Activities For The Elderly In Lockdown And Isolation

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we may need to adjust our activity planning in accordance with new rules and regulations. Many of us are now in complete lockdown situations. Here are some in-room activity ideas collated by Golden Carers for aged care residents to enjoy while in isolation.

Spiritual Activities

Providing spiritual support for people living in long term care is vital to their well-being. It is especially important now, as residents face the challenges of being isolated from friends and family.

There are also many guided meditation apps you can use.

Artistic Pursuits

The therapeutic value of drawing and coloring comes from the need to concentrate. Residents immersve themselves and ‘forget’ their troubles whilst in the midst of a coloring activity. Everyone needs a break from reality sometimes.

Drawing

Coloring

Residents will love these beautiful coloring-in templates and artist emulations for adults!

Making

Craft activities like making cards, gifts, decorations, bookmarks and collages can be immersive and gratifying. You can find an extensive and varied list of craft activities here

Sorting & Helping Activities

Activities that make residents feel helpful are always wonderful for memory care. Everyone needs to feel useful and like they matter. Ask residents to help, cooperate, or contribute to give them a sense of satisfaction and belonging.

Colour sorting with paint colour swatches from paint store
Sorting out packs of playing cards
Leaving clothes and fabric for residents to sort by color, size etc.
Untying knots (a dozen sailor’s knots for example)
Unraveling a wool sweater for recycling
Cutting squares of old clothes to make a patchwork rug
17 Sifting & Sorting Bin Ideas

Phone Calls or Video Chats

Have family or volunteers call residents for a chat. It will lift their spirits and provide a welcome break. For an even more interactive and immersive experience, why not video chat using Skype, Google Hangout, or FaceTime!

5 Fun Technology Activities For Residents

In-Room Activity Packs

Gather a bundle of activities into a pack for residents to enjoy. Include things like:

Some people are also creating ‘Bored Boards’ – pockets of different activities for residents to select from displayed in a prominent position – word searches, coloring etc.

You may even consider making your own DIY Crosswords and DIY Word Search themed to your city, local area or care home to share with residents.

You may enjoy the activity cart suggestions in this article:
Portable Ideas to Reach Every Resident, Every Day

Armchair Travel

Travel videos can be fascinating to watch. Choose a country and some suitable YouTube videos to watch and then follow this up with themed activities based on the chosen country: word search, quizzes, coloring. etc

Themed Decorations

Following on from Armchair Travel, why not create decorations in the colours of countries you wish to celebrate. This could be for upcoming events and national days or just for fun!

Fiddle Boxes & Sensory Kits

Rummage, Memory or Sensory boxes are containers filled with everyday objects to assist people living with dementia to interact, communicate and reminisce. These activities can also be a soothing form of distraction.

Seasonal Activities

Continue to celebrate special calendar days with themed activities. For example, Easter is coming soon – why not decorate hard boiled eggs with dye, paint or using other coloring techniques? You can combine this with other related activities such as quizzes, trivia and even creating posters using pictures cut out from old magazines and posters.

Visit the Activities Calendar for a huge range of special days to celebrate.

In Room Gardening

You can enliven any room with a pot plant, and there a pot plants to suit any conditions! Residents should be encouraged to pursue this wonderful hobby, there are many hidden benefits to growing plants indoors.

This article was originally published on Golden Carers on 20/3/2020.