Fall Without Loneliness: Activities for Seniors in September
September may bring us cool morning air, soft sunlight and a new beginning. Yet for some of our elderly, it may represent the end of those longer days of visiting with loved ones outside in warm weather, and the quieting of their daily routines. Maintaining social connections is just as important to maintaining physical activity. Good news; you don’t have to be busy to create meaningful connections. Many small consistent actions will allow September to feel warmer, more exciting, and certainly less lonely. At Angel Care Inc., located in Brooklyn, we are committed to providing home care that includes more than assisting with your day-to-day needs. We want to help our seniors stay involved, connect with others and continue to enjoy living within their community.
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Make the Most of Early Fall Walks
September is a pleasant month in which you are likely to be able to spend time outside. Take a short walk around your local park. Walk down a familiar street. Spend some time by the water at the Brooklyn waterfront. While walking and being somewhat active you will have the opportunity to see other people and connect with others from your community.Taking a 20 minute walk with a family member, friend, neighbor or caregiver could make what might otherwise be an ordinary afternoon enjoyable.
- Bring Back Game Nights
Board games and card games make a fun way to entertain and get into conversations. For example, chess, checker board, dominoes, Scrabble, puzzles or just a deck of cards will challenge your brain and provide a comfortable environment that is good for relaxation and great for conversing.
Also, you may want to think about turning this into a weekly tradition. Invite your neighbors over for a cup of coffee and a round of a board game or have a small family gathering for afternoons of games.
- Read — But Make It Social
Reading is no longer limited to an individual. A senior that enjoys reading can join a local book club, trade books with other seniors or even read the same book as a family member and talk about it afterwards.
Many Brooklyn libraries and community centers provide adult programs such as reading groups, education seminars, lectures and community events. September may also be an excellent month to look at your choices in this area.
- Try a Community Class or Senior Program
New activities will add some excitement to your week. Some examples are art, walking, listening to music, knitting, learning on computers, dancing or attending discussion groups. The goal may be to have a purpose for leaving home and socializing with others. Even though you may not “learn” anything from these experiences, they will likely give you a sense of belonging as well as possibly a purpose in addition to getting out.
Put Social Time on the Calendar
One of the simplest things we can do in order to avoid being isolated is by incorporating connection into our day-to-day. For example, making it a point each week to call a friend on Tuesdays for coffee on Thursdays or having Sunday lunches with your family will be very helpful as anchors in your life.
If there are seniors that require some additional support, a professional caregiver can assist with providing companionship; assisting their senior clients to take walks and go out on trips; and assist with helping them to stay engaged in their daily routines. As this September begins, having just one new thing to enjoy, one new weekly walk, or one new person to talk to each week will make the season seem much brighter.
It’s also now the best time for family members who care for elderly relatives living in the home in Brooklyn or throughout New York City, to create an emergency plan before reports surface about any hurricanes that may be heading into our area. Preparing for emergencies isn’t about preparing for disasters. It’s about reducing stress, while you’re dealing with enough stress on your own. Here’s a simple, helpful guide to assist homebound seniors and their families prepare from Angel Care Inc. Know Your Zone New York City divides its area into Hurricane Evacuation Zones. The location of your loved ones' homes can determine if you will need to evacuate based upon your home’s hurricane evacuation zone designation. The city continually revises its flood maps; therefore, each family should review the current evacuation zones for their loved ones’ home(s) to understand where they would go in the event of a large storm. An annual check of NYC Emergency Management website is recommended because boundaries of the hurricane evacuation zones may have been changed. Build an Emergency Kit Together A senior needs an emergency kit that will help them prepare for a disaster. Some things are even more critical for older adults, compared to those who are younger. Prescription medications for a minimum of 7 days with a list of medications (prescribing doctor, dosage); Important documents (Insurance cards, ID, Medicare/Medicaid info., medical history), all stored in a waterproof file; Battery powered radio/hand cranked radio (for news reports on TV & Radio when electricity fails); Extra Batteries & Flashlights; Non-perishable Food & Water for at least 3 days; Backup Power Source/Battery (for life sustaining Medical Equipment i.e. Oxygen Concentrator, CPAP machine, etc.); List of Emergency Contacts (Family Members, Doctors, Home Care Agency)Clothing (comfortable/seasonal), Basic First Aid Supplies. This should be reviewed every two years, prior to Hurricane Season and towards the end of it so you can discard expired medication and food Plan for Power Outages When it comes to senior citizens who rely on electrical devices (e.g., oxygen concentrators, dialysis machines, electric wheel chair chargers), the biggest threat that they will face during severe weather is the loss of electrical service from a storm; not necessarily the wind or rain. The best course of action is to register ahead of time with Con Edison as part of their protective program for all customers using utilities for medical purposes. Also, contact their medical equipment company regarding available battery back-up options. Think Through Evacuation, Even If You Hope Not to Need It It is better to prepare an emergency evacuation plan before a hurricane hits, as opposed to waiting until the last minute when you are receiving a real time storm alert. Here are some things that can be considered: A place for them to evacuate too (family members' homes outside of the evacuation zone, or a designated hurricane shelter by the city); How will they arrive at their destination (especially if they do not own/operate a vehicle or require assistance with mobility devices); Which pets should accompany them, as most shelters have different pet requirements; Who has access to their house key(s) or medical power of attorney document(s) or who is authorized to make decisions on their behalf during a stressful situation. Stay Informed Without Getting Overwhelmed Signing up for Notify NYC alerts is one of the simplest things families can do to get official real time updates during severe weather without having to search during tense moments. How Home Care Aides Help For families managing care from afar or just juggling their own responsibilities, one quiet benefit of hiring in home care is having another pair of hands and eyes during storm season. Angel Care caregivers can help by: Preparing kits and ensuring medications are current and fully stocked; Monitoring weather alerts and passing along updates to family members; Helping with tasks before storms like securing loose things, charging devices or organizing important papers; Offering calm familiar support during a time that is very unsettling; this is really important for seniors who might worry about storms; Staying closely in touch with agency and family to coordinate continuity of care if travel gets hard. Preparedness Is a Form of Care A hurricane plan goes beyond logistics. It reflects the same careful thought and care that we use regularly for caregiving. Planning ahead so that a stressful time doesn't escalate into a crisis. If your family hasn't yet put together a plan, hurricane season lasts through fall so there is still time to get ready. Angel Care team would be happy to help build an emergency plan for someone receiving home care or talk through what kind of support might look like during severe weather.
