Hope for Seniors: Enduring the Coronavirus Pandemic
It’s been over six months since COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic. Our lives have drastically changed since the start of 2020. Face masks and social distancing are now social norms. Education and church look a little different than this time last year. Shopping is even a different experience.
While most of us have been able to adapt with the change and move forward with our new normal, many seniors are still stuck at home. Some haven’t left their home or property for fear of catching the virus. Others feel left behind as virtual visits and gatherings have replaced face-to-face interactions. Some seniors long desperately to be able to hug and kiss their grandchildren, while others cannot wait to see friends in person. It’s certainly a challenging time for many seniors. If you are a senior and are struggling during this pandemic, here are a few ways to help you endure so that you can protect your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Move Your Body
Exercise is important even in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s critical that seniors move their bodies daily. While you might be tempted to binge watch television in order to pass the time, make fitness a priority. Aim to move your body for at least 30 minutes a day, if you can. If 30 minutes is too much, start with 10 minutes and build your endurance until you reach 30 minutes. Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Try a senior fitness video. Walk around your home for 5 minutes every hour. Remember that exercising releases endorphins. Endorphins help boost your mood, which will only help you endure as this pandemic continues.
Engage Your Mind
In addition to moving your body, it’s important for seniors to engage their mind every day. Similarly, to the idiom “move it or lose it,” seniors who don’t engage their minds tend to have decreased cognitive functioning, which leads to memory impairment. As the pandemic continues, it’s important for seniors to find fun ways to keep their minds engaged. Set a goal of completing the daily crossword or word jumble in the newspaper. Spend time playing brain fitness games online or on your smart device. Pursue a favorite hobby, color in an adult coloring book, or read a nonfiction book.
Express Your Emotions
Some seniors struggle with expressing their emotions. It’s not something that they grew up with, unlike younger generations. Seniors tend to bottle their emotions or withdraw when they are feeling lonely or sad. Yet, it’s important for seniors to find healthy ways to express their emotions, especially those who live alone. It’s also important for seniors to know that it’s normal to feel anxious, frustrated, angry, sad, alone, and depressed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Give yourself permission to feel your feelings and find appropriate outlets to express them. If you’re sad and disappointed because you haven’t seen your grandchildren in a long time, let yourself have a good cry. Then, move on, reminding yourself that this pandemic will pass. Other ways to express emotion include journaling, meditating, exercising, and through art.
Reconnect with Your Beliefs
Our belief system goes a long way in giving us all hope and endurance as the pandemic continues. It’s important for seniors to tap into their faith and spend time reconnecting with their beliefs. Although many places of worship are closed or not safe for seniors right now, many have made themselves available online or offer outdoor options. Find what works best for your situation and make it a priority in your week. Tune in during live services so you feel like you’re there. Spend time meditating, praying, journaling, or listening to spiritual music to help you stay connected with your beliefs throughout the week.
If you are a senior who is feeling hopeless and alone during the coronavirus pandemic, please know that Visiting Angels Sarasota is here for you. We offer a variety of senior home care services that assist seniors in the comfort of their own homes. Many of our clients have found great comfort in a companion caregiver sourced by our agency to help them work through this pandemic. Getting started is as easy as calling our office and setting up a free consultation. Please contact us today by calling 941-952-5800.