The holiday season of 2020 is one none of us would have ever dreamed of only a year ago. With the COVID-19 outbreak still raging, the most vulnerable among us are bound to their homes with no hope of seeing their loved ones this season. Of course, we are talking about seniors and those with a compromised immune system. Before the outbreak, nearly 2 million seniors in the United States were homebound. That number has now risen to more than 7 million.
Homebound seniors are at a greater risk of developing depression and other serious mental health issues caused by loneliness and isolation.
We spoke to the senior care experts at A Better Way In Home Care to come up with a list of activities seniors can enjoy during this period to make this holiday season as enjoyable as possible.
Make Holiday Ornaments
A lot of seniors enjoy ornaments and have a sizeable collection. This year, instead of buying them they can turn their love for them into a crafty hobby and create their own. They are simple to make, yet very fun and challenging.
Make A Wreath
It doesn’t have to be a complicated wreath, rather a very simple one. You can make a wreath from scratch or add a few ornaments to a pre-made one.
Talk To Their Loved Ones
Did you ever hear the story of how your senior parents met? Have they told you about their first crush? First job? It’s surprising how little we know about their lives, which is why now it’s a great time to get to know them even better. You’d be surprised how many interesting stories they have. You can use any of the popular online video chat apps and take a few hours off your day to talk to them and keep them company. They’ll appreciate it.
Enjoy Some Good Music
When was the last time your senior loved one discovered new music? Introduce them to some of the vintage music they might have missed back in the day. After all, there has never been an easier way to get to the hidden gems of any era thanks to apps like Spotify or Tidal.
Bake Or Cook
A lot of seniors enjoy baking or cooking but never have a good cause to. If your senior loved one is an experienced cook, try to rekindle their love for cooking by encouraging them to make some of their favorite meals from back in the day. You can then arrange for a safe pickup of the delicious food you can enjoy with your family and senior loved ones over a video call. Giving them a purpose can be a crucial point during their time spent homebound.
Introduce Them To Online Shopping
This may be tricky depending on how technologically literate your senior loved ones are. But if you explain the basics of both online security and shopping, you’ll be opening a whole new world for them. Make sure you are there for them for any questions they have, and they’ll be surfing the net for the best deals in no time.