Over the course of the last year, the team at Rancho Sahuarita has remained dedicated to delivering on its commitment of providing a high-quality lifestyle and experience for its residents, despite the challenges and adjustments that have become critical in the midst of the pandemic.
After an initial period of shutdown at the start of the pandemic, the teams of both the Rancho Sahuarita and Rancho Resort communities moved quickly to adapt. While many of the master plan’s signature events, programs, and amenities had been canceled, adjusted, or temporarily closed then reopened with special precautions in place, the teams knew they still needed to find a way to deliver lifestyle in a fun and safe way for residents.
For Rancho Sahuarita, a lifestyle menu once filled with over 30 classes and multiple in-person events per week shifted to an exclusively virtual offering. Early on this included events like Story Times, Easy At-Home Baking, Simply Smooth(ie) and select Health and Wellness Classes – all delivered online through Zoom.
Later in the year, the teams at both Rancho Sahuarita and Rancho Resort moved to evolve and grow the programming offered to still remain as dynamic and diverse as possible, while making sure the safety and security of residents and staff remained the utmost priority. Like other businesses, extensive cleaning and sanitizing measures were implemented, as well as special protocols including temperature checks, wellness questionnaires, and special waivers at all amenities and at any live classes or events.
As time passed, Rancho Sahuarita’s offering of events expanded to include Drive-Thru Coffee Socials, Curbside Crafts, Drive-Thru special giveaways, a “How-To” Educational Series and even Virtual Paint Nights. Some of Rancho Sahuarita’s holiday events, which historically have welcomed high numbers of participants, were evolved to help ensure the fun and spirit of the season, while not sacrificing on safety. Zoom Calls with Santa, the Holiday Walk-Thru Celebration, Drive-Up Cocoa and Cookies and a New Year’s Eve Drive In-Movie were all examples of this. The Father Daughter Dance in February, which is a resident-favorite, even was able to take place (with special protocols and procedures in place), and those in attendance were very happy.
The community of Rancho Resort has also gradually reopened amenities and reintroduced some events (such as Drive-Up Coffee Socials and Outdoor Concerts), though with increased caution and care given the higher risk to its active adult population of residents.
Community Director Michelle Moreno, commented: “The staff and managers at both Rancho Sahuarita and Rancho Resort have been working tirelessly to return as many amenities and programs to our residents as possible, while never wavering in their commitment to health and safety during this time.”
Moving forward and as summertime approaches, more events and programs are planned. “We look forward optimistically to the later part of the year, when we all hope to return to much of what makes our community so special, including more opportunities to connect and come together. Until then, we appreciate all our residents’ patience, cooperation, and for doing their part to protect themselves and each other.”