Older adults have always been vulnerable to COVID-19. Due to the higher risks of complications and even death, the elderly have faced greater and stricter restrictions in the pandemic.
Even months into the pandemic, adults are strictly guided to limit in-person interactions and isolate themselves as much as possible.
However, the restrictions soon led to an increase in stress and anxiety among older adults.
As per the KFF analysis published in August 2020, every 1 in four adults around the age of 65 and above, reported having depression and anxiety.
The researchers in this analysis further also concluded that older women reported facing high levels of depression and anxiety rather than older men.
While it is important to generate resilience in the elderly to keep them secure from getting infected from the virus, they should not be put into a state that leads to mental health issues.
By increasing physical and mental activities, adults can enhance compassion in them. Also, it helps in decreasing loneliness and anxiety that have emerged due to pandemic restrictions.
Here are some ways to practice routines for older adults living in foster care or home to keep them active during the pandemic:
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Walking
Many communities that have shelter-in-place for older-adults have now made exceptions for the elderly to walk outdoors and also to do exercises.
An activity as simple as walking can help adults in boosting the production of stress-busting endorphins. It will eventually decrease stress hormones and also help in coping up with emotions of anxiety and depression.
Especially, if the weather is pleasant then, having a quick jog outside the shelter place or home can help older-adults in thinking about things other than the pandemic.
However, if the adults around you are strictly prohibited to go outside the home then having a short march indoors will help them stay active during the pandemic.
Watch Light-Hearted Shows
One of the easiest ways to make sure that the adults are having a stress-free time in the pandemic is by keeping their minds off the pandemic-related news.
Talking about the destruction of a pandemic on humanity will lead to stressing them out more.
Instead, what you can do is keep their mind busy and active by putting on some light-hearted TV shows for them.
Some feel-good shows for older-adults include:
- Schitt’s Creek
- The Golden Girls
- The British Baking Store
- Grace and Frankie
There are many feel-good shows on Netflix as well, but not every adult has access to the internet. Therefore, it is better to provide them a list of shows to watch on Cable TV service.
Also to make sure the cable TV stays reliable and strong all the time, especially during the pandemic, you should have the cable TV service from TDS. TDS St George provides TDS deals that allow you to customize packages. Also, it helps you in making your packages easy to include in your budget. The TDS has more than 190 local and popular channels that are enough for elderlies to spend quality time within the pandemic.
Exercise and Strength Training
Exercising and strength training activities can help seniors in feeling less stressed in the pandemic. For instance, yoga, Pilates, and stretching can help older adults in staying fit during isolation.
Also, there are many tutorials online on different YouTube channels through which you can guide your loved ones on how to practice exercises while staying at home.
As far as strength training exercises are concerned, it doesn’t usually require elderly to lift heavyweights. Instead, it can be performed through some simple movements that will help them in increasing flexibility, strength, and overall mobility.
Arts and Crafts
Elders that cannot perform exercises due to limited mobility can spend their time in the pandemic by practicing arts and crafts.
For instance, the elderly can keep themselves busy and active through knitting, painting, coloring. Working with clay and doing all other kinds of arts and crafts stuff that can help their mood cheer up and also keep their mental functioning.
Gardening
For older people that love staying outdoors, gardening is one good option to burn calories and to have a fresh environment to breathe in.
Putting some plants and herbs, and maintaining the outdoors in foster care or home can help the elderly in enjoying their time in the pandemic.
But First, Stay Safe
Before engaging in any exercise or activities, you should make sure that the people around you are capable of participating in those events. Check with their doctor for further guidance.
