Stamford woman fears 93-year-old father's health is deteriorating due to isolation in assisted living

A Stamford woman is worried about her 93-year-old father's health since he's been living in isolation at an assisted living facility for months.

News 12 Staff

Aug 21, 2020, 10:08 PM

Updated 1,568 days ago

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A Stamford woman is worried about her 93-year-old father's health since he's been living in isolation at an assisted living facility for months.
Joe Pasquarelli turns 94 years old next month. A few years ago after losing his wife, he moved into Sunrise of Stamford, an assisted living community for seniors.
Janis Annunziata says her dad was always very active and independent.
"He's always been a social butterfly, life of the party," says Annunziata.
Now because of the pandemic, Pasquarelli and all residents haven't been able to leave the facility for daily outings with family.
"Every day he would make his rounds, come here, stop for a little bit, go to the cemetery to see my mother for a little bit," says Annunziata. "He'd drive around and basically, you know, did his own thing."
Annunziata understands the dangers of COVID-19, but worries that the current isolation may be just as harmful.
"What's to look forward to? So you know, I try to keep the conversation upbeat and I try to test him on things to make sure he can still think right, you know? But I don't know how long that's going to be if he's not allowed to get out," says Annunziata.
In June, assisted living communities began allowing residents to meet with loved ones outside. Annunziata schedules socially distanced visits with her father every week, but with the masks and her dad's poor hearing, it's hard for him to understand her.
Annunziata says Sunrise has been great. She knows the facility is following the state's regulations, but she's frustrated that the Department of Health hasn't given a timeline for when things will ease up.
"They have to be allowed to continue to live their lives," says Annunziata. "I mean this is just -- I don't know what the answer is, but there's gotta be something."
The Community Support Office for Sunrise of Stamford released a statement saying, "As of today, Sunrise of Stamford has satisfied applicable federal, state, and local requirements, as well as Sunrise's own criteria, to enter into Phase One of our Resumption of Operations plan.  Residents are currently able to schedule socially distanced, outdoor visitation with friends and family, participate in socially distanced small-group programming as well as outdoor activities to get some fresh air, and enjoy socially distanced dining in community common areas. During this time, infection control protocols remain in place at the community. This includes screening residents and team members for COVID-19 symptoms, conducting temperature checks on residents daily, and utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment – for residents when they are outside their rooms and team members when providing direct care to residents. Masks are being worn throughout the community at all times by team members and by residents, wherever tolerated. We want to thank our families for their continued patience and support over the past several months. It is an honor to serve Stamford-area seniors."