Government officials are concerned about seniors in quarantine. Many were left isolated when Connecticut shut down. Older seniors especially lack the technology to stay connected remotely.
Guidance still recommends that seniors stay home, even though the state has started to reopen. Most senior centers in Fairfield County aren’t expected to open until September 1, and that’s if there is not a second wave.
“We’ve seen a lot of food insecurity, a lot of economic difficulties, you know, financial struggles as well as the social isolation. That’s probably my biggest concern going forward in long-term recovery for our town,” says Sandra Arburr, a senior services supervisor in Stratford. The town’s Baldwin Center caters to about 3,000 seniors from the greater Bridgeport area.
“We have had walk-throughs of our center and designated areas for the safety glass to be installed. So all of those things are in place. We have our products ordered. But we are waiting for some guidance on lifting the 65 and older, stay home stay safe.”
Arburr says that the town has implemented several programs to address senior issues, including a team called Stratford Strong. She says the hope is that there won’t be a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall.
