Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread quarantine measures, many elderly adults find themselves at home with plenty of time on their hands. While this may seem like a blessing at first, it can quickly become monotonous and lonely. Sometimes it feels like everyone is constantly trying to tell you what to do. So imagine how frustrating it must be when suddenly stuck at home with nothing to do! If you’re looking for ways to keep your elderly loved ones busy and engaged during this time, look no further! Read on for some ideas.
TV Programs and Movies
To keep your loved ones engaged while home-bound can be difficult. Watching TV offers some low-impact activities that won’t over-stimulate someone who is not feeling well. Ideas for movies to watch are classic films or documentaries about interesting subjects.
TV programs to install on the computer include old episodes of favorite shows or news channels. As long as the content is not too intense and does not make your loved one think about what might be happening at school or work, you should be able to find something to watch.
Movies, documentaries, series, and game shows may be entertaining to watch. If you can’t come in person at the present moment, schedule a viewing of your favorite films and game shows together. You can easily connect over stories, characters, and other elements. There is even a game show where you and your family can compete against one another! You may also compete to see who can answer first or obtain the correct answers during a single program.
Cards and Games
Even as they get older, people enjoy playing games and cards. Playing a new game together is always more enjoyable than watching a video of it on YouTube. It’s also an excellent opportunity for families to get together and play games while keeping an eye on their isolation-bound seniors.
Regardless of the type of card or game played, it is crucial to ensure that all pieces are accounted for before play begins.
Technology has made it easier for older adults to enjoy playing electronic games. As a result, there’s a growing list of new apps to use on your phone or tablet. Including Grandpad, which allows users without much experience in coding to bring their ideas into the gameplay by making up rules as they go along.
Board Games
Many board games have pieces that could cause contamination if they break apart. Consider replacing any small parts with a softball or large button instead to avoid this situation. If the game requires a dice, consider using a multi-sided die rather because there won’t be any corners to pick up dirt from the floor.
Puzzles
Like board games, puzzles are an excellent way for seniors to stay engaged during their quarantine. However, if any pieces become loose, they need to be appropriately discarded because they may contain pathogens. Make sure to provide plenty of puzzle glue and an eraser cloth so that your elderly loved one can quickly fix any errors. Keeping these things handy will enable them not to touch any dirty surfaces on each puzzle piece. Large floor puzzles are also helpful because there is less chance that pieces will fall off unnoticed.
Scrabble
There are many different ways to play Scrabble, keeping hands away from mouths, noses, and eyes. To minimize contact with tiles or electronic devices, you can print out double-sided sheets with grids on both sides of the paper. Choose to play by one set of rules on each side, then use the backside to print out a new game later.
Mahjong
Mahjong is an excellent game for older adults because it requires them to think carefully about which tiles to pick up to clear space. This type of cognitive stimulation can boost your loved one’s mood while keeping their mind sharp.
Monopoly
Like, Scrabble, Monopoly has many different ways of playing. For example, you can print out grids to create both versions of the game on one sheet of paper, or you could try switching between regular rules and money rules every few rounds.
Playing Cards
Aside from standard playing cards, many people now carry electronic versions for various purposes (such as daily quizzes). If this is not possible, consider printing out trivia questions onto index cards. Family members will always have something interesting to read without breaking their isolation precautions.
Board Games Compatible with Smartphones
Many board games play directly into smartphones instead of using physical pieces. These games usually allow for solo play, so if you fall sick, it will keep your elderly relatives company until they recover.
Prompting memories through pictures/artifacts
Clear away any clutter in the quarantine area so that essential family photos are easily visible to your loved one. If needed, use an anti-viral wipe to clear fog spots off glass frames before revealing the family portrait underneath. People may need time to adjust to this activity; watch closely for signs of agitation or discomfort.
Numerous games and activities are available to keep elderly loved ones entertained during a lockdown. When it comes down to it, spending time with your elderly loved ones is what matters most.
Revive Your Favorite Interests
Some people may have continued with their favorite activities throughout their lives, while others have let them go. Encouraging favorite pastimes or reintroducing them is an excellent method to keep your loved ones occupied.
Whether they love activities for seniors like as:
- Knitting
- Creative writing
- Photography
- Painting
- Woodworking
- Playing an instrument
- Crocheting
- Painting
- Crafts
- Puzzles
- Model building
If your loved one doesn’t have a specific interest, suggest some new activities. For example, you may utilize a video chat service to link the entire family and create something together virtually.
Read Books Together
If your senior loved one enjoys reading, then ask them to suggest a book they would like to read aloud to them. An easy way to do this is by asking the staff at the assisted living facility where they are staying. For example, have them make recommendations based on their current projects or favorite genres of books.
If you enjoy spending time with your elderly loved one but don’t know which book to read together, let them choose! Letting seniors choose their books allows them to showcase their interests and show that you care about what they like. Suppose you’re unsure which genre would be best for your loved ones. Again speaking with the staff at the facility where your senior is currently living could lead you in the right direction.
You can also read books together virtually. If you cannot physically get together with your elderly loved one, record yourself reading a book and then send them the recording. A great way to do this is by using audiobooks apps like Audible or OverDrive which allow you to download free books easily. At the same time, some seniors may enjoy traditional hard copies of their favorite books best. Many would also be interested in trying out an audio version of the book if only they knew about it.
Suppose your senior loves listening to books but doesn’t have the attention span for long-form narration. You may want to ask them whether they are interested in having someone read a specific book aloud. Perhaps there’s a particular author they love more than others or a specific series they follow. You could even suggest different recording sections of the book and send them over as you finish each one.
Gardening
If your elderly loved one enjoys caring for plants, why not bring in some houseplants to keep them busy? It’s always good to have a few indoor “gardeners” even when they’re healthy. Alternatively, you could introduce them to the world of houseplants by getting them their garden container and showing them how to take care of it. Planting flowers and vegetables, especially if they’re organic, is a fun way to spend time with your elderly loved ones and show them how to take care of plants. If they enjoy gardening, you could even encourage them to grow their vegetables and fruits and provide the seeds and soil packets for them.
Cooking and Baking
If your elderly loved one enjoys cooking or baking, encourage them to bake treats for you while being quarantined. You could even provide some ingredients and snacks for their use during quarantine. Depending on the type of disease they currently have, some foods may be off-limits, so it’s good to discuss this with the doctors before bringing in food. Also, some elderly may enjoy preparing dishes that contain ginger because it is known to relieve motion sickness and nausea.
Motivate Your Elderly Loved Ones
Sometimes participating in activities alone isn’t always engaging enough for seniors who need constant stimulation. Instead, get your senior loved ones focused on something new. Try getting them involved in group activities like dance classes or fitness meetings. If they are elderly, check to see if there are any free community classes in their area. Older adults are interested in learning a new skill or trying a new hobby. You could even encourage them to offer courses that they enjoyed during their younger years and would like to share with others!
Many elderly go through stages of depression, and it’s essential to do what we can to prevent this from happening whenever possible. A great way to do this is by keeping your senior loved ones engaged and active, helping them maintain a healthy mental state throughout quarantine. Do what you can to keep the conversation going between you and your senior loved one. Maybe look into creating an online chat with friends or family or recording books on tape for them to enjoy. With these easy tips, you should have no trouble maintaining your elderly loved ones’ engagement while they are under quarantine.
Virtual Meet-ups
If your elderly loved one is reluctant to stay all day indoors, why not introduce them to the idea of virtual meet-ups? You can do this by getting them something like Zoom, Skype, or Facetime for their computer. Then find people in your family who are willing to video chat with them. Another option is to install some social networking software that allows family members to leave messages or videos just for them. This way, they still get to interact with other people without leaving the house (which might be dangerous if they’re sick).
Virtual Traveling
Similar to the above, traveling is something that may be difficult or impossible for your elderly loved one if they’re stuck at home for an extended period. On the other hand, of course, you don’t want them to place themselves in a dangerous situation by going outside where they might encounter other people who are sick. So why not introduce them to the idea of virtual traveling? You can do this by getting them some “virtual” travel app such as Google Earth and then showing them how it works, so they get the idea. Another option is some books on different places in the world. You can go through them to get an idea of each destination’s appearance without having too much.
Exercise and Yoga
For many older adults, staying active is a great way to stay healthy and keep their minds sharp. While it can be dangerous for some seniors to exercise vigorously while ill, many options are still available. One idea is to get them exercising equipment that doesn’t require strenuous movement, such as a stationary exercise bike.
Another thing you could do is get them a DVD of Yoga poses so they can get their daily dose of stretching/flexibility. Even if it’s from the comfort of their own home, this can give them something fun and relaxing to do. While also helping them stay calm and lower any anxiety they might have about being stuck indoors with nothing to do. Just make sure that they do the poses under your supervision so you can make sure they’re doing them correctly.
By staying active and giving them new things to focus on, you can help prevent feelings of isolation and depression from setting in. In addition, making a few minor changes in how you communicate with your senior loved one can make a world of difference. Communication can help them stay engaged and happy.
Concerts in the Living Room
Music is a beautiful way to lift someone’s spirits and bring some happiness into their lives. It can also be a great coping mechanism when going through difficult times, such as being isolated from loved ones during a pandemic. So why not help your elderly loved one add some live music to their quarantine? You could do this by getting them another CD or DVD that they might enjoy listening to over and over again. Another option is signing them up for an online radio service to listen to streaming radio from around the world in real-time. You could even do a combination of both if you think they might enjoy it.
Staying connected to the outside world is vital for any senior stuck at home during a pandemic or other difficult situation. The tips above are just some suggestions to help keep your elderly loved ones busy and engaged while they’re in isolation. Most importantly, you visit them regularly, talk with them on the phone, send them emails/texts/messages via social media, etc. Staying connected will help them feel less lonely and remind them that they still have people who love and care about them. Even though the rest of society is quarantining them for an extended time.
