DOTHAN, Ala. —Local senior organizations are excited to restart community programs after Gov. Kay announced a slight rollback on COVID-19 restriction Thursday.
“The only programs that we’ve been able to offer have been delivery of meals, which we were thrilled to be able to continue to offer that service,” said Alison Hall, director of Dothan Leisure Services.
The elderly have had to stop almost all aspects of their lives in order to prevent themselves from contracting COVID-19.
“It has been hard emotionally for the residents, and you can see at times that emotion will carry on into the physical state.” said Kimberly Falkner, administrator of Summerset Assisted Living.
Now, things can improve with senior centers being allowed to conduct outdoor programs.
“They have lifted and made our restrictions a little less stringent in that we can have outdoor activities at those 36 senior centers,” said Terri Francis, director of community resources for SARCOA.
With more and more vaccines being administered, and the number of COVID transmissions dropping, it seems we can finally see that light at the end of the tunnel.
“We are so close in Houston County and surrounding areas,” Falkner said. “We will be able to let families come inside to the visitation areas that we have set aside.”
With this in mind, the facilities plan to meet a goal aside from keeping COVID-19 at bay.
“Our goal is to reunite our families to be able to come and go prior to the pandemic,” Falkner said.
