Carers at the hospice in Pasadena are fully aware that older people do not thrive being alone. That is why Covid-19 has added further isolation they don’t need nor want. Social distancing increases elders’ risk of developing anxiety and depression. 

However, there are some things that the palliative care staff in Los Angeles suggest we do to help them through this unprecedented situation and to let them know we care and love them. Here are some activities that can help you connect with seniors who are struggling with loneliness. 

Bring Them Groceries

Fortunately, during this crisis, many stores across the globe have offered a “senior shopping hour” to protect the older members of the community from the Covid-19 virus. However, there are still some members of the senior community who can’t get groceries on their own. So, if you are about to head out for a stock-up for your family, pick up some supplies for older relatives and neighbors who struggle to leave their home and get to a store. 

Call Them

You don’t have to be physically there to make an impact on an elderly one’s life. If you call your parents once a week, you should consider to ramp up to daily check-in calls. They will appreciate and look forward to their day to day check-ins with you and gives them an opportunity to share what is happening during this time. If the senior you know is tech-savvy (and there are who are) use Facetime or other video conferencing tools so you can see one another. It makes the connection more personal and real. 

Make Some Surprise Visits

As many seniors at a hospice in Burbank Ca are missing the simplistic joy of a hug from a loved one, perhaps now is the time to make that impromptu visit to just wave through their window. Or you can hold up a sign to give them a heads up that you care about them. If they are animal lovers, think about bringing your dog with you to be your plus one during your loving shenanigans. If you make a visit, the Pasadena hospice is stressing the importance of keeping physical distance. In an ideal setting, you should have a window between you and follow the guidelines on good social isolation measures. 

Besides doing your best to show seniors how much you care and being there as their support network, they should make their own efforts to do daily activities that help them to maintain healthy mental and physical health. Here are some ways you can encourage senior citizens on lockdown to do just that. 

Visit A Virtual Museum

Obviously, going to an actual museum is a no-go at this present moment, but that isn’t going to stop a tech-savvy senior from taking part in a unique opportunity of experiencing virtual museum tours while in self-isolation. Hospice staffs in Pasadena recommend seniors to pass their free time checking out these museums which offer online visiting options. 

Guggenheim Museum, New York

By clicking on Google’s Street View feature, visitors can take a magnificent tour of Guggenheim’s distinguished spiral staircase without having to make any effort of leaving their sofa. Once you are here, you can see the amazing works of art from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern, and Contemporary eras.

British Museum, London

It is a historic museum that is situated in the center of London and is currently allowing virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and uncover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. If that wasn’t enough to keep senior citizens oohing and awing for hours on end, they can discover the hundreds of artifacts on the British Museum’s virtual tour here. 

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

This is a popular French art gallery that visitors can discover virtually. It has several famous works from French artists who worked and lived between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can take a gander at the classic works of Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, and many others. 

Get Crafty

Many hospice carers in Pasadena see crafting as a great opportunity for seniors in isolation to stay active at home. Due to unforeseen circumstances, many craft retailers are providing curbside pickup, so you can avoid entering into the store. Also, craft supplies can easily be ordered online and delivered to artistic senior. 

Senior citizens can get to work creating the obvious such as knitting, crocheting, and wood-making. However, if those activities aren’t their style, they can take a crash course on Pointillism, which is an art technique that involves joining many dots, your favorite senior can draw a comic strip, create a board game, start folding some objects in an origami challenge, or build a tiny town. If they like the limelight, you could get them to create a music video! 

Get Moving 

It is important for everyone to get their blood circulation flowing, especially during this time when we all seem to be sitting still for long periods of time. Fortunately, the National Institute on Aging has many various resources that seniors can benefit from during self-isolation. 

Also, the NIH has a YouTube channel with a dedicated playlist of workouts designed for seniors to follow along at home. These videos involve following a personal trainer through a 10 to 60-minute workout. 

Puzzles and Games

Solving puzzles and playing games is not only a fantastic way to idle away huge chunks of time, but they are also good ways for seniors to keep active as they self-isolate at home. Make sure to drop off jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and adult coloring books. If you don’t have any of these supplies at home, you can always order them from Amazon. Due to these trying times, amazon deliveries might take longer than normal; however, if they have the item in stock, they can do the delivery within a few days. 

Make sure to keep in mind good hand washing and disinfecting habits, especially when giving supplies to senior citizens. Sanitize your hands before touching items that are intended for seniors. Whenever possible, spray the box with a disinfectant such as Lysol. Inform the seniors in your life to practice the same measures when they get groceries, books, supplies, and other packages.