Seniors in assisted living facilities in Warren County and around the country are adapting to life in isolation during what has essentially become a COVID-19 lockdown.

Following aggressive government guidance to prevent the entry of the virus into senior communities, local senior homes have closed their doors to nearly all visitors and directed residents to remain mostly confined in their rooms. Seniors are considered especially vulnerable to dangerous complications from COVID-19.

Leonard Lutz, a resident of Harbor Place Senior Living, said he and his neighbors are doing fine, but it feels a little like they’ve been made prisoners.

“We can’t go out and we can’t have visitors,” Lutz told The Record. “I exercise some. Play Free Cell. Do puzzles. I guess that’s about it. Being confined like this is monotonous.”

Lutz, a former engineer, said even after moving to the senior home, he’s used to having a lot of autonomy. The 91-year-old said he still drives, and misses getting to go out whenever he likes. Despite the situation, he complimented the staff at Harbor Place who are caring for residents.

Families of confined seniors have tried to make the best of the situation, with many choosing to find a glass window and have a “face-to-face” conversation using cell phones. Lutz got such a visit from his daughter, Cheryl Morrison, who spoke to him across the glass of the Harbor Place entryway.

“It was funny when she came. ... We’re looking at each other through a pane of glass, talking to each other on our cell phones. She was a pane of glass away,” Lutz mused.

Morrison said she was anxious for her father at first, but after speaking with him, she’s reassured that he’s being cared for.

“I miss going to see him, of course. And he misses my company as well. ... We talk to each other on the phone every day,” Morrison said. “I’m very happy with how they’re taking good care of him.”

At Oak Pointe Assisted Living, staff are making an effort to keep residents engaged with one-on-one activities, said spokesperson Sherry Smith.

“The activity staff have been dressing up as different characters each day to help keep the residents’ spirits up,” Smith said. “We are also making sure that our residents are participating in individual walking and exercise routines around the community and even walks around the block when the weather permits.”

Staff at Oak Pointe have also been finding alternate ways to help residents keep in touch with their families, including video chat apps, letter writing, and written messages that the seniors display in Facebook photos.

Messages ranging from humorous (“Send me some wine!”) to sweet (“Terribly miss speaking with you and hope this ends soon!”), accompanied by a smiling photo, have sought to convey that residents are persevering in good spirits.

Smith said Oak Pointe is working with doctors to set up video calls for medical appointments that don’t require in-person visits.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents, their families, and our staff ,” Smith said. “We are working with local health officials, following the current CDC guidelines, and taking special precautions by implementing strict infection control protocols to help keep everyone safe.”