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5 ways to prevent isolation for seniors aging in place

Stay connected and active with these tips.

A person sits on a swing chair with a tablet in their home. Credit: Getty Images / andrewswd

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Winter doldrums and social distancing precautions aren’t doing anyone any favors when it comes to beating the seasonal blues. Those concerns can be exacerbated for seniors aging in place, many of whom live alone and struggle to stay connected physically or emotionally. Isolation and loneliness are risk factors for elderly health problems like dementia, reports the CDC. But whether it’s tech tools or rearranging your furniture, there are several ways to start the year off right.

1. Take advantage of virtual fitness programs

A person exercises watching a program on a tablet.
Credit: Getty Images / BakiBG

Tune in to live streamed exercise classes.

Physical exercise has a profound effect on mental health, say experts like Stefanie Sweeney and Danielle Ampolos, the owners of Simply Fit & Fun. The Massachusetts-based studio offers group fitness classes both in-person and virtually — the latter options having been expanded during the pandemic. Logging into classes in real time can foster a sense of commitment and camaraderie, especially if participants turn their cameras on, says Ampolos. An added bonus? Yoga and mindfulness are some of the easiest classes to do at home, and require little equipment and storage space.

Dr. Amy Lo of the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research says walking is suitable for many ability levels—and can be done with friends or solo. When a senior is physically able and willing, adopting a dog may have multiple benefits, Lo adds. Not only is there the built-in commitment to enjoying nature and getting steps in for the sake of man’s best friend, but pet ownership has been shown to positively impact seniors’ mental health.

Lo also likes the option of real-time or YouTube classes, and suggested having friends and family members attend the same classes.

See 25 ways to take your workout classes at home

2. Look for online socializing opportunities

A person stays connected with a friend via Zoom.
Credit: Getty Images / Vanessa Nunes

Stay connected even when you're staying at home.

Besides exercising with family virtually, Lo recommends virtual opportunities that are engaging and educational. Grandparents can play games like bingo, Sudoku, or trivia through dedicated online platforms, or use a free Zoom account to “travel to different parts of the world” by focusing video calls on destinations.

But no matter how tech-savvy retirees are, there are options for every ability level, says gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight. She cited GrandPad, a tablet made specifically for seniors. The touchpad is designed for those with less hand mobility and dryer finger pads (common for those in their 70s and older). A subscription comes with a private family network that only allows approved members to access (and manage) the device. Seniors can send voice emails, photos, and enjoy larger standard font sizes and simple video chatting.

Elder care advocate and technology writer Laurie M. Orlov is a fan of Alexa Together for Echo device users. One of her favorite Amazon Echo features is the video chat function to call family and friends, she says.

Get the Echo Show 5 from Amazon for $85

3. Change up the decor

A digital photo frame.
Credit: Nixplay

Ask your loved ones to send you special photos you can digitally display.

A little redecoration can go a long way when it comes to a cheer-up, says Lori Bellport, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and founder of Live in Place Designs LLC. The New Jersey-based interior designer says digital frames can tastefully be worked into decor and make it easy for family to send photos and videos directly from their phones to Grandma and Grandpa. All the senior needs to do is keep the frame plugged in.

Get the Nixplay 10.1 inch Smart Digital Photo Frame from Amazon for $150

4. Furnish the home for guests

A family sits in a living room together.
Credit: Getty Images / Fly View Productions

Make sure to have enough places for everyone to sit.

Seniors aging in place often convert to one-floor living or smaller spaces. But that doesn’t mean those downsizing should get rid of seating options altogether—they’ll likely want to welcome friends over, Bellport says. “If you don’t have options, that can deter seniors from being social,” she says. Bellport suggests ottomans and coffee tables with nesting cubes underneath. Or, folding chairs can easily be stored in a closet or on the back of a door.

Get the Baxton Studio Prescott 5-Piece Modern Table and Stool Set from Amazon for $265

5. Make space for plants and flowers

Two people water plants at home.
Credit: Getty Images / miodrag ignatovic

Caring for plants can be a cathartic activity.

Sprucing up a space to chase away seasonal doldrums should also include natural elements like succulents or flowers, Bellport says.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts-based Certified Aging in Place contractor David Karas agrees, and says nurturing plants is cathartic for many of the seniors he works with. Karas frequently recommends adding accessible small gardens or raised plant beds at seniors’ homes.

Steve Golden also believes the backyard is an underutilized space. “Music can improve your mood—so can the outdoors,” says the owner of Aztec Sound and Communications Inc. in Massachusetts. As such, Golden says he recommends installing an outdoor sound system when adding one inside. “An outdoor space opens up other options to welcome friends over safely, too,” he says.

Get the Keter Easy Grow raised garden bed from Amazon for $124

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