Page 15 - CooperatorNews NY November 2021

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Inc. 64-20 Laurel Hill Blvd. Woodside NY 11377 • 718-205-8580 • Fax 718-205-4590 Email: alevitt@bigapplesprinkler.com = Big Apple Fire Sprinkler_Oct2011.qxp:Layout 1 9/20/11 2:07 PM Page 1 ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING SERVICES: - Structural - MEP - Interior Design BUILDING ENVELOPE / RESTORATION / FACADE INSPECTION SAFETY PROGRAMS CONSTRUCTION DEFECT TESTING / INVESTIGATION ENERGY CONSULTING FORENSIC TESTING / LITIGATION SUPPORT NYC SPECIAL INSPECTIONS 5 YEAR CAPITAL PLANNING 350 7th Avenue, Suite 2000 New York, NY 10001 (646) 292 - 3515 info@falconengineering.com www.falconengineering.com ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS AND ENERGY CONSULTANTS those cautions and protocols to continue in, sometimes even with a mask. People for nearly two years and counting. After a distance themselves when walking dogs. while, the effects that distance and isola- tion imposed on us—perhaps particularly for people in typically congenial, socially opposite. “They hate the masks and are interactive communities—started to sink ready to return to some level of normal in. Those effects included depression, life. When they see other people now en- anxiety, shortened tempers, and a sense gaging out of the house on social media, of being detached or cut off from others. Dana Greco is a Licensed Clinical So- cial Worker specializing in interpersonal I stress to both my patients and neigh- relationship work. She is also a share- holder in a large co-op community in the observe the necessary precautions where Bronx. “There was a sense of loss in the required.” community,” she says of her own experi- ence. “In a way, it was a sense of loss for give positive reinforcement that we need the loss of community. We have people of to move forward and learn to live with the all ages and walks of life in my building, situation. “People \\\[will\\\] need a ‘memo’ and prior to the pandemic, my neighbors saying it’s over,” she says. “Some don’t were an active community. We had clubs, think it’s ever going back to normal. They and a pool, and other common outdoor think this is forever. They have to feel se- areas. All these activi- ties were shut down immediately. We now have rules as to how many people can ride in the elevator at once. It’s a 17-story build- ing. Getting up and down became more difficult due to these necessary rules and restrictions. “After the shutdown,” continues Greco, It’s a trust issue. Do people feel secure? “we tried to maintain certain activities, We have to ask if they do. Is it safe to sit like the book club, online with Zoom. on the green, or by the pool? Only time Not everyone is comfortable or feels com- pelled in an online framework like Zoom. Conversation and ideas are exchanged more easily in person, so a certain amount of spontaneity was lost. It lost its enjoy- ment, and after a while it just broke down completely and we put it on hold. “Perhaps even more broadly damaging to the community was that we had to can- cel our two annual events, our Christmas party and our summer pool party, both of which draw a large segment of the resi- dents and serve as the bookends for our social interaction as a community. The end result was a general feeling of with- drawal for many—which, I can tell you from a professional perspective, leads to a low level of pervasive depression—a feel- ing like you’re alone, perhaps abandoned.” What Comes Next? “Coming out of the pandemic,” says gym is open to five people at a time. Ten- Greco, “we are seeing something of a nis courts opened for singles and doubles, hangover. I’m seeing this both in my with a one-hour play rule. We are wound- practice and in my building. There are ed, but working and healing. Ours is still many people who are afraid to meet oth- ers in person. They want to continue to do things virtually. The truth is that even points out. “Otherwise, you’re alone all for therapy sessions, my colleagues and the time. The downside from the pan- I are still seeing many patients through demic is that people are more isolated. telehealth video sessions on our phones or laptops. As a mental health profession- al, I suspect some are relieved and wel- come the isolation because they just don’t want to have to go out. They’ve got a lot of fear. In the elevator, they won’t let others It’s creating a lot of tension.” Others, explains Greco, are the polar they find it a psychological relief and it encourages them to do the same, though bors that they must be smart about it and The next step, explains Greco, is to cure—so given a positive path, they will socialize with other like-minded people. Put out that memo for those who want to participate. Tell them to please feel free to attend and let them come out slowly—see who emerges. It’s baby steps. will heal.” A Look at What’s Happening in Real Time Perhaps the most affected segment of the market in terms of social interaction has been over-55 communities. Seniors choose these communities, known alter- natively as Active Adult communities, because they offer a high level of social programming for their members. The pandemic has hit this group hard. George Borsuk is a longtime resident of The Greens, an over-55 community in Melville, New York. He is the president of the men’s club there and has been for many years. Overall, he says, “Our group did well during the pandemic. We used the library in our community, and were able to Zoom every week through them. The clubhouse is now open again. The the best community on Long Island. “People need community,” Borsuk REBUILDING... continued from page 1 “We are wounded, but working and healing.” —George Borsuk continued on page 16