Senior living communities loosen restrictions as the health order expires and vaccination rates rise
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Senior living communities are now operating with open dining areas and allowing visitors as the vaccination rates continue to increase and the health orders expire.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service's dashboard on Wednesday showed 40% of residents have started the vaccination process.
The health orders for Boone County and Columbia also expired last Wednesday.
Mason Neff at The Village of Bedford Walk independent living facility said these updates have allowed them to take steps towards returning to normal while keeping residents safe.
Masks are still recommended to residents and staff, but Neff said it's optional because more than 95% of the residents are fully vaccinated and all staff members are fully vaccinated.
Dining areas in the building are requiring masks as Neff said they're following what most restaurants are doing.
Mildred Hickman, a resident at Bedford Walk for five years, said she's happy to be back in the dining room after a year of eating her meals out of boxes.
George Hoey is also a resident at Bedford Walk and said he's happy to be able to socialize again after being constrained to his room during the height of the pandemic.
Both Hickman and Hoey said they are fully vaccinated and are feeling safe about being around others while unmasked.
Hickman said her kids have been able to visit her since the restrictions have loosened. Other residents have said having people come in from the outside is enjoyable to be able to see different people coming in and out of the communities.
The Terrace Retirement community is also allowing vaccinated residents to go without masks. Spokeswoman Laura Reynolds said, "we ask that all visitors wear masks that way we do not have to be the vaccination police, making sure that unvaccinated individuals are masked."
Similar to Bedford Walk, they are still wearing masks to and from dining areas and dining staff are also masked.Â
