The Harbor Light - March 2021

HarboTrhe Light

SUPPORTING
THE FUTURE

Plymouth Harbor expands mission with addition of Care Management

MARCH 2021

MARCH

It began with a strategic goal
of Mission Enhancement

Plymouth Harbor's mission statement says Management to our
it all, stating we are a church-sponsored, Harbor Club members
not-for-profit community of distinction for and other clients out in the
older adults, committed to providing the community-at-large.
most positive aging experience possible for its
residents. It's just another way
Plymouth Harbor has
Aging is exactly that — an experience. As set itself apart and put
we grow and contemplate how we can make itself one step ahead. The
the best decisions for an elderly lifestyle, it resources Care Management is providing
helps to have an array of resources at your to our residents is unmatched. I would like
disposal. At Plymouth Harbor, we have a to congratulate Joe Devore, Senior Vice
traditioned legacy of providing our residents President of Health Services, Heather Dawn,
with the ease of care, as well as the transition Director of Care Management, and former
between levels of care. Administrator for Home Care, Liz Clark for
the outstanding manner in which they have
Creating the Care Management introduced and grown this program thus far.
Department was a planned event that was
a component of our five-year strategic While the experience of aging can be a
plan, Plymouth Harbor 2021, that was challenging one at times, just remember we
approved back in 2017. Providing Care are here for you. We are here to make all
Management was part of Strategic Goal 1, those scary things easier.
“Pursue Mission Enhancement.” Our plan
was to expand our services by offering If you feel you might be a good candidate
an array of personalized assistance. This for Care Management, don't hesitate to
assistance ranges from scheduling medical reach out to the Department that I am sure
appointments to organizing important will be growing for a long time to come.
documents, and intended to ease the
burden of these activities while keeping Stay cautious and as always, be well.
our residents connected to their loved ones Harry Hobson
while continuing to live an active life. President & CEO

Our long-range plan is to offer Care

2 —­ The Har bor Light

SUPPORTING
THE FUTURE

By Emmalee Molay | Communications Manager

At Plymouth Harbor’s core, we are here to support every
resident through their continued care — being there to
help you transition through whatever you may need.

While most that live here are until it becomes too much to handle
independent in their daily life, — it happens to the best of us.
it is easy to have things pile up, Over the past year, Plymouth
especially as you Harbor has added
get older and an important
wish to maintain "Having a Care Manager has piece to the
that treasured organization, a fee
independence. been an extra level of comfort ... My for service called
biggest concern was having a crisis

Routine tasks such and not having a point person [for Care Management.
as keeping track my mom.] It is a relief knowing that The aim of Care
of appointments, Management is to
organizing person will be my contact in the help coordinate
important exactly those
"event of an emergency.
documents and Plymouth Harbor family member things noted above.
maintaining a As a team, Care
consistent schedule can feel like Management provides services
climbing the tallest of all mountains. such as advocacy and support
It can be daunting when you do not services, as well as serving as a
realize how much is stacking up contact person for services inside

The Har bor Light — 3

Joy Meyer, Heather Dawn & Cindy Taylor

and outside of Plymouth Harbor. established at Plymouth Harbor
There are different levels of in February 2020.” As director,
Care Management, too, as some Heather oversees the department
residents retain services and see while also maintaining a caseload
their care manager monthly, while of clients. Heather is joined by
others might receive assistance Cindy Taylor, a longtime nurse at
more frequently. The real value Plymouth Harbor, as a full-time
is tied into the consistency of the care manager. The two are on
relationship between the client call 24 hours a day, seven days a
and care manager. With greater week. Additionally, Joy Meyer is
familiarity come increasing quality serving as the Support Services
of service. Coordinator of Care Management.
The team is in close communication
Heather Dawn, RN, serving as with all levels of care at Plymouth
Director of Care Management, Harbor, including the Smith Care
said she has seen this program Center, Home Care, the Seaside
“grow tremendously since it was

4 —­ The Har bor Light

Assisted Living and Starr Memory family to be there through every
Care. step.
“I always knew how invaluable “This service really does reduce
this service would be to have the burden on family members who
at Plymouth Harbor, but it has serve as caregivers. It allows them to
touched residents and families in place their focus back to their loved
ways I never imagined,” Heather one and away from the multiple
said. “It’s because we become so tasks at hand.”
intertwined with each resident and Heather also sees a bright future
their family. The ahead for the
meaningfulness "This has made me feel department, with
and depth of what the desire to
we do is certainly comfortable that my mother's grow outside of
attributable to the healthcare and other needs are Plymouth Harbor
early success of the being addressed and coordinated and possibly
program.” expand into the
"by a trained professional. community.
The main wish for
Care Management Plymouth Harbor family member In the meantime,

at Plymouth Harbor, Heather Heather said she is excited to
said, is to be the bridge across the continue Plymouth Harbor’s
continuum of care for each resident. mission of supporting the future
“The first question we ask clients for all residents. Those interested
is often about their family,” she said. in learning more about Care
Those questions are things like Management should reach out to
— Do you have any family locally? the office at Ext. 476.
If you went to the emergency room “We have learned so very much
who would be your voice? Who do this past year,” Heather said. “As
you have that knows your wishes much as I have loved my 30 years of
and will maintain contact with nursing, I have now finally found
family on your behalf? my true calling. At the end of each
“Often we become that person for day, I go home having peace of
them, especially if they don’t have mind with the knowledge that Care
family they can lean on,” Heather Management has served Plymouth
added. “It is a safeguard to let them Harbor residents and their families
know they have that extended with an invaluable service.”

The Har bor Light — 5

PUMP IT UP

Recently, an air pump was installed The
located by the car wash on the east side of pump is set to run
campus near the cooling tower. for four minutes and also has the ability to
tell you how much pressure is in your tires.
The pump is for residents and team When filling your tires with air, make sure
members to use and is free of charge! you check the limit of air it needs. Most
car tires today have a maximum inflation
The air pump functions like any normal pressure in the 40 PSI range.
air pump that puts air pressure in your
tires. Just push the start button and stretch
the air hose around to one of your tires
that needs to be filled. Press the tip of the
pump to the air valve. Hold it there, firmly,
you should hear a rush of air come through
as the pump fills your tire. If the air sounds
too loud, try to steady the pump.

CONTINUING ON

Plymouth Harbor's COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinics
continue to be a success, including administering our 2,000 shot
on February 22, 2021, pictured above left. We thank everyone for
their help and cooperation to get through this life-saving process!

6 —­ The Har bor Light AROUND CAMPUS

THE BIG 100!

Resident Randy Bishop celebrated his 100th birthday on February 8!
Residents from the 12th Colony sang to Randy and, of course, left him with
some goodies to take home. Please wish Randy well on his big milestone!

THIS IS NOT GOODBYE

AROUND CAMPUS Plymouth Harbor once again wishes Sandy Taylor, Executive
Assistant, a happy retirement after 12 years of service! For those
who were not able to attend a recent small gathering to honor
Sandy, a recorded version is available to view on the resident portal.

The Har bor Light — 7

BEST WISHES

We celebrate resident Dr. Norma
Compton, after 20 years at Plymouth
Harbor, on moving to Utah to be
with her son, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.

Once a member of Plymouth
Harbor, Inc. Board of Trustees,
Norma served on the CEO Search
Committee and was instrumental in
selecting President Harry Hobson,
out of 200 applicants, to assume the
position 17 years ago.

Her career was quite spectacular,
serving as Dean of Consumer Family
Sciences at Purdue University, before
stints at the University of Maryland,
Utah State University and Auburn
University.

She received a Bachelor's degree from George Washington
University and Master's degree and PhD from University of Maryland.

We will miss you Dr. Compton!

KEEPING BUSY

Upon her retirement departure, Executive Assistant Sandy
Taylor left behind a treasured string of wristbands dated with
each band since the first day on March 10, 2020 — just one thing
she has done during COVID-19.

How have you been keeping busy during the pandemic? We
want to hear about it — reach out to Emmalee Molay at Ext. 431!

8 —­ The Har bor Light AROUND CAMPUS

LOTS OF LOVE

Resident Pat Barkhuff was
recently spotted spreading
lots of love after a festive
Valentine's Day activity in
Seaside Assisted Living.
Check out that big teddy!

CONSERVATION TIP

The recycling program not. Adherence to these avoid contaminating the
is an important part of the requirements is necessary recyclables.
conservation effort here to avoid “contaminating”
at Plymouth Harbor and batches of recyclable items Recently, Curtis Corneal,
is well supported by our which can result in both Director of Dining Services,
residents. It is necessary for good and bad items being took a tour at the recyclable
those participating to have a buried in the landfill. So separation plant at WastePro
good understanding of which everyone can have an easy that receives the recyclables
items should be placed in the reference, a copy of the flyer from our facility. He made
bins in the recycling rooms, will be placed
as well as those items which in the internal a video, available
should be excluded. There mailboxes for on the resident
is a flyer posted in all of the your use. Please portal, for those
recycling rooms showing post it on your who are interested
both the items to be recycled refrigerator and in learning a little
and those which should refer to it to more about what

takes place at the
plant.

AROUND CAMPUS The Har bor Light — 9

New in the Library

Fiction

Ancient Hours by Michael Bible *donated
Eddie's Boy: A Butcher Boy Novel by Thomas Perry
Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk
House of Trelawney by Hannah Rothschild
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan
AlamLiar's Dictionary by Eley Williams
Little Drummer Girl by John Le Carre
Numbers Game by Danielle Steel LP
Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene
Perfect Spy by John Le Carre
Russian by James Patterson
Smiley's People by John Le Carre
Sunrise on Half Moppod Bay by Robin Carr
Untamed by Glennon Doyle*
Women in Black by Madeleine St. John

Non-Fiction

Abe – Abraham Lincoln and His Times by David S. Reynolds*
Burning the Books...A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge by

Richard Ovenden
Catching the Wind — Edward Kennedy and the Liberal Hour by Neal Gabler
Icebound — Ship-wrecked at the Edge of the World by Andrea Pitzer
Last American Aristocrat by David S. Brown
Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay
The Virginia Dynasty — Four Presidents and the Creation of the American

Nations by Lynne Cheney*
A World Beneath the Sands – The Golden Age of Egyptology by Toby

Wilkerson*

10 ­— The Har bor Light New in the Library

The Spirit f Philanthropy

The Plymouth Harbor Foundation Announces 2021 Recipient of
The Harry and Nancy Hobson Leadership Development Grant

The 2021 Harry and Nancy Hobson This is a comprehensive certificate
Leadership Development Grant focused on policy, planning and
has been awarded to Alena Scandura, administration of emergency response
Plymouth Harbor’s Emergency teams. Alena is studying subjects such as
Management Coordinator. With this Introduction to Hazards, Fundamentals
grant, Alena will be able to obtain her of Emergency Management, Critical
Infrastructure Protection, Disaster
Emergency Recovery Operations, Emergency
Administration Management Public Education and
and Contingency Planning for Business
Management and Industry, as well as Domestic and
certification International Terrorism.

online from “I’d like to thank Harry and Nancy
St. Petersburg Hobson for this scholarship opportunity
College. they have established at The Plymouth
Harbor Foundation. Achieving my
“Nancy and certification in Emergency Management
I are proud will strengthen our campus during
to support emergencies. It is an enormous cycle
Alena’s of planning, organizing, training and
further equipping, during a true public health
emergency and recovery operations,
growth and not to mention the post evaluation and
development in corrective actions needed. My education
the area of Emergency Management. in this field will help Plymouth Harbor
This is such a key role for Plymouth and its residents and team members best
Harbor and its residents, not to mention prepare for future emergencies.”
the piece of mind their families will
experience and the support she will Congratulations Alena!
provide to all of us when an emergency
strikes,” stated Harry Hobson.

Beth Watson has been the Vice President of Philanthropy of The Plymouth Harbor
Foundation since 2019. Please feel free to call her with questions or comments at Ext. 398.

The Spirit f Philanthropy The Har bor Light — 11

HARBOR FAITH

How It All Began

February 14, 1954 was the day gathered on February 14, 1954 at
it all began, at least one part the Women’s Club here in Sarasota
of it began. A group of ‘seekers’ planting seeds of this congregation.
gathered in the Sarasota Women’s For the gift of $20,000 that purchased
Club to explore the beginnings of a this five-acre tract of land on which
new church in this area — one with our prayers over the years have soaked
the authority and love of creating and saturated the soul.
their own worship, calling their own
minister and defining their own • For the 18 children who first
statement of faith, while following attended Sunday School here in 1955
the principles and teachings of Jesus. and for the children and youth who
While they would become a United still gather on Sundays to learn about
Church of Christ congregation God’s love.
in 1961, what was birthed at the
Women’s Club in 1954 was First • For the faithful pastors: Dr.
Congregational Church — new for John Jockinsen, Dr. John Whitney
this area but old in other parts of the MacNeil, Dr. John Thompson and
country as congregationalism came to Dr. John Syster who lovingly cared for
these shores with the Pilgrims in 1620. this church.
From this quiet beginning, First
Congregational Church has grown in • For the vision to step out
spirit and size, birthing a number of to build Plymouth Harbor, New
remarkable institutions and churches College, Little Pilgrim Preschool,
through its 67 years of mission and Orchard Place, Sarasota United for
worship. Responsible and Equity, Resurrection
Two years ago, an overflowing House, helping to found Venice
congregation began by celebrating the United Church of Christ and St.
past and present with these words: Andrew United Church of Christ and
countless other ventures.
• For the group of people who
• For a vital and vibrant
ministry of music that is saturated
into the woodwork. Preludes and

Dick Sparrow has been the chaplain at Plymouth Harbor since 2016. His page for The Harbor Light
entitled Harbor Faith runs monthly. Please feel free to call him with questions or comments at Ext. 587.

12 —­ The Har bor Light HARBOR FAITH

postludes, anthems and hymns, guest give thanks for a faithful body whose
instrumentalists, soloists and faithful commitment to their community
choirs. included this magnificent retirement
community on Coon Key along the
• For these amazing reasons shores of Sarasota Bay.
and so many more, we kick off our
sixty fifth anniversary celebration. With deep gratitude as always to
Alleluia. Alleluia and Amen! Pastor Wes Bixby and members of the
While we may never step inside congregation of First Congregational
this church, let us take a moment to United Church of Christ.

Outside Our Windows/Inside Our Doors
A Haiku Portrait of Sarasota’s Plymouth Harbor by Celia Catlett
Dedicated to the MacNeil family and to Chaplain Dick Sparrow

Chapter Eight Chapter Nine
A LOVELY EVENING CODA

St. Armands Circle Hard Work
Short evening stroll Life is a grand puzzle,
to see diners al fresco, unfinished picture of self,
shops filled with mod style. the last piece unknown.

Lido Beach In Memoriam
standShtraentdchinohuarnledgosnasboiftt, sand Lost Wvoeicreescaallslofahcaeus.nt us.

as surf, sunset blend Words echo for years.
Sickle Moon Solace

Walking home we spy Tears clear our eyes, hearts,
the mochoanssinligcineagrltyhestnairgsh. t sky, heal mwaotuerrntihneg’fsutdurrye.grief

The Beacon Together
Tower windows wink bright, We celebrate lives,
guide us home to our own door, neighbor to neighbor,
Plymouth Harbor’s way.
our lamps now ablaze.

Celia's haiku has concluded — we once again say thank you Celia!

HARBOR FAITH The Har bor Light — 13

WELCOME, NEW FRIENDS!

Introducing your newest neighbors

SUSIE KLINGEMAN

Apartment T-312; Ext. 446

Awelcome addition to not volunteering, especially two nights, then left for the
our Plymouth Harbor because she feels she has been summer. When she returned
“family” is Susie Klingeman, incredibly lucky. to Florida the Mayflower
business woman and was open and it was possible
volunteer par excellence. Her Her former activities to enjoy dinners with other
use of “Susie” immediately include being President of residents, but that was an
reveals her informality and the Madison New Jersey all-too-brief interlude. Before
her friendliness, and she is Rotary Club, Chairman of Thanksgiving, feeling very
a lot of fun to talk to! She the Downtown Development tired, (unusual for a woman
comes to us after 20-plus Commission in Madison, with energy to spare), she
years on Longboat Key at Chairman of the Board of visited her doctor, and was
Villa Di Lancia, and her Grace Counseling Center diagnosed with COVID-19.
Northern life in New Jersey, and Vice-President of the Two long weeks in isolation
formerly in Madison, and Junior League there. She did followed in her new, barely-
now in Morristown. A self- those things while raising lived-in apartment. Now fully
proclaimed “foodie” who two children, son Henry and recovered, she is ready to see
watches what she eats but is daughter Tracy, with her old friends from her many
addicted to coffee ice-cream husband Ellis, and owning activities and associations and
and Starbucks cappuccinos, a gift shop there called The make some new ones here at
Susie is also a dedicated tennis Village Shop, which was her Plymouth Harbor.
player and brisk walker. dream come true.(Fund Shop
Susie has been involved in committee: take note!) Her
non-profits since she was children, now grown with
12 years old, and her local families of their own, (she
activities include volunteering has four granddaughters and
at Sarasota Memorial Hospital one grandson), they live in
and the Senior Friendship Atlanta and in New Jersey.
Center, serving on the Boards Susie looks forward to a time
of the Center for Building when she can be with them
Hope, the Longboat Key Club again, because, in her words,
Tennis Association, the Bird “Family is and has always
Key Yacht Club and being a been No. 1 for me.”
Sustainer in the Junior League.
She says she feels guilty when Susie’s first experiences at
Plymouth Harbor have been
unique; she slept here for

By Catha Abrahams — Biography Committee

14 ­— The Har bor Light

PAUL GRAVES & URSIE FAIRBAIRN

Apartment T-1706; Ext. 536

Few of us would say that from the Boston College Law Directors of NYSE (New York
2020 was a happy year, School, Paul practiced law Stock Exchange) corporations
but Ursie and Paul have very in Boston and in Burlington, and is the principal in a
fond memories of the start Vermont. Subsequently, he Human Resources consulting
of “a year like no other.” It served in the Vermont State services firm.
was then that they embarked Legislature. In 1994, he
on new life chapters — in moved to St. Petersburg, and Although travel was
February 2020, they were then to Sarasota in 2000. severely limited for all of
married and they moved to He owned a restaurant, a us this past year, Paul and
Plymouth Harbor. You could sign company and a printing Ursie managed to spend the
say that the timing of their business before finally summer in Sanibel. A closer-
COVID quarantine plan was retiring. You can say he loves to-home adventure was a
impeccable! Their blended a challenge! recent visit to the Myakka
family from prior marriages Elephant Ranch, where
consists of five children Ursie earned a Master they helped to spray, scrub
and 13 grandchildren, all of Arts in Teaching in and bathe one of the three
very important to these Mathematics from Harvard. resident elephants. This was
newlyweds. Her distinguished career Paul’s introduction to the
This lovely outgoing couple included senior executive African safari they hope to
met on Match.com. Paul was positions with IBM, Union take when overseas travel is
smitten by a photo of Ursie Pacific and American Express, possible. Ursie is no stranger
riding a camel during one mostly in Human Resources to safaris and she is excited
of her exotic travels. They with global responsibilities. about sharing an African
quickly found out She served on eight Boards of wildlife adventure with Paul.
that they had many
things in common, Another destination
such as theater, travel on their list is Paris.
and love of family.
They were truly a With the future
match. Paul also reinstatement of
enjoys tennis, snow the many social
skiing and boating, and cultural
while Ursie loves the opportunities
arts. Sarasota is the available during
perfect home base “normal times” at
for most of these. Plymouth Harbor,
Ursie and Paul Ursie and Paul are
lived very busy looking forward to
professional lives. meeting many more
After graduating of their neighbors.
We are glad they
made Plymouth
Harbor their home!

By Gretchen Dawson — Biography Committee

The Har bor Light — 15

PAM & ED BARAN

Apartment T-1807; Ext. 550

Before they met more also worked its magic on the In the several stages of
than 10 years ago, Ed two families. Pam’s son lives her life, Pam’s emphasis has
was busy pursuing a career and works in Japan and two always been on service to
in health care management, of Ed’s grandchildren both others. She has volunteered
which took him from New got master’s degrees in China. in a variety of settings, from
York, to New Jersey and Imagine, they learned to speak a soup kitchen to the Ravinia
Colorado, culminating as Mandarin in private school! Festival. She loves writing
President and CEO of BCS and teaching children. As a
Financial, based in Chicago. When they first came to two-time cancer survivor, she
Pam was 12 years old, Sarasota, they lived near has also taken life’s “speed
when she got her first job Sarasota’s charmingly bumps” in her stride.
as a photographic model. informal Main Street. They
Following her master’s degree, then moved to a condo at Ed is an avid sportsman,
Pam enthusiastically pursued Lawrence Pointe, a little- who enjoyed playing squash
her vocation as a teacher known gem behind the Ritz- with friends and visiting
and community volunteer. Carlton. From that vantage the Master’s Tournament
“Learning through work,” she point, the view of Plymouth whenever possible. He has
says. Harbor is clearly impressive been chairman of the Denver
Sometimes it takes a little and definitely irresistible. Chamber of Commerce and
boost from friends to facilitate Pam, a former sailor, loved has held a number of board
fate. After a social worker living on the water, so when positions, among them,
from the school where Pam the time came to make a the Board of Regents for
worked brokered a meeting choice, it felt like the decision Georgetown University. The
between the two, had already been made. pivotal point in Ed’s life, other
Ed wrote down her
email address on a than meeting Pam,
cocktail napkin… he says, was the
and the rest is time he spent as
history. It was a an undergraduate
second marriage at Georgetown
for both of them University. It
after widowhood, refocused his
bringing Ed’s three horizons on an
children and seven international,
grandchildren multi-cultural
together with world. He
Pam’s son and two describes life as
grandchildren. a combination of
Coincidence has hard work and
serendipity! Isn’t it
true!

By Joy McIntyre — Biography Committee

16 ­— The Har bor Light

JIM & PAT ANDERSON

Apartment W-201; Ext. 293

Although both Luxembourg and London. cruiser in Florida.
were born When they returned to The Andersons
in Texas, Pat and the U.S., Pat became Vice share a love of
Jim Anderson did President and part owner of traveling the
not meet until Vector, SGI, which developed world and both
after each had systems for the back office enjoy duplicate
married, had three of banks. Vector systems bridge. Jim also
children and then were in 95% of the top 50 has a keen interest
divorced. Pat had banks in the U.S. Jim worked in photography
earned a Bachelor on a project in Oakland, and Pat likes
of Science in California, for a year and scrapbooking.
Physics from then retired. Five years later,
Smith College Pat reluctantly also retired, Throughout
and an Master of and they moved to Longboat their lives, the
Science in Math/ Key where they lived until Andersons were
Computer Science moving to Plymouth Harbor active in many and
from University last April. varied community
of North Florida and soon activities and
afterwards qualified for a Pat and Jim enjoy golf charities. Pat is a lifelong
single-engine pilot’s license. and tennis, both of which active member of the Junior
Jim’s Bachelor and Master Pat still plays regularly, as League where she held
of Science are in electrical well as skiing and boating. many board positions, such
engineering from Texas They owned a small boat in as Provisional Chairman,
A&M. Dallas and a 36-foot cabin Newsletter Editor and Interest
Jim and Pat ended up in Group Chairman. Since she
Dallas working at Republic has been in Sarasota, she has
Bank, where Jim was been on the board of Coastal
manager of IT systems and Behavioral Healthcare, on
Pat was a systems analyst. the Vestry of All Angels by
After a few years, Ross the Sea and has been on the
Perot, with whom Jim had board of the Smith College
worked previously, asked Club of Sarasota. She is the
the Andersons to develop President of the Physics Club
and implement a totally of Sarasota and founded it
new computer system for with Charles Miller, who
the merger of two large lived here and passed away
Swiss banks. The work was on April 4, 2020.
challenging and they loved It is a great pleasure to
the next eight years in Basel, welcome the Andersons to
Plymouth Harbor!

By Lorna Hard — Biography Committee

The Har bor Light — 17

Staying HEALTHY in Florida
The "New normal"

By Elyse Rogers togethers will be shunned by just a routine part of daily living as
There’s certainly been a lot of many time goes by. Think back to major
references to the current situation • The vaccinated and non- family events, births, marriages
as the “new normal.” In fact I’ve vaccinated populations among and deaths, which don’t diminish
been guilty of labeling our post- us will be dealt with as two in value, but do fade into the
COVID era with that moniker separate groups by most rhythm of everyday life.
myself. But, if we’re going to sling communities and businesses
that term around, we’d best define So, how do we deal with all this Amazingly, this year we’ve
it — or at least clarify how it “newness?” had the development of new
differs from the “old normal.” • We do our best to accept the vaccines that protect not only
So, here goes, (with the caveat new “norms” and move on the vaccinated, but those they
that you take this simply as the • We live our new lives as matter- interconnect with, too. If that
Elyse Rogers-definition): of-factly as we lived our old isn’t history in the making… But
1) The Old Normal — what ones by the year 2023 or 2024 we’ll
we lived with daily and accepted • We befriend and help our hopefully just shrug and look back
as “life as usual” before March family and friends adapt, too at this COVID-19 era as simply a
2020 (which is the WHO official • We look forward to the future small part of our history.
established date of the start of with confidence and hope
COVID-19) Okay, okay, enough with lists Living our lives
2) The New Normal — what we and intentions. How do we matter-of-factly
are learning to live with on a daily accomplish all this while trying This stage is already upon us,
basis in 2021. our best to “be normal?” as I’ve just mentioned. For most
Living with the new normal Accepting the New Normal of us now, daily living hasn’t
For most of us accepting a new changed — we get our morning
— what it might entail concept or idea is not all that coffee, keep ourselves and our
Post COVID-19-life is and will difficult. But the “how to” becomes abodes clean and tidy, go to work
continue to be different from life more problematic when there is (if we aren’t yet retired) exercise
before. an overlaying major problem such our bodies, nourish our physiques
• Practices such as mask- as a global pandemic. Whew. It’s with good food, etc. We’ve done
wearing, social distancing and hard to even combine those two this automatically in the past, are
even hand-washing/sanitizing concepts — global pandemic and doing it now and will be doing it
will linger and eventually normal — in one sentence. into the future. It’s normalcy as we
become just routine habits But we are combining them know it.
• Teleconferencing and Zoom in our lives, and I think we’re all That doesn’t mean that after this
meetings have become doing a pretty amazing job of it. So COVID-era we won’t embrace a
(and will continue to be) a take a moment to pat yourselves return to many of the extras we’ve
normal option to “in-person on the back for a job well done — either given up or put on hold —
gatherings” and then move on. Changes, even such as international travel and
• Large gatherings and live get- major changes, quickly become family reunions.
Helping our family and friends
readjust to today’s norms

Elyse Rogers has been a Plymouth Harbor resident since 2019. Her column for The Harbor Light entitled Staying
Healthy in Florida runs monthly. Elyse is a Registered Nurse with advanced degrees in nursing, education and
medical communications. Please feel free to email her with questions or comments at [email protected].

18 —­ The Har bor Light Staying HEALTHY in Florida

Just getting together with finger. (Just a fun note — I looked who told me that he’s learned to
friends and family more often up, on line of course), info about live with telemedicine and finds
will be a treat. Group gatherings the Encyclopedia Britannica and that despite some challenges, it
will become safe and fun again, discovered that they discontinued is a valuable tool alongside of
instead of worrisome times with offering a printed edition in 2012.) standard, in-person care.
strict guidelines on mask wearing Embracing Videoconferencing
and social distancing. More frequent video
During most of my business/ conferencing during the
Looking forward to the future writing career, conferences were coronavirus pandemic has also
with hope and confidence front and center. Live meetings, of prompted the development of a
course, were the accepted norm, global research community that is
American have always been but with some we could and did sharing data and insights around
known for a populous that loves call-in if we were out of town. the world in real time. Last year
change and progress. In other I’m sure many of us remember medical data and varying medical-
words, we’ve done it before and the multiple times we were in trial results were published at
can do it again. our car driving somewhere while an astonishing pace. COVID-19
participating in a meeting or times have also led to important
We’re into the digital age conference that was in another international collaborations and
Perhaps the most important location. pooled insights within the medical
part of the “new normal” is to and scientific communities.
recognize and accept that we are Then the “Go to Meeting”
in the digital age. and “Zoom” age came upon us. These international
Some recent reinforcements And it’s not only businesses and collaborations and shared insights
of our being smack-dab in the organizations that use this tool, within the medical/scientific
middle of the digital age are easy but families as well. Many of us communities resulted in the
to find — going online to find have had family Zoom meetings remarkably fast development of
and/or schedule appointments over holidays or birthdays or just multiple effective COVID-19
for COVID-19 tests and now to touch bases with other family vaccines. This is far from “the new
vaccines, the more frequent members or friends. I know of normal” as yet, but it is heartening
sightings of the Amazon or a nearby neighborhood that to see how rapidly biomedical
UPS delivery trucks in our “Zooms” a weekly cocktail hour research can push itself to
neighborhoods which tell us that so they can connect with not only accomplish vital public-health
online shopping is booming, and current neighbors but neighbors initiatives when they are truly
the fact that many businesses who have moved away. Nice! required.
and organizations have given
up paper-copies and gone to Telemedicine has become a new Onward and Upward
internet sites or email for their norm for many physicians with As we put the trauma of the
communications. I’m sure we all (what used to be) routine office acute COVID-era behind us, we’ll
could come up with a long list of visits. And this practice of remote, just have to feel our way into the
both digital-options for our tasks video visits not only serves the remainder of this year and the
or digital-only choices. busy doctor well, but is a boom years after. It isn’t the first time
For example, when did you last for patients, too. Nowadays, those we Americans have learned and
use a dictionary that you had to routine medical appointments practiced new ways, and I dare say
pull off the shelf or fingered the with physicians whose offices are it won’t be our last.
volumes of the Encyclopedia fairly distant from our homes But just look outside at our
Britannica set you keep in your (maybe not so far in miles, but in beautiful surroundings — the
basement or storeroom? Google commuting time on busy, traffic- water, the sky, the abundant earth,
is now king of “search” and filled roads) — can become easier, and be cheered.
online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, digital ones. Yes, I’d say the “new normal” is
is available free at the click of a looking pretty good!
I talked with a physician friend

Staying HEALTHY in Florida The Har bor Light — 19

facebook.com/PlymouthHarbor Dr. Bruce Berg
@PlymouthHarbor Chair, Plymouth Harbor,

Inc. Board of Trustees
Harry Hobson
President & CEO

HARBOR LIGHT STAFF
Anne Casanova
Programming and

Activities Coordinator
Joe Devore

Senior Vice President of Health Services
Emmalee Molay

Communications Manager
Gordon Okawa

Vice President of Marketing
& Community Affairs
Jenny Serafino

Communications Assistant
Beth Watson

Vice President of Philanthropy
Tena Wilson

Vice President of Resident
& Team Member Relations

HARBOR LIGHT BIOGRAPHERS
Wendy Underwood — Chair
Catha Abrahams
Gretchen Dawson
Lorna Hard
Kathy Hendricks
Joy McIntyre
Estelle Silbert
Sallie VanArsdale