Colorado Springs retirement community looks for ways to keep residents entertained despite COVID-19

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- This pandemic has left many feeling isolated, especially our senior citizens. Now, one organization is on a mission to bring a little joy to those who may be feeling lonely during these tough times.

At The Inn at Garden Plaza, residents are in for a real treat. Thursday, the Flying Horse Foundation will be holding a mini horse parade for the senior citizens living here, as they hope to keep spirits high during this tough time.

Robin Ladd, a resident at the Inn at Garden Plaza, said, “They got the chairs set out for the ponies to come today. That gives us a chance to be out with their friends and get to know them a little better.”

Christine Ferguson, Executive Director at the Inn at Garden Plaza, said this is just one of many ways they are trying to keep their residents engaged.

“We’ve had lots of car parades, and just outside music. Our staff members go above and beyond all the time so we even have a little walk for MS and Alzheimer's walk and we walk around the building and the staff takes part in that. It’s really a community,” said Ferguson.

But even though staff here wants residents to have a fun time and enjoy the parade, their health and safety still come first.

Ferguson said, “We are going to continue to make sure we are taking a six-feet distance and wearing our masks and coaching our residents. Sometimes they need to be reminded that it’s all for safety.”

As for the Flying Horse Foundation, Kelly Rosati, Executive Director said Covid-19 will not keep them from brightening someone’s day.

“It means the absolute world to them. The joy on their faces, the way their faces light up is worth everything. So it means everything to us to see them experiencing that joy and that’s why we do what we do at the Flying Horse Foundation.”

As for the horse parade itself, that will begin at 2 p.m. and we will bring you full coverage of that tonight.