How COVID-19 Has Impacted St. Paul's Seniors

Elden Thompson: Think very seriously about getting your vaccine.

Teresa Sardina:  How the vaccine rollout is impacting senior living.

CBS 8 Studio Anchors:  As we've seen time and time again, the pandemic has made life tough for San Diego's senior community, forcing them to adapt to change and tirelessly wait for the vaccine. News 8, Teresa Sardina reports from St. Paul Senior Services at Bankers Hill, and has more on how COVID-19 is impacting our senior population.

Teresa Sardina:  I spoke with the CEO of St. Paul Senior Services. She says the company's top priorities are safety and keeping seniors connected.

Ellen Schmeding: Our staff are the ones that are bringing in the virus.

Teresa Sardina: St. Paul's Senior Services at San Diego is currently vaccinating seniors and staff, and all departments, assisted living memory care , and independent senior living. Chief Executive Officer Ellen Schmeding says since September a handful of  senior residents tested positive for COVID-19. 

Ellen Schmeding: We have extreme measures at our front door to take temperatures. We have an electronic screening system. 

Teresa Sardina: She says there have been many challenges during the pandemic for both staff and residents. Seniors coping with separation from families, limited visitors and the uncertainty of the vaccine rollout.

Schmeding now sees some relief. St. Paul's Senior Services is registered with CVS Pharmacy and has held seven clinics as of this week. 

Ellen Schmeding: We were among the first to receive the vaccine on December 30th, and we were kind of a guinea pig at that point with CVS. It was challenging. I'll be honest. But there was a feeling of celebration in the air.

Teresa Sardina: This is residents, Elden Thompson, getting the COVID 19 vaccine at St. Paul's first clinic on December 30th. He says his experience reminds him of the polio outbreak. 

Elden Thompson: Yeah. I was one of the first people to get the vaccine. 

Teresa Sardina: So far, 70% of the company's staff has been vaccinated receiving both doses. 90% of their seniors have received the first dose. Now those 350 residents are waiting for their second shot.

Since COVID 19 cases have increased, visitors are not allowed indoors and socially distance outdoor visiting stations are set up. 

Ellen Schmeding: We just looked for ways to keep that connection going. It's the most important thing.

Teresa Sardina:  Schmeding says it's been a long time waiting to get these clinics set up. And it took a lot of collaboration between families, seniors, and staff, to get them educated on the vaccine and its side effects. 

For more in the story, we'll have it at cbs8.com reporting at Bankers Hill.

I'll send it back to you in the studio. 

CBS 8 Studio Anchors: Thanks Teresa.