Archives for 2021

Art can be therapeutic. Copley at Stoughton’s lobby mural is an excellent example of that. Not only does it provide a creative outlet for our residents, but it also brings brightness and happiness to our hallways and a great way to greet visitors.
Normally, with the help of our incredible activities department, residents change the mural with the seasons, a symbol of constant rejuvenation at Copley. It’s sort of like a garden in that sense, bringing a fresh perspective every few months or so.

Of course, that’s one of the many things that changed with COVID. Restrictions meant our residents couldn’t gather to paint their beautiful murals. The last mural had to be done one resident at a time. But now, with vaccinations finished, we can start our in-person activities, with safety protocols in place, of course. So, the summer mural is now in full swing, with residents meeting in small groups, painting, and socializing with their friends, all for the common good!

If “COVID” was the theme for 2020, then I hope “back to normal” will be this year’s theme. As I’ve reflected in this blog, every month, we seem to get closer to the way things used to be, and life, in general, is getting a little bit lighter.
Spring is always a time for transformation, but it’s particularly significant this year. For me, this year’s summer mural will be one of the most important symbols for that change and rejuvenation.

I’m not sure we will ever truly get back to the way things used to be. But then, what garden looks exactly the same, year after year? Even if you put the carrots in the same place and the peonies and the tomato plants, the garden still looks slightly different than it did last growing season. Sometimes you even get good little surprises sprouting up.

That’s what I’m hoping for this year: good little surprises. Our newest mural will be a symbol of this too.

February is usually a hopeful month –this year especially so. After winter, we’re looking forward to one of the brightest springs you’ve ever seen.

I believe we’re finally coming out on the other side of COVID. As I mentioned last month, vaccinations were already well underway at Copley at Stoughton (https://copleystoughton.com/vaccinations-well-underway/ . Not only are those immunized much less likely to get COVID, but they are also much less likely to pass it along as well. Copley completed its third and final CVS vaccination clinic on February 14th. Our residents and staff who wanted to receive the vaccination have done so, which provides us with a huge sense of relief.

But as our health leaders have repeatedly told us, vaccination is just one weapon in the fight. (Even if it’s a big one.) We still need to use every precaution to ensure our residents are protected from COVID. We took swift and decisive action when the second surge began by asking visitors to stay at home and temporarily halting new residents’ admission. It was a difficult decision, to be sure, but a necessary one. The goal was to make sure we stop both symptomatic and asymptomatic spread. It’s clear we’ve been successful in that regard too since these measures are working. Copley currently has NO active cases of COVID for residents or staff. We continue to test numerous times each week.

I’m aware that inevitably every decision we make involving visitation affects our residents in other ways – as well as you, their families. We want to be at a point where we can comfortably invite visitors back into Copley to see their loved ones, and we do see this soon, but for the moment, we need to continue working together in the fight against COVID. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of your support and patience in protecting our loved ones. Together, we are making a difference.

We are so close! Vaccinations are going up, and the number of cases is going down. I genuinely believe we are almost through to the other side, and we’ll be able to get back to somewhat normal very soon. We’re riding a wave of optimism, thanks to our staff’s hard work and the support you’ve shown.

Stay warm and safe!

Vaccinations couldn’t have come soon enough for everyone living and working at Copley at Stoughton. I’m proud to announce that we have given both doses of the COVID vaccine to almost all residents and most staff who are eligible.

I think we’re all breathing a huge sigh of relief! Those who are vaccinated will be at a much lower risk of getting COVID than those who are not.

Although this is a significant milestone, our journey is not over. Vaccination is one tool to fight the pandemic, but unfortunately, it is not a silver bullet. We still need to follow social distancing and mask-wearing according to the CDC’s current recommendations. [Link: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions#do-i-need-to-wear-a-mask-and-avoid-close-contact-with-others-if-i-have-received-two-doses-of-the-vaccine?]

Right now, we’re in Phase 1 of Massachusetts’ vaccination program, and Phase 3 is anticipated to be completed in June according to the state plan. [Link: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/when-can-i-get-the-covid-19-vaccine]

That means a risk of transmission within Copley remains. So, while hopeful, we need to continue being diligent in slowing the spread and flattening the curve. There are still many unanswered questions, and we need to maintain safety protocols until those questions are answered.

While we are all itching to get back to normal, we need just a little extra push to make sure we continue to do as well as we have, as we’ve come a long way. We are working closely with health officials to create policies that balance the risk of COVID transmission at Copley with our residents’ other needs. Those include meetings between loved ones and the possibility of expanding our available programming. Rest assured, we are making plans for that highly anticipated “return to normal” as quickly as possible.

I personally want to thank all of you again for your words – and actions – of support during COVID. I can’t praise the staff enough for their tireless dedication, our residents for their unbelievable resilience, and the families for their unwavering support. They are and continue to be, the Heroes of Copley. We’re all in this together.

– Steven Tyer