Innovation leads to a new way for residents to connect with loved ones during the pandemic
In response to COVID-19, senior living facilities worldwide were forced to stop visitations to protect their vulnerable residents. While virtual calls have become a lifeline to the outside world, they cannot replace in person interactions that allow residents to be physically and mentally present with visitors. Jason Reyes, our Managing Partner, was personally upset by residents’ inability to connect in person and saw firsthand how isolated they felt by the disruption to their routines.
As he brainstormed how to bring people face-to-face while keeping them safe, he came up with a solution. By constructing a 128-square foot box made of plexiglass walls—no back wall so wheelchairs or walkers could enter—he envisioned residents sitting on one side while family members sat on the other. The next day, he built a prototype in his garage and dropped it off at Rockville Terrace in Fairfield with instruction for two other communities (Cornerstone Assisted Living in Vacaville and the Palms at San Lauren in Bakersfield) to move forward with more. Quickly dubbed “Sneeze Guard 3000” these plexiglass rooms became a game-changer. Residents could now see their loved ones in person for the first time since the pandemic began. “We’ve had so many emotional responses,” says Reyes. “We had residents who thought they wouldn’t see loved ones on their birthday. We bring them together and there are lots of tears.”
Calson has incorporated these plexiglass cubicles, which are available by appointment only, at three of its assisted living properties. When pictures hit social media, the sign-up sheet for visits filled up fast, and already, approximately four hundred visits have taken place, with over two hundred residents taking advantage of this new resource. And, with the idea quickly gaining attention across the country, we are excited to see other senior living facilities incorporating the design into their own plans.
See for yourself what all the talk is about. Schedule your virtual tour today!