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Description
Senior Beat Host, Cindy Olsen talks with Senior Center supervisor Mary Jo Riley and Director of the Parks and Recreation department Mark Berry about the COVID-19 pandemic and what services the Senior Center is providing throughout it.
Senior Beat is sponsored by Groton Senior Center:
http://grotonrec.com/seniors
#seniorbeat #grotonct #connecticut
A
B
So
I,
probably
a
lot
of
people
are
asking:
why
hasn't
the
Senior
Center
opened
up
yet
and
I
can
tell
you
that
Mary,
Jo
and
other
senior
center
directors
in
the
area
have
been
working
with
the
state
to
develop
a
set
of
guidelines.
They
have
been
working
with
the
state
epidemiologist
with
the
commissioner
for
disabilities
and
Senior
Services
and
another
number
of
other
state
representatives.
B
Currently
the
recommended
guidelines
for
those
65
and
over
are
stay
home
and
stay
safe.
I
know.
New
guidelines
will
be
coming
out
at
some
point,
but
I
can
tell
you
that
the
staff
has
been
busy
while
we've
been
close,
doing
other
terrific,
providing
other
terrific
services
for
the
community
and
I.
Think
Mary
Jo
is
going
to
talk
a
little
bit
about
those,
so
we
were
fortunate
enough
that
we
did
not
have
to
furlough
any
of
our
any
of
our
full-time
staff.
B
We
this
the
town,
was
able
to
provide
laptops
to
some
of
the
staff
that
had
childcare
issues,
so
the
staff
was
able
to
at
some
times
during
the
week
work
from
home.
There
was
also
some
flexing
of
schedule
so
that
some
staff
would
come
in
early
stone
staff,
they'd
go
home
for
a
while
and
then
come
back
in
an
effort
to
try
and
reduce
social
distancing
and
the
staff.
We
are
spread
out
all
throughout
the
building,
so
everybody
is
operating
in
their
own
their
own
space.
So
and
everybody
is
wearing
a
mask.
B
They've
we're
all
taking
precautions.
Yes,
Thank
You
Cindy.
Well,
thank
you
for
the
questions
to
make
sure
that
the
the
staff
say
stay
healthy
and
I
do
want
to
say
and
I
know:
I
speak
for
everyone
at
the
Senior
Center
that
they
are
all
very
anxious
to
have
all
of
you
seniors
back
at
the
community
center.
A
B
B
A
C
I
think
they
should
be
concerned
because
they're
close
enough
to
that
65
and
older
age,
that
when
they
get
kovat
19,
it's
serious,
it's
not
as
simple
as
oh
I've
got
some
flu-like
symptoms
or
I've
gotten
it
and
I
never
felt
any
symptoms.
So
you
really
just
have
to
pay
attention
to
one
of
my
risk
factors
do
I,
have
any
long-term
health
issues,
those
types
of
things
that
could
put
you
at
risk
for
a
more
serious
case.
A
C
You
do
that's
true
and
if
you
don't
know
like
say,
a
teenage
grandson
doesn't
know
if
they've
been
exposed
because
they
been
tested
and
they
go
visit
their
grandma's.
Now,
because
the
stay
home
state
safe
has
been
lifted
for
them,
they
could
be
exposing
their
grandmas
to
code
without
even
knowing
it.
So
it's
really
being
cautious
and
thinking
about
what
you're
doing
still
I.
A
Think
it's
a
great
idea,
especially
seeing
that
12
states
that
have
already
reopened
already
have
had
a
surge
in
covent
coming
back
and
higher,
so
I
think
we're
doing
a
safe
thing,
even
though
we
are
like
Marc
said
really
anxious
to
have
everyone
back
here
and
start
doing
all
our
programs
again.
So
some
of
the
questions
that
have
been
coming
to
us
as
staff
and
on
Facebook
and
emails
and
just
phone
calls
what
about
getting
my
taxes
done
with
AARP?
Is
that
something
that's
happening.
C
Aarp
actually
cancelled
because
they
could
not
find
this
safe
way
to
do
taxes,
so
people
that
I
haven't
done
their
taxes
yet
and
they
better
get
planning
on
how
they're
going
to
do.
It
really
need
to
look
at
doing
them
online
or
contacting
someplace
like
H&R,
Block
or
Liberty
taxes
to
see
if
they
are
doing
them.
One-On-One,
because
some
places
now
are
opening
up.
Crap,
okay,.
C
Right
now,
I
think
most
people
know
we
are
providing
medical
transportation
and
grocery
shopping
transportation
for
seniors.
We
also
have
our
grab
and
go
meals
where
you
can
call
in
between
9:00
a.m.
and
10:30
in
the
morning
and
Witter
meal,
and
then
you
pick
up
between
11:30
and
12:30,
and
the
staff
bring
the
meal
out
to
you,
but
starting
in
July
on,
we
are
hoping
to
try
an
outdoor,
tai,
chi
class
at
8:00
in
the
morning.
C
So
it's
a
little
bit
earlier
than
we
normally
do
programs,
but
it
should
be
a
cooler
part
of
the
day
and
people
will
need
to
sign
up
by
calling
the
center
and
it'll
meet
in
the
roller
hockey
arena
and
a
nice
thing
about
that
roller
hockey
arena
is.
We
also
had
pickleball
courts
painted
on
there,
so
people
are
currently
able
to
go
play
pickleball
Monday
through
Friday.
C
They
can
call
us
for
the
times,
but
the
courts
are
pretty
much
available
all
day
after
8:30
and
on
the
nets
are
put
out
by
a
volunteer
in
the
morning
and
then
taken
in
at
night.
So
that's
available.
We
are
also
looking
to
try
to
do
an
outdoor
concert
in
the
parking
lot
where
you
can
stay
in
your
car
or
put
a
chair
next
to
your
car,
still
with
masks
and
social
distancing
in
mind,
but
it
would
be
a
way
to
just
get
out
of
the
house
and
enjoy
you
know
some
good
music.
C
We
currently
are
doing
a
lot
of
different
virtual
programs
on
our
discover
connections,
program
for
people
with
memory
issues
and
socialization
issues
has
continued.
They
meet
online
once
a
week
and
then
we
also
have
we
Wednesdays
and
the
morning
on
Wednesdays
and
that's
a
social
time.
So
if
you're
looking
meet
up
with
friends
or
just
want
to
talk
to
people
instead
of
talking
to
yourself,
which
was
what
I
tend
to
do
on
the
weekends,
you
can
join
us
on
we
Wednesdays.
C
C
When
you
come
in
because
we're
responsible
for
tracking
whoever
how
there
might
be
exposure,
people
are
going
to
have
to
swipe
in
at
the
computer
at
the
front
desk
when
they
come
right
in
and
we'll
try
to
have
our
senior
ambassador
volunteers
to
help
them
but
they'll
swipe
in
and
then
the
volunteer
will
log
them
in
to
whatever
program
they're
coming
from
and
then
we
will
also
have
hand
sanitizers
right
there.
So
when
you
walk
in,
we
want
you
to
sanitize
your
hands,
but
on
we're
going
to
be
working
on
classes.
C
So
if
you
take
a
fitness
class
right
away
in
the
first
session,
we
aren't
going
to
be
using
hand,
weights
or
extra
tubes
or
anything
that
individuals
could
be
putting
their
hands
on,
because
we
can't
really
sanitize
them
on.
We
will
be
able
to
use
chairs,
but
the
chairs
can
be
sprayed
down
and
sanitized,
so
there
may
be
some
limitations
or
changes
in
the
fitness
programming.
C
Some
classes
may
not
start
right
away
like
bridge
Maj
cribbage
on
pinochle
pitch
because
they
share
cards.
They
share
tiles
and
again
we
can't
sanitize
between
people
passing
cards.
So
those
might
be
some
things
that
are
changing.
We
are
going
to
be
asking
people
to
wear,
masks
and
we're
going
to
be
expecting
people
to
wear
masks
we're
going
to
be
asking
people.
How
are
they
feeling
today?
Do
you
have
any
signs
or
symptoms?
C
Have
you
been
exposed,
so
they'll
be
sick
and
tired
of
that
questionnaire,
but
that's
how
we're
going
to
scan
people
during
the
day
people
may
ask
about
temperatures:
we're
not
going
to
be
taking
temperatures
mainly
because
seniors
temperatures
as
people
get
into
the
higher
ages
tend
to
be
lower,
so
we
may
scan
them
as
normal
when
they
are
actually
having
a
fever.
So
we're
not
going
to
be
taking
temps.
You.
B
B
Think
we're
also
reducing
the
number
of
chairs
and
table
in
the
in
the
main
room
is
too
so
we're
taking
all
of
the
steps
to
encourage
social
distancing
and
some
of
the
other
protocol
and
we're
also
blackburn
is
going
to
be
coming
in
more
frequently
and
they're
going
to
be
doing
an
enhanced
cleaning.
But
you
know
of
the
bathrooms
and
also
common
touch
points
flat
services.
A
One
of
the
questions
you
kind
of
touched
on
was
the
main
round
the
community
room
where
people
usually
would
come
in
and
lunch
people
have
been
asking
about
what
about
coastal
cafe
when
we
reopen?
Are
we
going
to
be
in
the
main
room?
Are
we
going
to
be
able
to
get
lunch
and
sit
down
with
our
friends?
How
is
that
gonna
work?
I
know
from
our
end,
it's
a
big
pain
but
well.
C
One
of
the
things
we're
looking
at
is
maybe
initially
it'll
still
be
takeout.
When
it's
warmer
weather,
we
have
put
picnic
tables
around
the
building
on
the
outside,
thanks
to
our
parks,
department,
and
so
people
may
be
still
doing,
they'll
be
coming
into
the
building,
but
the
meals
will
be
takeout,
initially
we're
still
kind
of
in
discussions
about
that.
We
have
to
follow
the
policies
that
are
set
forth
for
restaurants,
so
we
have
to
reduce
the
number
of
people
able
to
eat
in
the
main
room,
so
it
may
only
be
for
social
distancing.
C
Two
people
at
a
table
one
at
either
end
two
people
at
the
round
table
because
they
are
six
feet
in
diameter,
so
that
reduces
us
down
to
less
than
50
people
in
the
main
room.
So
takeout
is
still
going
to
be
promoted,
people
won't
be
going
in
and
out
from
the
may
room,
they'll
be
going
into
the
cafeteria
from
the
side
entrance
and
then
exiting
into
the
main
room
again
trying
to
control
the
traffic
flow
so
that
there
isn't
a
backup
and
then
we
may
be
limiting
the
number
of
people.
C
A
C
On
a
daily
basis,
whether
they're
coming
to
the
center
are
going
to
the
grocery
store,
people
should
really
just
pay
attention
to
how
they
feel.
Yes,
if
they're
not
feeling
that
great
take
your
temperature
see
if
you're
running
a
fever.
Also
note:
where
have
you
been?
Have
you
been
exposed
to
younger
adults
to
people
that
might
have
Co
big
that
have
been
working
or
out
and
about
to
your
grandchildren
on
who
may
be
at
camp
and
expose
their?
C
So
it's
really
important
that
you
just
kind
of
pay
attention
to
what
you're
doing
a
little
bit
more
and
when
you're
going
out,
yes
am
I
feeling
well
or
not,
I
mean
we
have
a
lot
of
people
in
the
wintertime.
We're
always
telling
people
you're
coughing
go
home.
You're,
not
you
know.
Nobody
here
wants
to
catch
your
cold.
Well,
now
it's
the
same
thing,
but
it's
you
know
if
you
have
a
scratchy
throat,
you're
coughing,
you're
running
a
lot,
a
small
fever
stay
home
and
stay
safe,
so.
A
C
C
We
have
a
barrier
between
the
passengers
and
the
behind
the
driver
if
the
driver
needs
to
assist
someone
they'll
put
on
gloves,
but
they
typically
don't
wear
gloves
the
driver
sanitizes
the
bus
after
the
use
of
the
bus,
so
between
clients
getting
on
and
off,
they
will
sanitize
the
bus.
So
on
we're
trying
to
keep
the
risk
for
people
going
to
and
from
medical
appointments
down
great.
A
C
A
He
said
one
of
the
things
he
misses
most
is
the
daily
interactions
with
everyone
and
begin
at
the
events,
and
you
know
getting
the
feedback
and
he's
like
you
know,
there's
something
awesome
about
getting
direct
feedback
from
the
seniors
because
they
are
very
direct,
but
it
helps
us
keep
doing
what
we're
doing
so,
although
we've
all
been
walking
working
behind
the
scenes,
we
still
want
to
hear
from
everyone.
Yes,.
C
Well,
for
the
Senior
Center
on
our
July
and
August
newsletter
will
be
coming
out
very
soon,
so
we
will
be
putting
that
out
in
a
rack
outside
the
front
doors
of
the
building.
So
people,
even
if
it's
not
you're,
not
picking
up
a
meal,
you
can
swing
through
and
grab
a
newsletter.
We
also
have
a
bookcase
of
books
and
some
other
things
you
can
grab
out
there
on,
but
also
Facebook
and
Instagram,
and
our
website
would
provide
information
and.
A
B
B
Now,
at
this
point,
except
for
basketball
and
right
now,
that's
scheduled
to
put
the
rims
in
the
backboards
back
up
on
July
6,
based
on
current
guidelines,
but
people
who
can
get
out
and
hike
walk
the
trails
and
for
those
65
and
over
that's
still
skateboard.
The
park
is
open
and
you
can
get
down
to
the
beach
and
I
do
what
I.
Let
everybody
know
that
at
the
different
parks
that
have
Florida?
Let's,
we
have
a
park
ambassador
that
is
going
around
and
Florida.
Let's
are
getting
sanitized
about
four
times
a
day.
B
A
Everyone's
getting
outside
and
there
and
enjoying
and
taking
part
in
the
parks
and
the
trails
and
and
then
major,
we've
done
virtual
classes
and
continue
to
do
them
and
those
will
be
in
this
newsletter
that
again
will
be
outside
and
online.
If
you
need,
and
always
you
guys
at
eight
six,
oh
four,
one,
six,
seven,
eight
five
and
mark
and
Mary
Jo
I
want
to.
Thank
you
both
very
much
for
this
update.
Thank.