The Los Alamos and White Rock senior centers resume in-person dining Monday. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen/LARSO
LARSO News:
It’s been a long time in coming – the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO) in-person dining will resume Monday, Aug. 2.
As the local senior centers continue a graduated return to services, the one that may have appeared out of reach will return soon. This also means a pause in the very well received drive through lunch option, which has been in place since a fateful day in March 2020.
There are a variety of rules in place for those who haven’t visited the centers since their re-opening in early May.
The centers are still required to take temperatures and ask whether members have been vaccinated prior to entry.
“We still have some social distancing,” LARSO Executive Director Bernadette Lauritzen said. “We also ask members to refrain from handshakes and hugging.”
Two tables with plexiglass dividers provided by the Aging and Long-Term Services Department will be available to ease concerns for those reluctant to return to in-person dining, she said.
The biggest difference from pre-COVID days is that those community members who decided not to get the COVID-19 vaccine are not welcome at any gathered activities, Lauritzen said.
“We will try to be helpful to those not vaccinated and we are willing to assist anyone in any way to accomplish that goal,” Lauritzen said.
The bad news for some is that the drive though option will come to an end this Friday. The idea may be re-visited during upcoming renovations scheduled for January and perhaps as early as September.
“If we don’t see the participation levels we need to benefit financially or have concern for safety, this could change in an instant,” Lauritzen said.
The congregate meal served indoors will return to the traditional 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. time slot. Reservations for August will begin this Saturday. No reservations are ever taken after 10 a.m. for the same day. The demand is great, and staff will once again be adjusting to new roles and requirements. Those wishing to get paperwork out of the way easily might consider dropping by during business hours and picking it up prior to food service.
The centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Los Alamos and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in White Rock. There are no evening or weekend hours available at this time.
“We ask for your patience as we step on this new path” Lauritzen said. “It has been difficult to meet the needs of many seniors, each at different stages. Please be kind as we follow the rules set before us.”
