Austin Seniors Brew Beer at Assisted Living Community

Residents at the Parmer Woods assisted living community in North Austin, Texas, are brewing their own beer to make life less isolating during the pandemic, reports Reform Austin . "We try to do as many things that can be independently led, so that it doesn't require so much staff to be present, but that still empowers our residents to be able to be a person," said Enrichment Director Amy Casillas. "It's very much their own thing." Residents have brewed cider, India pale ale, oatmeal stout, and wit beer in the community kitchen. Although this has been a freeing activity for residents, Casillas said social distancing is mandated in the brewing process. Regular participants typically number 14, but now the kitchen only allows groups of six at a time. "Different bottling days or brewing days are handled by different people, and they have the same gear that our nursing staff, or care staff, have to have," said Casillas. "Which is masks, six-feet apart when possible, gloves, lots of hand washing, and tons of sanitation afterwards."