Powell Senior Center employee Kat Machado and her fiance Justin Saubert recently went to Down Home Discount to pick up toilet paper. They were hoping to fetch some for the seniors at the center, who have found shopping all the more difficult as panic buyers have temporarily cleared grocery store shelves.

Like Mr. D’s and Blair’s, Down Home Discount has restricted how much toilet paper customers can buy, and at first the cashier wouldn’t let Machado and Saubert load up. But after they explained their intent, the couple was able to get a share of precious toilet paper for the local seniors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned everyone’s world upside down. While everyone tries to maintain social distancing, the elderly are in the highest risk group. This makes isolation imperative, but it can also make it more difficult for seniors to obtain services and maintain their mental health.

Many area seniors depend on the Powell Senior Center for their social connections, meals and entertainment. The center had to close its dining room and cancel group gatherings, but staffers have tried to keep things open and running as much as possible while keeping their clients safe. While this is all a challenge, Machado said the senior center is receiving a lot of support from people.

“The community has really stepped up,” she said.

Linda Dalton is the center’s bookkeeper and is currently running the center while the director, Cathy Florian, is recovering from a minor medical procedure.

Dalton said they’ve prepared sacks of cards, books, and puzzles the seniors can take home to keep themselves occupied while isolated. Clients can also call in requests for specific books or games or to have meals delivered.

The staff is hoping to put together a phone log, if they can find the volunteers. Seniors who live alone are largely cut off from the world, and the solitude can lead to depression. Dalton said receiving a phone call, even from a stranger, can help alleviate the isolation.

“In some cases, they’ll be the only people they have to talk to,” Dalton said.

The center is also offering its clients grocery delivery. Due to liability risks, the center can’t deliver prescriptions. However, seniors can use the drive-thru at Powell Valley Healthcare, and Powell Drug has curbside service.

The Powell Valley Care Center and The Heartland residents are not as isolated as seniors who are having to stay home, but the facilities are closed to visitors. So their staffs are finding ways to keep their residents active and connected with loved ones as much as possible.

Care Center Administrator Ryan Brinkerhoff said the recreation department is doing what it can to keep the residents occupied with plenty of activities.

Having grown up in a time before computers, seniors tend to be much more inclined to have face-to-face communications. Besides being less comfortable with video conferencing, they also are often less computer savvy. Staffers are helping them use FaceTime and Skype to talk to and see loved ones.

“It’s tough, especially with those who have loved ones come in to see them every day. And now they can’t see them at all,” Brinkerhoff said.

The care center also started a pen pal program with elementary school kids. Staffers hope to connect seniors who are isolated in the care center with kids who aren’t in school. The kids can write letters and draw pictures to tell the seniors how they’re doing in this strange time.

“It can really brighten their day. Children are such a source of joy for them, and now we can’t let them in,” Brinkerhoff said.

The kids can include their return address and maybe the seniors will write back. Perhaps the center will give the kids a “shout out” on the center’s Facebook page.

The address is Care Center, c/o Recreation Department, 777 Avenue H, Powell, WY 82435.

While The Heartland residents are a more independent population, they’re in the same risk group as any seniors. So, The Heartland has had to close its doors to the public and keep its residents isolated.

Like the care center, The Heartland staff is keeping up activities as much as possible, though it’s having to be done with residents and staff kept at least 6 feet apart.

Karen Zaninovich Parker, director of The Heartland, said the social distancing can really wear on a senior’s mental health.

“It isolates them from the community, but also from their families as well,” she said.

She also said the facility is blessed to have such a dedicated staff.

“They’ve been doing a great job,” she said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel or postpone a lot of our activities, but our team has been really creative.”

Zaninovich Parker is on quarantine following a trip out of the country, so Renee Jensen, registered nurse for The Heartland, has been overseeing everything there. She said seniors are so used to that close, personal communication that this can be difficult for them.

“They’re so used to sitting next to someone and visiting,” Jensen said, and now staff are having to keep some distance. “That personal component is so vital to their mental health.”

Some residents’ family members come up to the facility’s window and talk to their loved ones on the phone, which has that personal touch that video conferencing lacks — and families are sending residents care packages.

As far as how the residents are faring, Jensen said it depends on the individual. People who have positive outlooks in general aren’t losing that in this difficult time, and those who tend to be unhappy are not taking the restrictions well.

“Most of our residents are aware of what’s happening. They see the news, and they don’t want to get sick,” she said.

As with the general public, this pandemic is pretty new territory for the staff at The Heartland, and they’re just trying to make do in this challenging time.

“We’re just flying by the seat of our pants,” Jensen said.