Schatze and husband Peter Thorp out on a walk
By Schatze Thorp, with the enormous help of her daughter Victoria Thorp
Jun. 3, 2020: As the days grow warmer and the restrictions begin to lift from the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, I'm starting to look back on the months I spent in quarantine and wondering: What did I do with all that time? No bridge, no grandchildren, no social activities.
Since we are all in the same boat, I decided to survey my fellow Bronxville senior citizens to ask what their days were like under quarantine.
I found that my friends took on the quarantine with a sense of vigor and purpose that I find inspiring.
So, given that we are a long way from unrestricted, I thought I'd pass on the tips I learned to make the most of our time at home.
1. Move every day: Just because your routine is disrupted, that doesn't mean you can't exercise. A good friend swears by gyrokenesis (disclaimer: I don't know what this is), while others are on their treadmills or using Zoom to do yoga, tai chi, or workout with personal trainers. Others are focused on walking, tracking their 10,000 steps a day, or enjoying a chance to peer into their neighbors' windows as they stroll around the neighborhood.
2. Make dinner: For some of us empty nesters, dinner before the quarantine may have devolved into something frozen, popped into the microwave, and eaten in front of the TV. However, I am hearing from friends that prepping dinner has become a highlight of the day and reconnecting them to the pleasure of home cooking.
3. Visit virtually: Thanks to Zoom, many of us are connecting with children and grandchildren regularly, a treat for those of us with family far away. Now that we've mastered the technology, we're also taking time to catch up with old friends from college and delight in seeing familiar faces.
4. Get the chores done: Unfortunately, those bathrooms aren't going to clean themselves, so we're accepting reality and getting it done. The same goes for organizing closets and throwing out old stuff, which can yield unexpected rewards when we stumble on items that bring us back to cherished memories.
5. Remember to laugh: From playing cards to watching grandbabies splash in the bath, chuckling over old movies, or re-watching Downton Abby, we're finding moments of joy and many reasons to be grateful. If doing puzzles strengthens your brain, one of my friends, who has finished three 1000 piece puzzles, declared that she is now "a flaming genius." I say she's right!
Photo courtesy S. Thorp
Senior Citizens of Bronxville
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Eastchester Senior Services & Programs
Eastchester Senior Services & Programs provides a broad range of community based support services designed to enable seniors to remain in the community, living independently for as long as possible. Programs are available to residents of the Town of Eastchester(including the Villages of Bronxville and Tuckahoe) who are 60 and older, and include: transportation services, in-home assistance programs, care planning and Medicare counseling. There are three Senior Centers with a variety of activities and lunch available. Visit our website for a full listing of programs and services, calendars and menus, or call 771-3340 for more information.
Gramatan Village
Gramatan Village engages community residents who want to remain in the home and neighborhood they love. We support aging-in-community with a network of volunteers, community partnerships and peer connections that enable members to stay independent, and fully engaged in the community. For more information: 914-337-1338 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.gramatanvillage.org
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Gramatan Village, Inc.
85 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
Wartburg Adult Care Community
The Wartburg Adult Care Community provides a comprehensive range of residential and non-residential services. Older adults and their caregivers benefit from The Wartburg's unique continuum of care that meets their changing needs. A 36-acre campus in nearby Mount Vernon houses varying levels of secure residential care including Lohman Village supported independent living, Meadowview assisted living and Memory Care wing, short-term rehabilitation, nursing home and palliative care programs. Social and Medical Model Adult Day Programs, licensed home care and long-term home health care provide essential services for our neighbors in lower Westchester. An exemplary, compassionate team carries out The Wartburg's mission to treat all with kindness and respect.
The Wartburg Adult Care Community
Mount Vernon, NY 10552
914-699-0800
www.thewartburg.org
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Waterstone of Westchester
Life at Waterstone of Westchester takes the idea of home to an entirely new level. In this premier independent senior living community, you’ll thrive in curated elegance and style in a beautifully appointed apartment with luxurious finishes, and enjoy connecting with friends and team members in our stunning common areas.
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15 Maple Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
914-295-2177