Covid-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty and fear, especially among those above 60. Being isolated may make them more depressed and lonely.
However, the good news is that there are interesting and fun indoor and outdoor activities for seniors during COVID-19 that you or your loved one can do. Let’s go through 12 activities aging seniors can safely enjoy even with social distancing.
6 Engaging Indoor Activities for Seniors in Isolation
Spiritual Activities
- Sacred Music: Many seniors, especially those with dementia, find comfort in the hymns they sang as children or young adults. Listening to religious songs and hymns from their era can offer spiritual consolation.
- Storytelling: Storytelling helps foster healthy relationships. Your loved one can recall interesting stories triggered by a photo or image from a calendar or coffee-table book. This simple yet impactful activity is one of the best quarantine activities for seniors.
- Body Massage: A gentle body massage can provide therapeutic benefits for the elderly. You can offer them pleasure and relieve tension by using gentle strokes and a few drops of essential oils
Create a Work of Art
- Drawing and Coloring: Art is a therapeutic and engaging way for your loved one to spend time during lockdown. It offers emotional release and, in assisted living, helps foster social connections. Simple crafts like cards and decorations can also spark creativity.
- Origami: Origami is a fun, easy activity that you or your loved one can enjoy. Whether using special origami paper or any paper on hand, your loved one can create cranes, flowers, and more. Don’t know how to get started? There are tons of online resources available via search on Google or YouTube.
- Indoor Gardening: Gardening indoors keeps older adults connected to nature and engaged. It’s a calming activity that brings joy, especially as they watch plants grow and enjoy fresh veggies. If your elderly loved one is interested in this activity, there are plenty of online resources for inspiration.
Play Games
- Board Games: Fun and mentally stimulating, board games and tile games keep older adults engaged. Building games is also a great option for those who enjoy creating structures.
- Strategy Games: Games like chess encourage strategic thinking and keep seniors mentally active and socially engaged. These are among the best indoor activities for seniors.
- Puzzles: Solving puzzles from newspapers or magazines provides great indoor entertainment. Popular options include crosswords, spot-the-difference puzzles, Sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles.
Sorting Activities
Some seniors find joy in sorting activities that offer a sense of satisfaction. Your loved one might enjoy sorting packs of playing cards, untying knots, or unraveling an old wool sweater for recycling. These simple activities can provide calm relief and a sense of accomplishment.
Music & Dancing
It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your physical limitations are, everyone can enjoy music. Some seniors like dancing, while others might prefer to sit and “dance” with their hands in the air. Music eliminates tension and anxiety while improving overall comfort.
On the other hand, dementia and Alzheimer’s patients are highly benefited from various types of therapeutic music. Also, older adults can listen to their favorite songs that they used to enjoy in the earlier days. Don’t let the COVID-19 pandemic slow your moves!
Movie Night
Watching favorite movies at home is always enjoyable, especially now that your loved one is spending more time indoors due to COVID. A movie night can be a perfect way to relax and escape reality, offering a great way to pass the time with so many good options available.
Exciting Outdoor Activities for Seniors During COVID
Armchair Travel
Armchair travel transports seniors to faraway destinations without leaving home. Caregivers can find resources about a specific location to share with their seniors. Maps, books, online videos, and photographs can take us to a new location.
Armchair trips during COVID can be a great activity for seniors. It’s an adventure for older adults without requiring them to perform serious physical movements, plus you can try different foods from the places they “visit.”
Outdoor Gardening
Even if your loved one isn’t up for heavy yard work or digging, they can still enjoy gardening by tending to small plants on a patio. Gardening is a great activity that beautifies their space, provides some gentle exercise, and gives a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
Small Walk
A walk around the home or the neighborhood may be a good way to relieve restlessness and provide immune-boosting advantages if the weather is nice and there aren’t too many people. Walking a dog can also be beneficial for older adults.
Play Golf
Mini golf is one of the fun activities for seniors during COVID if you have one or can set up one at home. This sport has been favored for its ability to offer companionship, mental stimulation, and physical activity without requiring intense exertion.
Flying Kites
Flying a kite can be a joyful activity for your loved one, even during COVID-19. While it’s important to maintain social distance, they can still enjoy the simple pleasure of kite flying, perhaps with your help. Though inviting grandchildren might not be possible right now, this activity can still bring a sense of freedom and delight during these times.
Light Woodwork
Seniors may enjoy fixing items around the house or enjoy woodworking hobbies. Older adults may make or refinish a birdhouse or other item. If building a birdhouse from scratch is too difficult, birdhouse kits are a viable option.
What If Your Loved One is in an Assisted Living Facility During Covid-19
If you’re loved one is in an assisted facility or nursing home during Covid, you have no cause for concern as most facilities are coming up with social programs to keep older adults engaged during this period.
For instance, at Amy’s Eden Senior Care, we have lots of activities from singing, acting out a play, dancing, or reading poetry to keep our residents engaged.
With the help of our professional caregivers, we ensure your elderly loved one enjoys and maintains a quality life. Contact us today to learn more about how our services help your loved one thrive during this time.
