How to Keep Seniors Busy and Entertained in Times of Quarantine?
Keeping seniors and the elderly population busy with mental enrichment is always important, but with all that’s going on with the novel COVID-19, social interaction has come to a halt. Keeping social and maintaining relationships is deeply important for our well-being, and it keeps seniors mentally active and healthy. Due to this population being the most vulnerable group to get seriously ill from this virus, most seniors are being isolated from other people, including their loved ones.
However, technology has made it easier than ever before to remain in touch with friends and family. Plus, so much free entertainment and education is now available online as well, so it’s a great time for people of all ages to learn new things and check some amazing entertainment.
Several museums, broadway shows, and universities are offering free tours, lessons, and shows. So if you’ve never been to the opera or always wanted to learn a new craft, this is the perfect time.
Sterling Care has rounded up a comprehensive list of free resources that can be accessed online and streamed to multiple devices.
Free Online / Streamed Entertainment
Museum Tours
Russia’s State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg, Russia
This is a five-hour walk-through of the Hermitage in St Petersburgs, Russia. While five hours might be a bit long to sit and watch, it’s great to have in the background while cooking or doing crafts, and can be a great conversation starter.
British Museum London, England
This is a visual timeline presentation of the history of the world.
Uffizi Gallery Florence, Italy
Take a walk through Florence’s most famous art museum. It’s known to have one of the best collections of Renaissance art in the world.
For a full list of museums offering tours, click here.
Live Performances
The Met hopes to brighten the lives of audience members everywhere even while their stage is dark. Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s ‘Live in HD’ series is being made available for free streaming.
Broadway is temporarily on hiatus and so they’ve partnered with some incredible Broadway performers to launch a series of Living Room Concerts — performances direct to you from the living rooms of Broadway performers.
Your front row seat to works by current artists in dance, theater, music, and other forms that defy categorization. Use the code ‘ARTATHOME20’ to watch everything for free.
Romeo and Juliet – Dance of the Knights
Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers encounter passion and tragedy in Kenneth MacMillan’s 20th-century ballet masterpiece, screened live around the world.
For additional performances to check out, click here.
Animals
Animals are known to ease anxiety and stress, plus they are beautiful to look at. Below are some links where you can watch animals live in their zoo enclosures.
Fitness
Free Exercise Programs for Seniors
The GiveFit content library is stocked with expert-led, accessible, exercise videos for ages 55+
Blink Fitness hosting Facebook Live sessions on weekdays at 8:00AM EST. The fitness chain will host virtual workouts, give tips to stay motivated, and answer fitness questions from the comments.
With two easy digital options to keep your fitness routine going, stay active, healthy, and workout wherever you feel comfortable and safe.
The Social Distancing Festival
Want more live-streamed arts? A theater artist has created The Social Distancing Festival, which gathers live streams and videos of all different types of performances in one place, on one calendar.
We hope that this list will be used as a resource for others to find ways to keep the elderly and seniors entertained in these difficult times of limited social interaction and we can relieve some of that social isolation and boredom.
Does Your Loved One Need Companion Care Services?
Sterling Care offers personalized care plans that are developed with your input by our professional care managers. This is a unique care plan tailored to you or your loved one’s specific needs. Our companions engage our clients in specific activities that stimulate their mind, body and spirit. Please contact us if you feel your loved one is in need of companion care.
Wishing you all the best. Stay safe and stay healthy.
Author:
Steven B. Katz, JD, MBA, LLM, MPH, CPA, CMC, CDP, FACHE
President and Certified Geriatric Manager
