One warm May day, Jeanette Porter put on her mask and left her Gorham House apartment to enjoy some fresh air outside, sitting at least six feet from other residents or staff. “The rules here are strict,” she said, “but they need to be.”

Porter praised Michelle Belhumeur, the director of the large complex which offers a nursing home as well as independent and assisted living, for keeping everyone safe. Neither Gorham House nor nearby Inn at Village Square have experienced any COVID-19 cases.

Gorham House employs a registered nurse trained in infection prevention. All employees are screened when they report for work. Anyone with a temperature or sign of illness is sent home. The nurse also instructs everyone in the proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE) and monitors compliance by the 235 staff members.

Inn at Village Square, an Avesta property on Fort Hill Road, also follows the extensive screening, education, and sanitizing procedures in effect at Gorham House. According to Director Sara Forgione, they began to purchase extra supplies in February to protect its 30 staff members and 36 residents.

“In March we stopped outings, large group activities, and communal dining,” she said.

At Gorham House, Porter and other residents have been eating in their apartments since March 16. Social activities are curtailed or reconfigured. The popular weekly “social hour” still happens, but independent-living neighbors now toast each other from their doorways. Since the transportation department at Gorham House no longer takes residents shopping or on outings, employees of that department have become “friendly visitors” who call on residents in their apartments.

Both facilities are helping residents stay occupied and connected to their families. At the Inn at Village Square, Forgione said they have “increased the use of technology, utilizing virtual art classes, and tours. We assist residents with family visits on Skype and FaceTime.”

Gorham House is also helping residents communicate with family members. “A young girl donated three Facebook portals and Gorham House purchased three more,” Belhumeur said, adding, “We now have one on every unit.”

Porter said that not being able to welcome family and friends to her apartment is the hardest restriction for her. She visits with her daughter on the phone twice a day. Belhumeur praised families for cooperating and following the rules. Families have also donated raffle tickets and gift cards to the staff.

Inn at Village Square also appreciates support from the community. “Some folks have sent special snacks or flowers to lift the spirits of both residents and staff,” said Forgione.

Tom Sallinen, a GHS student who works part-time at Gorham House, misses being able to chat with residents when serving them in the dining room, but he still sees them when delivering meals to their rooms.