April 17, 2020 – From the front lobby entrance to the end of the apartment corridors at Silver-gate San Marcos – a premier senior living community serving the area for more than 25 years –residents and staff have rallied together to face and adapt to the challenges presented by the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order.
Like many retirement communities around the country, Silvergate has initiated new, strict safety protocols to safeguard the senior population, such as careful limitations on who enters the property, daily temperature checks on residents and staff and the use of face masks as an abundance of caution. Adjusting to this new normal, however temporary, has elicited strong solidarity amongst residents, staff, families and the community at large.
“Everyone connected to this community has stepped up and stepped in to ensure that our residents are safe, secure and just as importantly…emotionally cared for during this time,” said Joan Rink-Carroll, Executive Director of Silvergate San Marcos. “We have seen amazing examples of residents chipping in to raise the spirits of fellow residents. Our staff has worked tirelessly to stay in tune with how our residents are feeling and has provided support in every direction possible. Then there are the family members who have parents and loved ones living here and our regular volunteers outside Silvergate. They currently can’t visit our residents but they’re finding incredibly creative ways to connect and engage with our seniors.”
Family Pitches In With Face Masks
Take Ann Russell, the daughter of Joyce Ringler who is a resident in the community’s Memory Care suites. She has orchestrated an effort to supply the community with specially made cloth masks for the staff and management of Silvergate to use as they work and interact with residents. Russell has single-handedly cut cloth, sewn and assembled cotton face masks for Silvergate employees to use this month. When more are needed, Russell plans to activate her home-spun manufacturing to keep Silvergate supplied and protected in the weeks to come.
“I have a company called Hankie Pankie that produces aprons and clothing here in town, so switching gears to make face masks for Silvergate is certainly within my wheelhouse,” said Russell, who has been doing business in San Marcos for 20 plus years. “I want my mom’s caregivers to have what they need to protect her and the other residents in the community, and this was something I could do right now to help.”
Youngest Church Goers Send Cards To Resident
Another poignant example of caring and concern focused on the Silvergate community has come from the children congregants of North Coast Church. The youngest of the church goers spent stay-at-home time recently hand-making and decorating thoughtful cards for each and every resident at the community. Those cards have now been distributed and residents are still expressing their appreciation.
Silvergate Team Members Serve Seniors In New Ways
Inside Silvergate, residents are adhering to new routines modified to conform with CDC guidelines and participating in community-run activities that foster as much normalcy in their day as possible. The focus continues to be on maintaining good habits, including sufficient sleep, healthful eating, daily monitoring and regular exercise. Dedicated Silvergate team members are taking on new duties all over the community in order to: teach seniors new online skills to keep them connected with loved ones and friends; conduct exercise classes until outside instructors are permitted into the community again; and hold socially distanced devotional meetings to allow those interested to spend time in thought and prayer.
Silvergate San Marcos offers independent living, assisted living and memory care apart- ment homes. During the state stay-at-home order, Silvergate is offering Virtual Tours of the com- munity to provide a video view of floorplans and highlights of the community. For advice or assistance with a Virtual Tour, please call community Marketing Director, David Nelson at (760) 744-4484.
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