Thelma Brewster, 105, survived the influenza pandemic of 1918, so she’s taking no chances with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The eldest resident of Glenmeadow will be the first in line to receive her vaccination on Saturday, January 23 at 12:30 p.m. on our campus.
In fact, all 150 residents of Glenmeadow—along with many of our team members— will be given the vaccine on Saturday. Glenmeadow has partnered with CVS for priority in-house distribution for residents and team members during Phase One vaccinations.
Thelma is one of five centenarian residents there who will be vaccinated. Glenmeadow actually has six members of its community who have reached this milestone: one Glenmeadow at Home client, who receives services at his home in the area, hit the century mark last November.
Thelma was three years old when the influenza pandemic of 1918 hit her native Medford, MA in September of that year. The outbreak killed about 675,000 in the US and at least 50 million worldwide.
A Glenmeadow resident since 2001, Thelma is an extremely active member of this community. Over the years, she has been a volunteer, helping residents in assisted living with varies activities and reading aloud to them. She has enjoyed crafts, and getting her hair done once a week.
When COVID-19 pandemic reached the US last March, Glenmeadow followed CDC guidelines to protect our vulnerable residents, but since social isolation is as damaging to older adults as smoking cigarettes, our team members quickly reinvented what it means to engage. For example, they piped the sound of an old-fashioned ice cream cart into hallway speakers and delivered ice cream to residents as they waited in their doorways. Glenmeadow also created many creative opportunities for educational enrichment, using its in-house TV station, Channel 918 to provide all kinds of programming, including exercise classes, trivia games, word games, Bingo, Jeopardy, and Scrabble.
“The pandemic has made us stronger as a team, and we continue to bolster our residents in many ways,” said Glenmeadow President and CEO Anne Thomas. “These vaccinations today are an important step toward coming out on the other side of this pandemic, but we still need to adhere to universal precautions, and we hope to soon begin a slow reopening of programs and services.”
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Thelma Brewster, 105, survived the influenza pandemic of 1918, so she’s taking no chances with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The eldest resident of Glenmeadow will be the first in line to receive her vaccination on Saturday, January 23 at 12:30 p.m. on our campus.
In fact, all 150 residents of Glenmeadow—along with many of our team members— will be given the vaccine on Saturday. Glenmeadow has partnered with CVS for priority in-house distribution for residents and team members during Phase One vaccinations.
Thelma is one of five centenarian residents there who will be vaccinated. Glenmeadow actually has six members of its community who have reached this milestone: one Glenmeadow at Home client, who receives services at his home in the area, hit the century mark last November.
Thelma was three years old when the influenza pandemic of 1918 hit her native Medford, MA in September of that year. The outbreak killed about 675,000 in the US and at least 50 million worldwide.
A Glenmeadow resident since 2001, Thelma is an extremely active member of this community. Over the years, she has been a volunteer, helping residents in assisted living with varies activities and reading aloud to them. She has enjoyed crafts, and getting her hair done once a week.
When COVID-19 pandemic reached the US last March, Glenmeadow followed CDC guidelines to protect our vulnerable residents, but since social isolation is as damaging to older adults as smoking cigarettes, our team members quickly reinvented what it means to engage. For example, they piped the sound of an old-fashioned ice cream cart into hallway speakers and delivered ice cream to residents as they waited in their doorways. Glenmeadow also created many creative opportunities for educational enrichment, using its in-house TV station, Channel 918 to provide all kinds of programming, including exercise classes, trivia games, word games, Bingo, Jeopardy, and Scrabble.
“The pandemic has made us stronger as a team, and we continue to bolster our residents in many ways,” said Glenmeadow President and CEO Anne Thomas. “These vaccinations today are an important step toward coming out on the other side of this pandemic, but we still need to adhere to universal precautions, and we hope to soon begin a slow reopening of programs and services.”
