7 Simple & Fun Activities for Seniors in Isolation
COVID-19 has been a tough time for everyone. And, as we’ve noted before, the elderly are at higher risk than many groups of contracting the coronavirus, with social distancing, masks and increased hygiene still being the best strategies to deal with the pandemic. Unfortunately, this can lead to increased physical and emotional isolation for seniors, especially for those not living with family.
A mundane lifestyle and lack of social engagement can lead to increased problems with cognition and memory in seniors. To keep aging adults mentally stimulated and physically active, caregivers can engage them in the following simple and fun activities during the pandemic.
How to Keep Seniors Happy and Active During COVID-19 Isolation
With no COVID-19 vaccine currently available, socializing is risky for everyone, especially seniors with weak immune systems and/or underlying medical conditions. The best way to survive the pandemic is following safety protocols. But this can become frustrating and boring.
Here are some activities to keep seniors busy and help them escape boredom.
1) Play Board and Card Games
Mental engagement is important to staying healthy and active, and playing word or card games can help keep the mind active. Crossword, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, Monopoly and solitaire are great examples of interactive games that can keep seniors engaged. To maintain social distance, they can also play games virtually with their friends or family members. Games like chess, rummy and Scrabble are old favourites that are available online.
2) Have a Movie Night
Watching favourite movies in the comfort of home is always an enjoyable way to spend time. Dedicating one day a week for seniors to watch movies is the perfect opportunity for them to escape reality for a while. For seniors living in an assisted living facility, this can be a social event.
3) Work Out
Apart from mental engagement, physical exercise is also necessary to stay active and stave off boredom. Most retirement homes have a daily routine for seniors that includes a good amount of physical exercise, including yoga and cardio workouts. If you have seniors living with you, try setting a fixed time for the whole family to exercise together. You can include resistance band workouts, dumbbell strength training, and easy yoga poses anyone can do.
4) Explore New Hobbies
Many people don’t think about hobbies until they retire. But a pandemic is (unfortunately) the perfect time for seniors to make the most of staying at home and exploring new hobbies to keep busy and learn something new. Watercolour painting, poetry, crocheting, gardening, and knitting are just some of the great hobbies that can keep retirees busy. The best thing is that these activities can be incorporated into their daily routine. As far as learning the nitty-gritty of these hobbies is concerned, watching YouTube videos can come in handy.
5) Cooking and Baking
Baking and cooking are great skills every adult should have. However, finding the time to fine-tune your culinary skills is challenging.
Thanks to the pandemic, cooking and baking are ideal ways to spend time and make an otherwise boring day interesting. If the aging adult you’re caring for has a passion for food, prepare a list of delicious meals they can prepare at their leisure. This can include comfort foods from their childhood or fine-dining favourites.
Make sure to plan these meals ahead of time since grocery shopping isn’t as easy these days.
6) Read or Listen to Books
When you’re spending so much time indoors, why not immerse yourself in a good book? Reading is an underappreciated activity that not only stimulates your mind but can also give you a new perspective. Encourage seniors to read a book, or listen to an audiobook if they have difficulty with their vision.
7) Writing or Blogging
If your parents or the senior you’re caring for have a knack for writing, now is the best time to nourish the writer in them. Story writing, journaling or blogging are excellent activities to keep them motivated and give them something new to look forward to. They can write their personal story for their children or grandchildren, or share the challenges of starting a new life after retirement through their blog.
Living alone can put seniors at risk of developing many health issues, including cardiovascular disease, dementia and decreased mobility. Pandemic isolation can’t make the situation any better. Caregivers play an important role in keeping seniors healthy and happy during these difficult times. To keep them engaged and active through these activities, you can provide invaluable support by teaching them to use a smartphone, set up a blog, and encourage them with positivity. This will not only improve their mental and physical health but keep them healthy.