Skip to main content

10 Ways Seniors Can Feel Less Isolated During COVID-19 

We all know by now that staying at home is the best course of action seniors can take to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19. After hunkering down at home these past few weeks, many seniors can’t help starting to feel some loneliness and perhaps isolation. These times of self-quarantine may be particularly traumatic for a senior in a residential community that has had to restrict visitors and suspend social activities and dining room meals.

Even seniors who are being assisted by a family caregiver or a paid caregiver in their own home also may start experiencing loneliness from social activities being curtailed or grappling with some stress or anxiety from watching or reading news about the virus.

If you or a senior loved one is starting to experience the negative effects of being confined to home, try some of these suggestions for feeling less stress and anxiety and finding ways to maintain positive connections with others. A family member or a friend to an older person can also adopt these tips to help support a beloved senior’s mental health during COVID-19.

Go on a News Diet

Yes, we should stay informed but feeding on continuous breaking news across the many 24-hour news stations and websites or absorbing the heated exchanges between pundits is a sure recipe for needless anxiety. Thirty minutes will keep you up to date, so limit your viewing to once or twice per day.

Have Virtual Visits with Family and Friends

Facebook, Google Duo, FaceTime, Skype, Twitter, WhatsApp – there are all kinds of free smartphone or online options for seeing and talking to friends and family from the comfort of your home. If setting up an account is a little out of your skill set, a tech-savvy friend, family member or caregiver may be able to do it for you. If you need to keep it simple, pick up the phone. Either way, make sure to schedule regular visits for keeping in touch.

Stay Dialed in with Community Organizations

If you have enjoyed volunteer or charitable work for a community group, you might still be able to take part, flex your civic duty and maintain a sense of purpose. A variety of organizations – from church groups to political parties to nonprofits – need volunteers to make phone calls. Check in with some of your favorites to find out what they might need.

Join an Online Book Club

There are lots of online book clubs beyond Oprah’s, with many of them offering a chance to create virtual friendships and get tips on downloading free books and audiobooks. The Good Housekeeping Book Room lets you discuss books with fellow bibliophiles around the world. The Action Book Club from Little Free Library lets you join with friends, family, an organization you belong to or your own book club and provides a kit with lists of books, discussion questions, lots of activities and resources.

Become a Pen Pal

The simple act of writing a letter can spread hope. If you like to volunteer, consider the a nonprofit organization like Letters Against Depression, which gets handwritten letters of hope and support to people all around the world who are battling depression or other mental illness. You can also request to be a recipient of a letter.

For a senior shut-in, receiving a handwritten card or letter is a special experience—and now even more so when senior communities have restricted access. Amada Senior Care of Northern Colorado is just one franchise office that has initiated a Write a Senior Campaign to help residents of senior living communities and members of the community deal with the emotional effects of social distancing. Pen pals of all ages are being matched with the idea that they will help each other “smile their way though.” To participate, email info@AmadaSeniorCare.cominfo@AmadaSeniorCare.com or call us at 877-442-6232.

Gather Around for a Virtual Meal

Make a lunch or dinner date with friends or family. Select a day and time and then order a meal to be delivered through a service such as DoorDash or Grubhub or a favorite local restaurant that delivers. You want to make sure the meal gets to each home at the same time. Then call to talk during the meal, using the speaker on the cell phone or landline phone or using a mobile app like FaceTime, Google Duo, Skype or Zoom.

Have a Board Game Night

Select a game everyone is familiar with, has at home, and knows the rules to – think Monopoly, Life, Sorry, chess, bingo, Yahtzee, etc. Have identical game boards set up at each home. Play the game over the phone by using the speaker on the cell phone or landline phone and talking about the dice roll and game piece moves.

Watch the Same TV Show Together

Choose a popular series like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a game show like Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune or a documentary. Tune in at the same time and swap comments or guesses over the phone as you watch from different households.

Swap Stories Over the Phone

Set up a regular time when you can read a book to or tell a bedtime story to your grandchildren. Or, ask them to read you a story, sing a song or play an instrument. Have a family singalong or let the kids put on a personal concert.

Help Others with Words of Wisdom or a Patient Ear

When there are problems to be solved and advice to be gotten, society looks to its beloved senior members for their wisdom and experience. Taking a small step – like calling neighbors, friends and family to check in on them – will give you something constructive to do during this time of crisis and help you keep socially engaged.

The COVID-19 situation will continue to change, but what remains steady is Amada Senior Care’s commitment to our communities. If you are having difficulty with heightened anxiety or uncertain about what assistance a loved one might require, please know we’re here for you 24/7 to help.

Feel free to call us at 877-442-6232 or you can send us an email at info@AmadaSeniorCare.com. It may feel like life is in a holding pattern, but as a caring community we will get through this together.

The post 10 Ways Seniors Can Feel Less Isolated During COVID-19  appeared first on Amada Senior Care.



from Amada Senior Care https://ift.tt/2VGQIvT
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dads and Pops: Your Good Health Matters to Us 

Did you know  June is  Men’s Health Month  and Father’s Day anchors Men’s Health Week ?   Celebrate dad on Father’s Day and thank him for all he  has  done, but  also  make sure to seize an opportunity sometime this month to have a conversation with him about his health. This awareness campaign has the critical purpose of informing men   that avoiding preventive healthcare puts them at real and serious risk of  contracting a disease or  acquiring  a chronic condition.   Studies consistently  show the numbers go against men , particularly as they advance into their senior years.   Even with dramatic advances in diagnosis and treatment over the past 100 years, men’s life expectancy still lags significantly behind women. According to  Harvard Health ,  the gap is widening. In 1900, the life expectancy for women was 48.3 years vs. 46.3 for men. In 2017, it was 81.1 years for women vs. 76.1 for men. Harvard...
Post a Comment
Read more

Memorize These Six Signs of a Scam

An 88-year-old woman is one of the latest victims of the sweepstakes scam. She lost $160,000 in order to get the millions the scammer claimed she’d won through the Publishers Clearing House. She’s not alone. This scam has been around for years and has affected tens of thousands. Be aware of the six signs of a scam to avoid losing money. The Caller Insists You Not Tell Anyone In a scam, the caller will insist that you cannot tell anyone. This is more likely to happen with the grandparent scam. The caller will say that the grandchild’s parents cannot know. Secrecy is important to the “grandchild.” If your parents are told not to tell anyone, it’s very likely a scam. Your parents should immediately report the scam to local authorities or the FTC at 1-877-382-4357. The Contact Arrives Out of the Blue A scam is going to start with a random call, email, or unsolicited mailer. Your parents didn’t enter a contest. It could be a scammer posing as a police officer, IRS representative, or ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to prepare for eldercare medical emergencies

Older adults are fragile and that is often accompanied by a decline in mobility. This makes them more vulnerable to medical emergencies such as a fall or sudden illness. As these health crises are unexpected and the elderly cannot always take prompt action, you need to be prepared. This will result in saving a lot of crucial moments and getting on-time care for the older adult. We have curated pointers that will give you an insight on how to carefully prepare for the eldercare emergencies and ensure the wellbeing of your elderly.   Doctor on Call  As you begin preparing for the eldercare emergencies, you must assemble a list of doctors and home nursing services that will be available 24×7 to provide emergency facilities. The list will come handy and will result in taking quick action. Samvedna Senior Care offers doctor visits at home for senior citizens in times of emergency. The team of skilled doctors is available round the clock to provide special assistance. The...
Post a Comment
Read more