Covid-19 Response – Vida Is Hybrid!

On June 14, 2021, Vida Senior Centers reopened both of its sites – Adams Morgan  Brightwood – at limited indoor capacity after the city of Washington DC supported in-person work at minimum capacity following public health prevention guidelines.

We have been welcoming back those seniors who would like to participate in Vida’s services and activities in person. For those participants who feel more comfortable attending remotely, we offer live streaming of all our activities. Vida has implemented a safe and efficient process to keep seniors safe in addition to following the safety guidelines such as wearing a mask indoors, temperature screenings upon entry, and maintaining social distancing.

Through bridging the digital divide, the seniors continue enjoying all the activities and services Vida offers. Seniors take part in recreation and socialization classes, health promotion, mental and behavioral health counseling, nutrition counseling and education, fitness and exercise, social services support, Spanish literacy, and English as a second language.

Since reopening Vida has been leading the way to the new normality. It includes establishing the Años Dorado choir with 20 seniors offering community performances, distributing Covid-19 vaccination to Vida seniors and the public, hybrid holiday get-togethers, and many more.

We are proud to offer a holistic approach to combating social isolation in all possible ways.

Vida’s Accomplishments FY2021 as of October 2021

• 34 hybrid classes and activities are held at Calvert and Brightwood sites weekly
• 37,716 total participation at Vida’s hybrid classes
• 75% increase of individual services in comparison with pre-Covid-19 times
• 73% increase of counseling services in comparison with pre-Covid-19 times
• 91,000 reached with the Covid-19 prevention campaign

Vida Continues

• Virtual Group Recreation and Socialization Activities
• Individual Socialization Telephonic Service
• Weekly education classes covering information regarding the virus, symptoms, updated guidelines, benefits of vaccines, combating myths and misinformation about the vaccines
• Distribution of Health Promotion Educational Material delivered at home
• Wellness and Telephone Reassurance during Covid-19
• Technology Allocation and Training for Virtual Engagement
• Covid-19 vaccine information, registration and monitoring system
• Covid-19 Support and Monitoring and Tracking
• Daily Updates Via Text

COVID-19 Response – Vida Went Virtual

In March 2020, the world was hit by an unprecedented global pandemic, and no one could have expected nor prepared for it. In mid-March 2020 Washington, DC began its quarantine measures, and Vida Senior Centers had to close its doors to protect the very population it serves. Vida Senior Centers’ population, being elderly, is at very high risk for COVID-19 induced morbidity and mortality. With the pandemic continuing, Vida Senior Centers, as other institutions dealing with the elderly population, canceled schedules of all routine group exercise activities, social and recreation activities, and anything that requires human contact for the seniors.  So many successive days of forced isolation and limited movement can lead to excessive physical inactivity, as well as isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Vida Initiatives During the Covid-19 Pandemic

• Virtual Group Recreation and Socialization Activities
• Individual Socialization Telephonic Service
• Customized Counseling Sessions in All the Service Areas: Counselors are available through various communication channels for virtual engagement, such as telephone, virtual meetings, mass texts communication/updates and email, to address the needs and concerns of the seniors.
• Increased Supplemental Food Distribution Programs
• Continued Public Health Education About Covid-19
• Distribution of Health Promotion Educational Material delivered at home
• Wellness and Telephone Reassurance during Covid-19
• Outreach and Communication plus Radio Programs
• Technology Allocation and Training for Virtual Engagement
• Covid-19 Vaccine campaigns and Vaccination Appointment Coordination
• Covid-19 Support and Monitoring and Tracking
• Daily Updates Via Text