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Date: 7/19/2021
EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton Senior Center will be open for indoor and outdoor activities starting on Aug. 2, the Easthampton Council on Aging (ECOA) announced in a recent social media announcement.
With guidance from the Easthampton Public Health Department, the ECOA has created a reopening plan that allows the senior center to take a “cautious and phased-in” approach by implementing a few COVID-19 restrictions that may restrict some indoor and outdoor activities.
While the restrictions for masks and social distancing have been lifted statewide, the ECOA will still require masks for individuals who have not been vaccinated yet. If people who are vaccinated still want to wear a mask, they still can. Additionally, a mask mandate will stay in effect for ECOA transportation until further notice.
According to Brendan Rogers, executive director of the ECOA, the center was developing an entire reopening plan right when Gov. Charlie Baker decided to lift all COVID-19 restrictions. Developing the most recent plan was tricky, according to Rogers, because there were not any specific guidelines to follow for senior centers. Instead, Rogers relied mainly on the sector guidelines that were put out back in the spring.
“This is one of those things where we certainly got help from the Massachusetts Council on Aging on ideas of what to do,” said Rogers. “The [Easthampton] Health Department has done a wonderful job guiding us through this. We just needed a little bit more time, given the population we’re dealing with, making sure we’re offering a safe environment for people to come back too.”
There is a maximum number of participants per room at the senior center, which is a guideline based on both a three-feet social distancing protocol and a 10 person per 1,000 square feet per room recommendation. This recommendation is taken from the state’s Safety Standards and Checklist for Places of Worship.
According to these new guidelines, a maximum of 25 people will be allowed for activities/events on the senior center main floor, and a maximum of 15 people will be allowed for exercise and movement-based classes on the main floor. A maximum of three people at a time will be allowed in the tranquility room; five people in the TV room; three people in the kitchen; five people in the downstairs classroom; two people in the foot care room; and a maximum of four people in the billiards and lounge area at set times.
“We’re not doing large luncheons in the foreseeable future,” said Rogers, who added that this guideline could change soon depending on what happens with vaccines and COVID-19 cases. “I do anticipate that changing, but I just don’t think eating in large groups of people is where the senior center should be at.”
Despite a significant number of ECOA visitors being vaccinated, Rogers said that he felt it was best to not rush back into too many activities or events. “For the time being, we placed capacity limits on activities and events, and I think they should be able to accommodate almost everything we had done previously except these large events where we’re clearing 30-plus people. We’re just not going there.”
Because the ECOA is an old building, Rogers and company have made sure that ionizers are present in certain areas of the location to filter air, specifically downstairs and on the main floor.
According to Rogers, indoor activities have not been allowed at the ECOA since March of 2020.
“For staff and clients, [this past year] has been a real struggle,” said Rogers, who added that the ECOA participated in a lot of virtual programming and outdoor exercise classes with social distancing throughout the pandemic. “To not have so many people come into the building, it’s been weird,” said Rogers. “I know that when we open our doors again, it’s going to be a whole other experience.”
Reservations for the ECOA fitness room will begin July 30, according to the social media post. Residents can make reservations with the ECOA receptionist by calling 527-6151, ext. 0, no earlier than one business day before coming into exercise. The ECOA will offer 45-minute time slots throughout the day Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those who want to use the room.
Rogers said that the fitness room guidelines were something that he was extra cautious about since there is normally a potential for people to get sicker in that type of environment with heavier breathing going on. “What I’m trying to do is limit to three people maximum since it is a tiny room,” said Rogers, who added that an ionizer is also present in the fitness room. “The only way that we would be able to reach that three-person maximum is if there were two people from the same household coming into the gym.”
Despite the ever changing landscape, Rogers said it is great to see people being able to return to activities in some capacity.
“I think not having that direct contact with people has been a major challenge,” said Rogers. “I’m really excited; I’m hoping when people come back, I want it to be slow and cautious, but there’s nothing that can compare to actually seeing the people face-to-face.”
Currently, the ECOA is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.