As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise—not just in the District but nationwide—SOME’s top priority is the health and safety of our clients, volunteers, and staff. For updates on SOME’s operations during COVID-19, click here.
SOME’s Senior Center continues to serve DC senior residents with modifications to keep everyone healthy. Senior residents are encouraged to stay home and are given tips on how to stay healthy indoors and outdoors. Residents are reminded to wash their hands frequently, to stay six feet apart from others, and to self-quarantine when they feel sick.
Onsite Senior Center activities are also canceled and staff is facilitating daily conference calls for socialization to avoid isolation and loneliness. The effects of isolation and loneliness can result in severe health complications—lonely seniors have a higher risk of physical and mental health decline and an even greater risk of death. During the daily conference calls, staff check in with our seniors and encourage and uplift each other during this period of uncertainty.
“We encourage the seniors to participate because laughter becomes where we gain the strength to keep moving forward,” says Dawitt Tesmichal, SOME’s Senior Center Program Support Specialist.
Seniors also receive five to seven prepared frozen meals a week, provided by the DC Department on Aging. The meals and donated items, such as decompression socks and lotion, are used to make care packages delivered to DC senior residents.
If you know of a senior in need, please call SOME’s Senior Center at (202) 797-8806 for resources.