As our Bloomers know, from new programs like Telehealth to Live Video / Virtual and Window Tours to our Skype Communication Center, Bloom Senior Living has been at the forefront of finding ways to keep our Bloom community virtually safe and connected during COVID-19.

Bloom is now launching a Memory Making Station for Bloom residents and their loved ones to stay physically connected in a safe and socially distant way at its 9 communities throughout Florida , Indiana , Louisiana , Ohio and South Carolina. Bloom has found a way to bring back face-to-face visits and conversations between residents and their loved ones.

The Memory Making Station meets the 6-foot long separation protocol for social distancing. The resident, located inside the station, and family member, located outside the station, is separated by plexiglass. Due to the openness around the sides and tops, residents and families will be able to hear each other. Notwithstanding its safe environment, Bloom is still taking additional precautions including screening family members, requiring residents and family members to wear masks and wash hands before and after visits, and disinfecting the Station after each visit.

According to Melissa Campbell, Bloom's Director of Education & Development, who spearheaded this project and has been determined to find ways for our residents and loved ones to start coming closer together less than 90 days after Bloom restricted access to its communities, "t his is a more personal, private and easier solution than window visits. While this is still no replacement for personal interaction and hugs, which we so love to do at Bloom (and will do again soon), this moves us one step closer and increases the one-on-one personal interactions in the interim."

As shared in our recent updates, while Bloom is not ready to fully re-open quite yet, we're getting excited about our plan and some of the things we can do along the way until we completely reopen. This is one example!

As of today, the Memory Making Stations have been delivered to Lakewood, Ohio ( Bloom at Lakewood ); Bluffton/Hilton Head Island, South Carolina ( Bloom at Belfair , Bloom at Bluffton and Bloom at Hilton Head ); and St. Petersburg, Florida ( Bloom at St. Petersburg ). The Memory Making Station will arrive in Bossier City Louisiana ( Bloom at Bossier ) next week; as well as, Indianapolis, Indiana ( Bloom at German Church and Bloom at Eagle Creek ) and Kokomo Indiana ( Bloom at Kokomo ) once we receive approval from the State of Indiana to allow outdoor visits. We'll announce their arrival on Facebook.

The Memory Making Station is available during week days from 9:00am to 4:30 EST (9:00am to 4:30 CST for Bossier City, LA) effective June 4, 2020 for all communities other than communities in Louisiana and Indiana (which will soon follow). In an effort to accommodate everyone, scheduling is limited to one-time per resident per day, and each appointment is limited to 15-minutes. This is consistent with how we've been scheduling Skype.

To schedule a time, please click on our electronic scheduling system below, which will now allow you to choose Memory Making Station or Skype With Resident.