From Dances to Comic Skits, Here's How Senior Living Community Staff Helped Residents

Bickford Senior Living in Overland Park, Kan., is one of many senior living communities around the country that has sought to protect residents and staff against COVID-19 while also injecting an element of fun, reports the Kansas City Star . Bickford activity coordinator Amy O'Brien has adopted a plethora of approaches, like delivering drinks and snacks to residents' rooms in themed food carts while dressed in costume. Making balloon animals has also proved popular. She and her staff have also performed comic skits. Meanwhile, staff at nearby Brookdale Senior Living used a different approach, dressing in 1950s gear and standing outside in the parking lot of each building to perform a choreographed dance to the music of "Grease." For its part, Cedarhurst Senior Living likes to celebrate non-traditional holidays like National Popcorn Day and World Smile Day. Sarah Vinson, corporate director of life enrichment at the community, remarks, "Residents look forward to seeing what life enrichment teams have up their sleeve for them."