I think not having that really impacted a lot of people, including myself.”
While the atmosphere inside Richmont Village transitions, both Larson and Pryjmak expects a full house once again. Larson expresses her gratitude for in living in a community that is well-polished by a supporting staff from keeping everything clean to providing necessities for their homes and well-being.
“I think they’ve done everything they could possibly do to keep us safe,” Larson said.
