Not All Prisons Are Created Equal

​We are hearing the words isolation and quarantine frequently because of COVID 19 that has shut down most of the world.  Some people are adapting amazingly at entertaining themselves as we isolate ourselves.  Have you heard the myriad of classic songs that have been rewritten with clever Coronavirus lyrics?  Some people are creating very funny, beautiful, or thoughtful memes.  Some of us are not that creative but now have ridiculously clean homes.   Many people are reporting feeling anxiety, depression, and a lack of control over their lives.  Experts are comparing our isolation to those who have been in prison and astronauts who are completely alone for long periods of time.  This week I called to check in with a 94-year-old relative who emotionally explained to me why she didn’t get a birthday card out on time, “Can you imagine not being able to go out when you want to?  I used to work.  I came and went as I pleased.  I can’t do any of that anymore.”  I would officially like to add to the list of people that have experienced true isolation:  Inmates, astronauts, AND seniors.  This is nothing new to them.  My hope is Silver Station can take at least some seniors off the list of the truly isolated and offer them the resources to help them not be alone, to get them what they need, and to allow them to age their best way possible.