19 Ways for Residents to Socialize in Isolation

19 Ways for Residents to Socialize in Isolation

User Profile By Haley Burress   United States

Found In: ›Activities ›Coronavirus: Covid-19 ›Articles

Social events don’t exactly meet social distancing guidelines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still create a feeling of community with your residents. Here are ideas on how to share events without sharing contact.

Related Activities



Comments   Post a Comment

Emily 19th Jun 2020 Recreational Therapist
The girls at work did a traveling carvival with a decorated cart. The residents played a game in their room and won a prize, then the girls were off to the next room. We have dining room lottery. Eight names are drawn every two weeks. The winners eat at their own table and socialize at lunch time. The residents love it. I work at an assisted living facility.
Solange 23rd Jun 2020 Diversional Therapist
Hi Emily, excellent idea! Well done.
Haley Burress 29th Apr 2020
Hi Sone -
I am IN LOVE with your cup group art project! Well done!
Haley Burress 29th Apr 2020
Hi Karen - I love that you are actively working with your Memory Cafe folks! I helped run our Memory Cafe here in my town for a few years, so I can understand how they could definitely benefit from some connection right now.
If a Zoom or Google Meet meeting doesn't quite go well, I wonder if you could start a private Facebook group that is invitation only. You could post videos of yourself with a fun joke of the day or trivia question of the day and encourage them to comment and say hello to their friends. You could utilize Facebook Live within that group as well. You can also post resources for caregivers and activity sheets.
I know not everyone has access to social media, but it seems to be more and more common. Could be worth a try? Let me know how it goes!
Susan 29th Apr 2020 Activity Director
Wow Haley thank you for your great thoughts on the subject
Susan 28th Apr 2020 Activity Director
I think a zoom meet is a great idea Karen
Initially you may have to help them set it up but it should work well
Another thing is to have one resident call another resident
You might want to consider a teleconference which is fairly easy to set up but it depends on what kind of phones and service your residents have
Good luck I know it’s hard but you can do it just keep a positive attitude
Karen 27th Apr 2020 COA Director
Those are all great ideas! Thanks Haley! I am trying to think of ways to keep my Memory Café folks connected - as they are at their homes during this time - but I still check on them and call them - but what else can I do to keep us all connected. I am in the process of trying to do a zoom meet! Thank you for any suggestions!
Solange 28th Apr 2020 Diversional Therapist
Hi Karen. Its such challenging times, remember you are not alone. We will see the end of it soon. Have you thought about having ‘Hallway’ activities? Have residents sitting at the door entrance of their rooms so they can see each other at a distance. Present activities like a sing-along, poetry reading, read aloud short stories and jokes, chair exercises, Roll a Ball game (give each resident a pool noodle and throw a small beach ball in the hallway for them to pass around), themed quizzes, Finish the Proverbs, True or False, quizzes: Threesome, True or False, themed quizzes, High Tea. You can also spice things up with a competition: enlarge one ‘Spot the Differences’ and give each resident a copy; whoever finds the most gets a token reward. Take care, thinking of you.
Alison 27th Apr 2020 Activitycoordinator
what a great idea
Soné 22nd Apr 2020 Lifestyle Team Leader
Here is our current Group Art Project in progress. Each person is colouring in one or two tea cups, then I bring them back to stick on the background. _ Dani
Susan 23rd Apr 2020 Activity Director
Great Sone
Thanks for sharing this I would love to see the finished project when it is done
Armi 26th Apr 2020 Activity Director
Beautiful!!!
Linda 21st Apr 2020 Activity Organiser
Thanks for the ideas, we just started putting our residents into isolation in bedrooms so was looking for stuff to do
Judy 21st Apr 2020 Diversional Therapist
Enjoying reading great activity ideas, especially in this time of lockdown. Some very good suggestions in the article 19 ways for residents to socialize in isolation. A big thankyou to Haley Burress for that. Stay strong you are all doing a fantastic job in this challenging time. - Judy Dwyer - NewZealand.
Susan 21st Apr 2020 Activity Director
Another great article Haley
You can use the many of these ideas and adapt them as necessary for special days coming up like nursing home week
Haley 20th Apr 2020 Recreation Therapist And Writer
Haley has submitted a new article: 19 Ways For Residents To Socialize In Isolation
Help