Activities for Seniors to Do During the Pandemic
Published on May 8, 2020
As the current pandemic continues to evolve and various health and safety measures are instituted to help limit the spread of the virus across Ontario, senior living communities are committed to protecting residents, keeping them safe and healthy while ensuring they have access to fulfilling and uplifting activities.
Given the fact that this virus disproportionately impacts seniors, it’s understandable that many family members are concerned about the physical and mental health of their aging loved ones.
Fortunately, retirement communities offer a variety of activities for seniors to help keep their minds occupied and spirits high.
Pandemic Activities for Seniors in Retirement Communities
It’s natural to worry about the overall well-being of your loved one, especially in the midst of the pandemic. Seniors living at home or in retirement communities can suffer from dementia, Parkinson’s, limited mobility issues, and so much more.
Participating in a variety of activities for seniors can help them learn new skills, make new friends, and feel fulfilled. Here are a few examples of the types of activities for seniors offered by retirement communities.
Spiritual Activities
As we age, there is a tendency to reconnect with our spiritual side. Given it is more and more difficult to attend religious or spiritual services, seniors who live in their own home may struggle in fulfilling this need. Retirement communities typically offer a variety of activities related to spirituality, including services led on-site by a local religious leader, access to services broadcast on TV or via the internet, religious study groups, and meditation sessions.
Engaging in Artistic Endeavours
Another great way to help reduce stress for seniors is to encourage in the pursuit of artistic endeavours. Learning new skills such as painting, drawing, and colouring, doing crafts, and playing music can help one gain a strong sense of accomplishment while also keeping the mind and body challenged and fulfilled.
Artistic endeavours are also highly beneficial for seniors who suffer from mental and physical conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s by expanding their brain functions and teaching them valuable new skills.
In-Room Activities
In certain cases, due to safety precautions during an outbreak, retirement community residents may be confined mainly to their own suites with the possible exception of a few meals, walks, and treatment. Now more than ever, it’s important for them to engage in simple and enjoyable in-suite activities that allow individuals to stay fulfilled, occupied, and entertained.
Thanks to a dedicated, on-site team of recreational professionals, retirement home residents have access to a variety of programs and activities which can be completed in their suite, including reading, light exercises and stretches, trivia, lectures provided online and so much more.
Even in these uncertain times, it’s important for seniors to keep their minds and bodies as active as possible.
Virtually Connect with Loved Ones
Learning to use new technology that allows seniors to virtually and safely stay connected with loved ones is also a great pastime – and more important than ever before. Face-to-face videocalls can help seniors feel as if their friends and family are right there in the room whenever they want to talk or catch up.
Many senior living communities in Ontario offer extensive virtual communications access to allow seniors to be able to see their loved ones without actually having to be in the same room. Examples include Facetime, Zoom and Facebook Messenger.
Even from a distance, social interactions are essential to helping your elderly loved ones stay sane and maintain a small semblance of normalcy during these unprecedented times. The best part is that you can even virtually participate in some of their favourite activities such as watching movies, listening to music, crocheting, knitting, reading, etc. at the same time and keep them company.
Trust V!VA Retirement Communities for Your Senior Loved One
At V!VA Retirement Communities, we’re committed to ensuring the absolute best possible quality of life for all of our senior Community Members. To that end, we build and operate a number of spectacular retirement communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and Ottawa. Our Team Members are fully trained and capable of meeting the needs of your elderly loved one.
To learn more about V!VA’s pandemic response or to get more pandemic tips for seniors, please e-mail us at info@vivalife.ca or call us at 1-888-984-8482 and ask to speak with the Community Director or Wellness Manager.
