According to a September 2020 AARP report, experts, resident advocates, and those with loved ones on the inside long term care facilities say that the COVID lockdown is fueling a mental health crisis that’s amplifying the devastating impacts of the pandemic on the long-term care industry. Even before the pandemic, social isolation and loneliness were considered serious health risks for older Americans. Even though the LTC ombudsman wasn’t allowed into the facilities during COVID, Vintage worked to help combat social isolation and loneliness by providing an ice cream wagon parade that staff brought down the hallways providing free, frozen snacks to residents and activity packs with games, adult coloring books, and other brain boosting activities.