COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, putting more and more people out of work due to the illness or death of their colleagues. The government has warned citizens to stay home from work if they are sick, but there are still many people unable to care for themselves who are trapped at home because of their age or disability. What can aging family members do to keep active while avoiding the spreading virus? Here are some ideas of virtual activities for the elderly that individuals can participate in during the pandemic.
Provide on-Demand Exercise Classes
While going to a physical exercise class is a great way to meet people and receive personal attention from an instructor, it is often tricky for aging adults who live alone or who have mobility issues. This lack of activity can lead to health problems that will make them unfit to do any physical activity at all, which will only deepen their isolation. Virtual exercise classes allow older adults to reap most of the benefits of a real-life class without leaving home. But there are other activities you can do from home that goes beyond aerobic activity and bring strength training and balance exercises into your daily routine.
Supplement Exercise Classes with Guided Meditation
It’s excellent that the elderly exercise more often, but they can benefit even more from supplementing their activity with guided meditation. Meditation is considered by many to be a form of moving meditation because it incorporates full-body movements while seated in an upright position. Studies have shown that people who practice yoga or other forms of moving meditation can better breathe profoundly and keep their attention focused on their movements. In addition, each session of meditation helps participants better understand how to bring mindfulness into all aspects of life.
Start a Zoom Book Club
Do you have a favorite book from when you were young? You may even still have it on your bookshelf. Why not read one of your favorites to somebody? If you’re looking for more of an active group of people to interact with, try starting up a Zoom Book Club where members can join in on each other’s sessions through video conferencing. And don’t worry if you haven’t finished reading something—you can always go back and finish later!
Online Language Courses
Since they’re self-paced, online language courses make for a convenient and affordable way to learn new languages. You can log on at your convenience at home or head over to a local library to use the computer if you want a small breather out of the home.
Virtual Museum Tour
If you love history, there’s nothing better than going on an interactive historical tour. There are many virtual museums online, many of which have been created with the elderly in mind. You can even visit overseas museums without stepping out of your home!
