Part of our continuing series on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local businesses and organizations.
A commentary by the sales, leasing and marketing manager for Aquara by Element Retirement Living, a senior living development in the Songhees area.
As developers and operators of senior living, our clients are seniors and their families. Seniors seem to be the most vulnerable to this outbreak of COVID-19, and the health of our future residents is paramount.
At first, we took extra precautions in cleaning, then physical distancing. Then we opened only by appointment. So, since the middle of March, I have been working from home, mostly through emails, phone calls and video chats.
Of course, we are trying to stay top of mind among future residents, so we are continuing advertising in the sa国际传媒 and other local publications. It鈥檚 important to support local businesses through these times to minimize the economic impact.
My spouse and I also support the innovative businesses doing takeout or order/pickup. One of the things that makes this city great is its many small businesses. We need them now and we鈥檙e going to need them when all this is over; our economy depends on it.
Are our future residents having second thoughts about living in a senior community?
Despite the challenges at the moment, living in a senior living community offers advantages such as access to health care, security and a guaranteed food source. In聽addition, it provides a social living environment.
Even though there isn鈥檛 any activity on our worksite, the work is happening in the background with the City of Victoria and the construction company.
Working from home can be a challenge. Exercise, spouses, pets, TV, the garden 鈥� and sewing fabric face masks 鈥� are all distractions. For exercise, my spouse and I聽cycle to one of our favourite coffee shops doing takeout, which is good therapy for my newly replaced knee and my cabin fever.
On the bright side, I鈥檝e brushed up on old skills such as sewing and learned new skills such as haircutting for my spouse. I鈥檝e learned not to fight it, and work when distractions pass.
There will be things to learn as a result of this pandemic. Some people can work from home quite successfully, and technology is innovating to support working at distance. But social contact is really important and many of us find that in our jobs.
Balancing our social needs with working at distance might be the next challenge.
