There is no doubt that keeping the elderly connected, especially during this difficult time in a pandemic, is challenging but there are ways we can and need to assist our elderly, we share some ideas.
Connecting Online
At a time with restrictions on visiting family and friends, the internet opens up the world of social connectivity. A good start is to teach the elderly to use email and a basic internet search. Try teaching the fundamentals of sending and receiving messages and researching topics of interest using basic internet search tools.
Skype is a great option offering video chat or skype calls from your computer or phone. There is also Facetime, Messenger or Google Hangouts.
Zoom is another way the elderly can connect with multiple family members in different locations. It’s easy to use and free up to 40 minutes, but best used on computers.
Once you’ve worked out how and by which means you are going to connect online, you could then work on a project together such as researching your Ancestry and building a family tree together.
Projects to work on
- Plant a herb garden, try worm composting or grow some summer vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes.
- Sew a quilt or begin a cross-stitch.
- Refurbish a piece of furniture.
- Revive tired and/or damaged clothes. There are even free online workshops showing you how to do this, for instance: https://events.humanitix.com/fashion-first-aid
- There are online workshops such as cooking classes, wine tasting and even virtual tours of zoos and specific places of interest. You could even join viewing a rare blue moon on Halloween! https://www.facebook.com/events/347201093001913
Pets
Studies show that elderly people who own pets are more active than those who don’t. Pets provide a sense of purpose and responsibility and promote a cheery demeanour. If you have a dog taking it for a walk often helps to break the ice for conversation with another dog walker, even just in passing. In some of our Homestyle Homes we offer Pet Therapy Programs that help to improve the social, emotional and cognitive functioning of our residents.
In Touch with Music
As Concerts and Events have been cancelled for most of this year, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, there are many Orchestras and Classical Concerts being live-steamed for free. The following are some links to Concerts that are live-steaming:
https://www.lpo.org.uk/what-s-on/2020-autumn-concerts.html – London Philharmonic Orchestra concerts till end December 2020
https://www.sco.org.uk/news/season-opener-the-quilter-cheviot-benedetti-concert-1 – Scottish Chamber Orchestra Online Concerts – October, 2020.
https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/live-streamed-classical-music-concerts-coronavirus/ – Classical Concerts Livestreamed around the world till end Dec 2020.
https://www.songkick.com/live-stream-concerts – Upcoming livestream concerts.
Whilst we currently cannot connect and undertake activities as we once normally did, there are ways we can keep in touch and connect socially, even from a distance. If you connect with your elderly loved ones, undertaking just one or two of these activities, it will help keep them socially connected and we all need that interaction right now.
If you would like to contact us regarding short-term or long-term accommodation in one of our homes, you can phone us on 1300 104 663 or contact us here.
Take Care and Stay Safe.
