Aging with Altitude's host, Cynthia Margiotta, an older adult herself and BSW, shares her observations and insights during the age of COVID19. She describes the chilling neighborhood drive, contemplates physical vs. social distancing, shares how friends with dementia can be supported and finally a multitude of ideas on how to stay busy, engaged and hopeful as we all find ourselves writing a new chapter in our lives.
Aging with Altitude is recorded in the Pikes Peak region with a focus on topics of aging interest across the country. We talk about both the everyday and novel needs and approaches to age with altitude whether you’re in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida or Leadville, Colorado. The Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging is the producer. Learn more at Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging.
Transcript:
Episode Nine: COVID-19, A Personal Response
SUMMARY
Aging with Altitude’s host, Cynthia Margiotta, an older adult herself and BSW, shares her observations and insights during the age of COVID19. She describes the chilling neighborhood drive, contemplates physical vs. social distancing, shares how friends with dementia can be supported and finally a multitude of ideas on how to stay busy, engaged and hopeful as we all find ourselves writing a new chapter in our lives.
This is Studio 809, the Pikes Peak regions own podcast hub.
Cynthia Margiotta:
This is Aging with Altitude, welcome to all! Brought to you by the Pikes Peak Area Council of Government's Area Agency on Aging. We strive to provide answers, assistance, and advocacy to our elders. Thank you for joining us today.
Our topic today is not so much about the Coronavirus as it is about us in the age of the Coronavirus. I am your host Cynthia Margiotta. I'm a geriatric social worker, and a volunteer with the Pikes Peak Area Council of Government's Area Agency on Aging. I am going to be interviewing me.I don't know how that will work. But we'll see.
So our three topics today, actually four, are our drive around, I did a drive around. And then a little bit about physical distancing, as opposed to social distancing. Number three is activities for folks with dementia, and then a whole list of straight up activities. So if you can grab a pen and paper, and then when we get to that you can write down the ones that interest you and you had forgotten about them.
The Drive Around
So first off, the drive around. I went out into Colorado Springs and drove around a bit. What I got to see was very interesting. First off, during rush hour traffic, there was very little driving very few cars out there. I saw a lot of cops giving people tickets because they were speeding too much. But, you know, not a lot of people on the road. Then over at downtown Colorado Springs and Manitou I went over there as well. I saw a few people out, it was mostly the homeless people, and a few people that were actually on their way to or from work in their businesses.
As far as the businesses were concerned, the ones that were open, were mostly the ones that had food that you could take out or drive up, like the Burger King, McDonald's, or the coffee shops. I grabbed some food from them, which was great. And then the restaurants, they had sort of car delivery situations, which helps them to stay alive. I am worried about the other businesses out there who can't do those things.
Then there was the people who were in their businesses that the business was locked, the building they couldn't get into. And so they have to do it remotely. And then there were some folks inside their business. But what I've noticed is they're not having as many people come into the business, they're doing more of that remote work with them, either...
