Stoughton Coronavirus: How The YMCA Is Helping Seniors

STOUGHTON, MA — The Stoughton branch of the YMCA has closed to lessen the spread of the new coronavirus, but that hasn't stopped its employees from trying to make a difference in the community, especially for seniors.

Jesse Keene, the associate executive director for the branch, said the YMCA has dug deep into its founding roots that go as far back as helping the community get through tough times like WWII. With 50,000 people served throughout the Old Colony YMCA's seven branches, Keene said the organization has a large responsibiliy in helping the community. In Stoughton, much of the community the branch serves is in Stoughton.

With the senior population, Keene said YMCA employees that have close relationships with seniors are calling them, giving them new updates about COVID-19 and making sure they get what they need.

"For many of them, this is where they spend a lot of their day and spend a lot of hours," Keene said. "We are reaching out to our active seniors to check in on how they are doing and making sure they are staying active."

On the calls, Keene said his staff also talk about the importance of healthy eating, proper hygiene and making sure seniors exercise whether that be by taking a walk or practicing balance training. The YMCA has also offered seniors free online fitness classes.

As far as other community service, Keene said the YMCA is still collecting food and clothing for those in need. Lunches are also still being brought in for children in the child care program.

The Old Colony YMCA is also organizing a food pickup at Southeastern Regional Vocational High School. Keene said details on this will come at a later date.

"We’ve always been there for big changes," Keene told Patch. I don't think people know how large we are ... This is our first day with serious meetings from the top down."

More about the Coronavirus:

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

As of Sunday, there were 165 cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts.

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The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now being transmitted from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way of to prevent the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home if you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.