Page 8 - CooperatorNews NY January 2021

8 COOPERATORNEWS — JANUARY 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM TRENDS For many buyers, a key factor in decid- ing to purchase a home in a residential and the like after months of mandatory er in stock, along with best practices for community rather than opt for private, shutdown, many are facing a new surge in programming at 55+, mixed-aged, resort, single-family ownership is often the ap- peal of amenities that come with condo, keep residents both active and safe. co-op, and HOA living—pools, gyms, clubhouses for social activities, and even on-premises restaurants and retail shops tions director for WTS International, a adds that “networking and idea-sharing being only a small sample. Suburban and Rockville, Maryland-based lifestyle and between lifestyle directors are becom- 55+ or ‘active adult’ communities often go amenities management firm that man- even further, with full-time social activ- ity directors on staff to organize planned throughout the east coast of the United very productive and important, as social outings, creative workshops, lecture se- ries, and more. In many communities, logly, “in that lifestyle directors are nor- there’s never a dull moment. Thanks to the unwelcome arrival of gether—and now they literally have to rectors can now combine programs where COVID-19, however, this sought-after keep people apart. This has posed a very multiple communities can participate to- lifestyle is now in a time of transition. big challenge for management. Very ear- The virus is insidious and spreads with ly on in the pandemic, we started to see relative ease from person to person, of- ten without the least bit of warning from their activity calendars as the country had to be quick on their feet since the many who appear asymptomatic. This re- ality has made casual contact with one’s ing pools, fitness centers, and kids’ clubs, and activity was also a matter of balanc- neighbors more of a threat than a plea- sure, and has brought us to an intersec- tion in a Venn diagram where we have to quickly sought out candid feedback from isolation of quarantine has taken on com- balance social programming with social our directors from all regions on weekly munity cohesion and individual mental distancing to keep both ourselves and our Zoom calls to discuss what was happen- neighbors safe. Now, as communities both vertical and been a lifesaver for our operations team. horizontal are trying to reopen facilities For instance, managers shared tips on ibility and ingenuity the lifestyle profes- like pools, clubhouses, gyms, theaters, what vendors had gym wipes or sanitiz- the pandemic, and must develop a plan to and high-rise properties.” At a Crossroads Amy Gallogly is the corporate opera- ages such activity-minded properties before. Weekly Zoom calls have become States. “It’s been very ironic,” says Gal- mally tasked with bringing people to- our various sites making adaptations to started to shut down. This included clos- and canceling traditional celebrations like ing sanity. Much has been written and St. Patrick’s Day and Easter festivities. We discussed regarding the toll that the social ing in their world. This simple move has that thrive on social interaction. Lynne Edwards, also with WTS, is a lifestyle director at Four Seasons at Mon- mouth Woods, in Howell, New Jersey. She ing more and more important than ever distancing will continue to be the way of life for a while. One great positive with virtual programming is that lifestyle di- gether in one event.” The Evolution of Bingo Night Management and lifestyle staff have COVID-19 crisis began. Balancing safety health—particularly in demographics “I have been so impressed by the flex- sionals continue to show,” says Gallogly. “It’s really been remarkable how quickly they have been able to adapt. Social events like ‘Wine-Down’ Wednesdays, the annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and ‘summer kick-offs’ have taken place in driveways and clubhouse parking lots all over during the \\\[spring and summer\\\]. In some of our 55+ communities, we offer a live stream of bingo night, weekly happy hours, and even chef demonstrations.” “Philanthropic events have been an- other way to connect in 55+ communi- ties,” says Edwards. “Partnering with the local food pantries and food banks, work- ing with the local United Way, has really helped to keep the community spirit alive. Many of the clubs and groups like ladies’ and men’s lunch groups, book clubs, wine tasting, guitar club, etc. have been able to meet outside, weather permitting, while social distancing. This has also helped to maintain social connections safely. Block parties are popular as well, where every- one sets up their own tables, chairs, food, and music at the end of their driveways and socialize from a distance with their neighbors.” “These activities keep the community connected and engaged while safely so- cially distancing,” adds Gallogly. “Some of the popular card games traditionally held in person are now being offered virtually, along with kids programming like karate and ballet. We leveraged various social media platforms and web-based sites to hold dance contests, talent shows, and weekly ‘parent-and-me’ story time.” New Approaches Gallogly explains that nature-related programming had a resurgence of sorts over the summer months. They orga- nized activities like geocaching in the Catskills region and rocket building in some of their mixed-age communities in the Florida market. In New Jersey and Nevada, virtual group exercise classes and personal training have become the norm, and can be both streamed live or pre-re- corded and replayed when it’s convenient for each resident. Edwards reports that ‘Paint & Sips’ have also been very popular. To partici- pate, residents purchase a basic painting kit online and pick it up at the store or Social Programming vs. Social Distancing Communities Are Getting Creative BY A J SIDRANSKY continued on page 17