The coronavirus outbreak has forced people worldwide to remain indoors, avoid crowds and delay summer traditions. Social distancing mandates continue to be enforced to protect people from Covid-19. However, seniors can still enjoy summer and stay safe with these fun summer activities:
- Travel Virtually
While summer vacations may be postponed due to the global pandemic, seniors can trot the globe via their recliner. Online travel videos take older adults to exotic locales without the hassle of actual travel. Seniors may also virtually travel via Google Maps to any place they desire.
Choose a picturesque destination, like Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; or Barcelona, Spain. Watch online travel videos documenting the life experiences of people living in those countries. Follow up with themed activities (such as word searches or quizzes) with family, friends, or a trusted caregiver.
- Grow a Garden
Summer blooms add color to the season and boost the moods of the elderly. Seniors who are not already green thumbs are encouraged to pick up this popular hobby. A garden can be simple rather than elaborate. Even growing a small potted plant is enough to enliven the senses.
Easy-to-grow houseplants include begonias, with their lush, red flowers; spider plants that may be transformed into hanging plants; aloe vera, the leaves of which produce soothing gel; jade plants, which are easy to care for; and rosemary, which requires just four hours of sunlight daily.
- Take Museum Tours
Similar to armchair travel, virtual museum tours are accessible to seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. Several notable national and international museums are offering online tours in lieu of in-person ones. Using internet access, seniors can continue to enjoy the arts.
See Egyptian mummies via the British Museum’s online tours. View impressionist art at the Guggenheim Museum. Take a virtual trip to one of Germany’s largest museums, the Pergamon Museum. In nearby Amsterdam, gaze at Van Gogh’s paintings at the Van Gogh Museum. The virtual options are endless!
- Sing Karaoke
While the sun is shining and the weather is temperate, head onto the deck for an afternoon of karaoke with friends, family, and caregivers. Select rollicking tunes, choreograph dance moves and sing. Seniors become even more immersed in the music when they add props or costumes.
- Create Flag Decor
As summer winds down, Labor Day will be celebrated in full force. A safe yet fun activity is to create a flag decoration using an online flag template. Caregivers help seniors print out the template, provide coloring tools and proudly hang the decorations at home in celebration of Labor Day.
- Photograph the Seaside
Seniors living by the sea might travel to the seaside with a caregiver and photograph the sea’s beauty. A caregiver provides a disposable camera, develops the film, and later discusses the day’s outing. If the sea is too far, a local nature park offers plenty of natural wonders to photograph.
- Bird Watch
Balmy summer days give seniors the opportunity to head outdoors and into nature. Accompanied by a companion caregiver, older adults can bird watch to their heart’s content. The elderly exercise their memories by naming the birds they see. Seniors safely enjoy the sensory delights of bird sanctuaries.
- Fly a Kite
Flying a kite with family members or a caregiver is a fun pastime reserved for summer’s bright days. Transform simple kite flying into an intergenerational event by inviting the grandkids for a weekend. Seniors maintain social distance with others, while experiencing the joys of flying a kite.
- Do Woodwork
Men, especially those who are used to working with their hands or fixing things around the house, will be drawn to woodworking activities. These seniors might sand a chair, build a birdhouse, or repaint a birdhouse. If starting from scratch is challenging, birdhouse kits are a practical alternative.
- Finish a Summer Read
Summertime is the ideal season to make use of the backyard hammock. Seniors might grab a favorite book and laze in the hammock to finally finish that summer read. As a solo activity, reading outdoors ensures seniors stay mentally stimulated while practicing social distancing.
- Picnic
Pack a light lunch, a book, and a tablecloth for a picnic in the park or backyard. Invite a caregiver for pleasant company and support during the outing. Rather than be stuck at home due to coronavirus restrictions, seniors get a welcome breath of fresh air.
- Go for a Scenic Drive
Driving down a scenic road is a favorite pastime for many people. Seniors who do not drive can relax in the passenger seat while a caregiver or family member takes the wheel. Summertime wildflowers, trees bursting with foliage and the setting sun are captivating sights to behold.
The coronavirus health crisis is prompting seniors to get creative in finding fun yet safe summer activities. The abovementioned pursuits are just the tip of the iceberg. The support of caregivers from Assisting Hands Home Care ensures older folks stay active and protected during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Companion caregivers from Assisting Hands Home Care ward off the social isolation and loneliness that plague many individuals amidst the coronavirus-related lockdowns and restrictions. We stimulate the minds of our care recipients and build relationships with conversations, games, and puzzles.
Our caregivers are bonded, licensed and insured so families and seniors experience peace of mind. While companion caregiving is one important aspect of our services, Assisting Hands Home Care also offers a range of comprehensive and flexible, non-medical elder care.
We support seniors with compassionate in-home care, such as assistance with the activities of daily living (including bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting), transportation (to doctor’s appointments, senior exercise classes, physical therapy or errands), meal preparation, medication reminders and light housekeeping.
Assisting Hands Home Care services are flexible and meet the care needs of the elderly living in the communities of DuPage and Cook Counties. Countless families benefit from our reliable home care services. Contact us for a free in-home consultation.
