Seniors, perhaps more than any other demographic in both developed and developing countries, struggle with isolation. Seniors disproportionately live in rural areas, are often in eldercare and senior living situations which make socializing and visitation with friends and family difficult, have mobility issues that make getting out and having experiences challenging and, certainly during the pandemic, are sometimes forced to remain inside and isolated for their own safety.
All of this time spent alone can have serious mental health consequences for older adults. Below are some important brain-stimulating activities for seniors struggling with isolation.
Find a Virtual Volunteer
The pandemic has resulted in an explosion of online volunteering opportunities for people with time on their hands (and perhaps not) and a desire to give back. One such opportunity involves spending time conversing and interacting with seniors isolated at home and a wide range of senior living situations.
Seniors simply create an account on one of the many free volunteer sites and opportunity aggregators out there and select a volunteer they would like to spend some time with. The sessions don't have to be strictly conversation, but can also include games, reminiscing, art and music therapy, reading and really anything else. These virtual hangouts are important sources of socialization and hope for many older people who have struggled with the isolation of the 2020 pandemic.
Virtual Classes for Seniors
There are so many resources online that offer free classes for seniors. Coursera, BBC Language, Academic Earth, and Harvard University's Open Learning Initiative just to name a few. Many communities in advanced countries around the world that take seriously the idea of ageing in place for seniors, already offer free classes and learning opportunities at community and rec-centres, which are great sources of mental stimulation, socialization and information for older adults.
The selection of free virtual classes online is enormous and can help provide both structure and fulfilment for seniors during what might otherwise be long, hard days of boredom, isolation and even anguish. If you have a senior in your life who you know would enjoy something like this, help them set up a free account and walk them through the site or dashboard until they get a feel for the use and navigation.
Brain-Boosting Online Games
The old trope of the technophobic senior who refuses to entertain anything that involves connecting to the internet no longer holds much water. Seniors have widely adopted social media, smartphones and general internet use a lot over the last several years and use the web to manage their daily affairs and retirements, stay connected and even just pass the time.
Increased internet access and understanding means there is no reason that older adults suffering from the effects of isolation can't battle the listlessness with one or more of the free brain-stimulating games to be found all over the internet. Scrabble is a great option for exercising your working memory and language skills. For seniors who need a leg-up with a game like Scrabble, tools such as an Scrabble word finder, can help make finding and creating letter combinations easier.
Online Card Rooms
There are a multitude of online card rooms that have nothing to do with poker or gambling that seniors could be taking advantage of, both to keep their mind and their social skills sharp. Games like Euchre, Bridge, Gin and others, that once were considered common pastimes or leisure activities, still exist online.
These sites feature dozens of popular card games that can be played with friends, family, or 1000s of strangers and card game-aficionados around the world. The UI is simple to use, even for people without much online or mobile game experience, and the opportunity to socialize while exercising important mental muscles could completely change an isolated and demoralized senior's outlook on life.
Conclusion
Human beings are social animals and we need companionship and interaction. We are also curious and cerebral creatures that crave mental stimulation and engagement, regardless of our age or limitations. For many older adults, ageing is synonymous with isolation and loneliness, which has certainly been the case throughout 2020. But it doesn't have to be. Keep the above brain-stimulating activities for seniors in mind if you or someone you know is feeling the pressure of isolation and take advantage of the best aspects of the digital age.
