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

The Connection Between Aging, Exercise, and Healthy Lungs

Enjoying a long and healthy retirement requires taking good care of yourself. While many people focus on living a heart-smart lifestyle, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy lungs is essential, too. As we age, the lungs become weaker and less flexible. This can contribute to a variety of diseases and chronic health conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , lung-related illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. That includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma—adding up to nearly 235,000 deaths a year. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your lungs healthy: Stop smoking. Talk with your primary care physician about smoking cessation programs. Avoid secondhand smoke. Research shows it can be just as deadly as being a smoker. Stay away from harsh chemicals. It’s important to avoid breathing in damaging fumes (e.g., home cleaners and weed killers). Prevent infections. Many infections can lead to
Post a Comment
Read more

How You Can Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

World Alzheimer’s Month in September is an opportunity to raise awareness about this complex disease and to challenge the stigmas surrounding dementia. Launched in 2012, the awareness month spotlights the fact that 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little understanding of dementia in their countries. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and it is the 6 th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual report. With the senior population growing quickly, Alzheimer’s and dementia cases will continue to increase as well, unless researchers can find a cure. This upcoming Monday, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day, a call to action for all of us to educate ourselves on how to take preventative steps, identify symptoms and support loved ones who have been diagnosed. Read more below to learn how to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Know the Warning Signs Detecting Alzheimer’s disease e
Post a Comment
Read more

Film Screening at Samvedna Senior Care

On 30th September, 2019, Samvedna Senior Care Foundation hosted the 2nd film festival of generations in association with Heidelberg University, Germany. The film Sputnik Moment – 30 years and beyond was screened at our senior citizen centre in Gurgaon for our members and staff. The film highlighted how senior citizens in Germany and the US were taking up second careers to fill their time, engage meaningfully and also get support through additional income. Post the screening Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Executive Secretary, SAI, Heidelberg University and Dr. Constanze, Coordinator DAAD Project, Heidelberg University along with our team engaged with the audience in an interesting discussion on the Indian scenario. Members shared that in India it is not easy for senior citizens to pick up jobs after retirement, however it was interesting to see that many in the audience did have jobs post retirement. They also spoke about stereotypes and social attitudes towards ageing and shared their per
Post a Comment
Read more