Three Centenarians Reflect on Pandemic
By Linda Trzyna
Time tends to put things into perspective. When you’re 100 years old, that’s a lot of perspective. And when you have three centenarians living in the same assisted living facility, you try to learn what you can from their life experiences. Virginia Shafer, Helen Lesnick, and Marie Pantera are residents at Elderwood Assisted Living in West Seneca who all turned 100 in 2020. Having been through tough times before, they understand “going without” and making sacrifices to benefit a larger cause.
What do the centenarians think about life during the pandemic? “We are US citizens and follow the restrictions because we are told to,” said Virginia. “I don’t agree with people I see on TV and read about in the paper who don’t wear masks. I want to tell them to wear a mask.” Helen agrees saying, “Don’t make your own rules.” Focusing on the emotional aspect of the pandemic, Marie said, “It doesn’t pay to get upset about it. It always works out,” recalling another tough time in her life that caused terrible anxiety, she recalls that patience helped her through. Virginia added, “During the Depression, if there was a shortage of this or that, we just had to go along without it and accept it. You do what you can. It’s hard, but not impossible.”
During the pandemic, Elderwood enacted safety measures to protect the health of residents with restricted visiting and socially distant activities. Still, Virginia, who has lived there for nearly six years, appreciates having things to do. She is computer savvy, and likes playing solitaire. Helen enjoys chatting with her tablemate in the dining room, and Virginia says, “Going to activities gives you a way to get rid of some of your anxieties,” acknowledging that games, crafts, exercise, and other programs help keep her and other residents active and engaged in shared experiences to remind them that they are not alone.
Despite the challenges wrought by the pandemic, the women remain thankful for the blessings in their lives as they look forward to the new year. “I’m thankful for the pleasure of my children,” said Virginia. Marie is also thankful for her family, and Helen is grateful for her long life. “God doesn’t want me yet, I guess,” she quipped. When asked about her secret to longevity, Virginia said, “That’s God’s secret. He controls it.”
Despite their age, all three women live independently at Elderwood in their own apartments, taking advantage of supporting services. Cheryl Bierma, Administrator agrees, saying, “All the ladies do very well in their own places, and they enjoy the activities and socialization.” The assisted living community provides them with meals, housecleaning, laundry service, personal care assistance, and medication management. Bierma said, “We are blessed that these ladies share their calm and steady influences with other residents and staff. They encourage all of us with their hope and faith for better things to come.”
Linda Trzyna is Communications Coordinator for Elderwood Administrative Services. Learn more about Elderwood at www.elderwood.com or call 677-4242.
