When COVID-19 hit, Rachel Kaufman, the activities director at Brandywine Living at Dresher Estates in Dresher, had to completely change her approach to work and come up with new ideas to keep the fun going during the difficult time, writes Stacey Burling for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Before the outbreak, it was Kaufman’s job to get people out of their rooms and into the community through movie nights, bingo, and many other activities. But coronavirus changed all that.

Kaufman was determined to keep residents happy amid a very solitary and scary time, so she brainstormed new ideas. In the early days, she and her team took “escapades-to-go” carts filled with supplies for activities to residents’ rooms.

They organized room-based tea parties as well as happy hours. Kaufman picked movies and helped residents watch them in their apartments.

They also moved a lot of activities into the halls, including exercises, bingo, and flower arranging.

In addition they held parking-lot concerts and organized virtual meetings with families.

“We literally reinvented our activity program overnight,” said Kaufman.

Read more about Rachel Kaufman at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.