Keep Homebound Seniors Agile

Whether it’s illness, physical limitations or a reluctance to venture out while COVID-19 is still active, many seniors find themselves homebound, which can cause physical and emotional challenges for both the senior and his or her caregiver.

Humans are social creatures and often get depressed when they are unable to spend time outside the home with other humans. According to a report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, social isolation in older adults resulted in an increased risk of premature death, a 50% increase in the risk of dementia, higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, and an increased risk of physical ailments like heart disease.

However, there are a variety of activities available to keep your loved one physically and mentally agile despite being confined to the home.

Here are a few ideas to help your loved one beat boredom, stay nimble and get emotional satisfaction:

Try yoga or light exercise

There are plenty of physical activities you and the senior you care for can participate in together, which helps both of you stay in shape. Even if you and your loved one have different capabilities, you can still exercise together while adjusting your workouts to meet individual needs. You can even find chair exercises or chair yoga your loved one can perform while you work out more vigorously. Check with your loved one’s doctor about his or her limitations before starting any exercise routine and make sure you don’t push your loved one too much. Exercise should be fun and invigorating in order to make it a part of your routine.

Host a game night

Get some of your senior’s favorite board or card games together and invite friends or family over to participate. Table games can provide mental stimulation as they require the players to enact strategy, answer questions, count items and sometime even perform minor tasks. Set out your loved one’s favorite refreshments and enjoy a few hours of healthy competition!

Start a book club

If your loved one likes to read, another option to stay active is to host a book club or join one online. Not only will reading the books keep your loved one’s mind active, joining in on a discussion about the plot, character development and deeper meaning of the book will provide them the ability to one to participate without having to physically entertain guests.

Have a movie night

Find two or three of your loved one’s favorite movies, pop some popcorn, dim the lights and spend a few hours delving into some Hollywood magic. Since you’re not in a movie theater, you can even  pause the film for some quick discussions about the picture or to get more refreshments.

Spend an evening with a hobby

If your loved one is interested in arts and crafts or even something more physical like dancing, spending an evening or two a week developing a hobby is a great way to stay mentally and, sometimes physically, fit. If you are unsure what hobby your loved one might like, you can always go online to look up a variety and try them out. YouTube has a number of “how to” videos on needlepoint, crocheting, painting or just about anything you might want to try.

Take up meditation

Aging can sometimes cause sadness, especially if your loved one is also homebound. Your senior may be experiencing the losses of family and friends, limits in physical abilities and boredom. A good way to alleviate some of these stressors is meditation. Meditation exercises can lower the heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones and can increase oxygen levels. Taking a few minutes each day to recharge and relax can improve your loved one’s outlook on life.

Enjoy cooking together

If your senior is able, another great and productive pastime is cooking. You and your loved one can plan meals, go online and order the ingredients and spend an evening cooking together. Choose healthy meals that are fun to cook but you can, on occasion, indulge with some more decadent dishes in moderation. Turn on your favorite TV chef and follow his or her instructions. You can also find thousands of online videos to inspire you.

Try indoor gardening

If your loved one used to enjoy gardening in his or her younger days, you can always incorporate an indoor garden to help pass the time and stimulate conversation. You can use Mason jars to plant herbs or even invest in a vertical garden if your loved one really wants to plant a few vegetables. Gardening requires movement and dedication, which leads to a healthy routine. And, once the plants begin to sprout and grow, your senior’s spirits will be lifted by the watching the fruits of their labor develop.

Talk to loved ones online

Perhaps your senior’s family or friends are unable to come to visit because of distance or illness. If this is the case, there are a number of online platforms you can use to allow your loved one to talk with and see the people in their lives. Try using Skype, Facetime or Zoom to facilitate face-to-face conversations so your loved one can interact with others on a regular basis.

The choices for keeping those we care for active and involved are endless. If you choose three or four options and a few do not work out, you can always try others. Or, you can mix things up and opt to do a variety of different things over a longer period of time.

Just know that caring for a loved one doesn’t have to be all chores and no fun. Plan some events for you and your loved one to keep you both healthy and happy.