Welcoming our seniors back to BakerRipley

Our senior neighbors are so near and dear to our hearts, but social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 left many feeling lonely and depressed by the lack of human interaction. I must admit I felt sad, too, when the pandemic forced us to make the painful decision to shut down all 15 BakerRipley Senior Health and Wellness Centers across the Houston region.

That sadness soon turned to gladness, thanks to the dedication, innovation, and enterprising spirit of our BakerRipley Health and Wellness team. They have been doing an incredible job over the past two years by reaching out to our seniors, keeping them connected, navigating extraordinary challenges and, most importantly, helping them stay safe and healthy.

Many seniors have underlying health conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the severe effects of the coronavirus. When vaccines started becoming available in early 2021 and BakerRipley was setting up community outreach clinics, our team made sure there was an option for seniors to get their shots from healthcare providers in the safety of their own homes. This helped lower their risk of venturing out and being exposed.

It was amazing to see the virtual world become a source of vitality for our older adults. Using desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, they participated in more than 3,000 virtual activities our team conducted. The offerings ranged from cooking tips and recipe exchanges to Bible study, tai chi, "how-to" workshops and much more.

Our team also covered a lot of miles and delivered a total of 623,599 meals to our senior neighbors. When they were not on the road, they were often on the phones making thousands of wellness calls to check how our seniors were feeling -- physically and emotionally. There were many times when the familiar friendly voices from BakerRipley were like rays of light cutting through the dark despair seniors were feeling. We became bridges to human connection. We were there to listen and let them know they were not alone. Our conversations brought calm, comfort, and uplifting companionship to combat the loneliness and isolation forced by social distancing.

Now, we are excited about reopening the doors at our senior centers and continuing those human connections in person. This celebration would not be possible without the fantastic Health and Wellness team. They have a dynamic perspective on aging that drives new opportunities to promote quality of life for older adults. The programs at our senior centers focus on the eight domains of health and wellness: physical activity, social interaction, spiritual connection, intellectual curiosity, vocational learning, environmental awareness, emotional support, and resourcefulness.

While COVID restrictions are easing, we recognize the pandemic is not officially over yet. We are continuing to follow all guidelines for public health and safety as we eagerly welcome everyone back to our senior centers for plenty of fun and enriching activities.

To help us share this exciting news, feel free to like, share, and comment on this article. Also, you can:

• Join the BakerRipley Senior Services Facebook Group.
• Register to become a BakerRipley Volunteer. (BTW, April is National Volunteer Month!)
• Consider a tax-deductible financial donation to BakerRipley.