By MADDY VITALE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sea Isle City AARP Chapter 710’s President Tom Owings is telling all of the members to stay informed, stay involved and most importantly, stay connected to loved ones.
“We are telling seniors to follow the directions of the CDC and the governor,” Owings said from his Sea Isle home Monday.
How Owings is keeping in contact with AARP members is the traditional way – but one he feels works.
He picks up the phone and calls each of the members.
“I contact all of the AARP members by phone. I like to speak to them one-on-one. I ask them if they are in need of anything. So far, everyone seems to be doing well," Owings said. "Most of them are communicating among themselves. They have relatives who are constantly calling them on the phone.”
Exercise is a vital way to alleviate stress during the crisis. And speaking with friends and neighbors, while practicing social distancing of at least six feet apart, is another way that helps people cope with the coronavirus outbreak and offer some normalcy, Owings and other AARP members say.
Owings and his wife, Mary Anne, have four children. Just as Owings calls the AARP members, he picks up the phone and calls his family or they call. It is a daily ritual to keep in contact at such a critical time in the world.
So far, despite every AARP event being postponed or called off until further notice, the Chapter 710 members are doing well, albeit doing things very differently, Owings noted.
“We had plans for the rest of the year until COVID-19 hit. We are not doing anything until there is clearance by the governor (Phil Murphy),” Owings said. “Our mayor (Leonard Desiderio) is keeping everyone up to date.”
Now three weeks into the pandemic, the feeling of isolation and loneliness could set in for people who may live alone or who are used to the social outlet and companionship of being a part of an organization such as AARP.
That is why, Owings said, people need to stay in contact.
AARP 710 Volunteer of the Year Sis Borden is honored by Mayor Leonard Desiderio, holding plaque, at the Christmas luncheon in 2019.
For Frank Roach, AARP 710’s former president, and his wife, Barbara, of Upper Township, they keep in touch with their family members through the Zoom app, which offers a way for the family to connect through video conferences.
“Zoom is the greatest thing in the world. We set it up on Palm Sunday and we will set it up again on Easter,” Frank Roach said. “We talk and laugh and have a good time.”
He said it is an easy and safe way for them to speak with their daughter and her 28-year-old quadruplets. They all live in different states, including New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Maryland.
“My daughter got it and sent the link to me and we downloaded Zoom. When the call comes, the pictures of everyone come on the screen,” Roach explained. “When they talk, the green light comes on around the picture. We had a great time yesterday talking to them, and when you see them, you know they are OK.”
Before they started to use the app, Roach said he felt cut off from his family.
“It keeps us in touch with each other. We were all feeling bad because we aren’t getting together for Easter. Zoom opens it up for us,” he noted.
Even though social gatherings, which include church congregations, are prohibited in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak for everyone’s safety, Roach's minister, the Rev. Peter Joyce of St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish in Upper Township, provides his services through Facebook.
“The camera is set up with just him on the screen in front of the altar,” Roach said. “If you go on Facebook you hit the link and you will see his service. We have been watching his services on Facebook for two or three weeks now.”
Roach emphasized that he plans to continue watching the church services online. It is just another way how Sea Isle's senior citizens are staying connected and engaged during the pandemic.
The Sea Isle City Community Lodge is often a popular spot for AARP Chapter 710 events. AARP officials hope they will resume soon.
AARP’s chapters are offering different links for seniors to click on and enjoy:
Here is a list of museums, zoos and theme park virtual tours.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/
Virtual Tours - Link to 12 historic sites you can virtually tour from the couch.
https://bit.ly/12historicsites
Cape May County's Fare Free Transportation continues to provide service, but only for needed medical appointments such as dialysis.
Officials are urging seniors to take advantage of online food store ordering for their groceries. Most of the food store chains have such ordering.
For more information about coronavirus resources, visit https://www.aarp.org/health/?cmp=CON-HEALTH-COVID19-031220.
