Social Distancing Slowing Loved Ones Down can be avoided. First of all,  COVID-19 means social distancing restrictions.  Hence, senior assisted living facilities face many new challenges.  For example,  the need to find new ways to keep the senior residents active. Social distancing usually means that group exercise areas as well as  programs are temporarily off-limits for safety. However, physical activity and exercise is much more important now than ever.  First, it provides mental stimulation.  In addition,  it can help to lower stress and keep senior residents healthier.

Immanuel Campus of Care  a continuing care retirement community located in Peoria Arizona, is dealing with the challenges of putting social isolation in place. Immanuel’s creativity in restructuring and creating new activities is an excellent example.  They have been able to deal with the new challenges while still providing their residents with some fun and other kinds of physically engaging activities.

Focusing on Technology

When Immanuel Campus of Care  started enforcing social distancing for its residents, it led to brand new challenges. Ginny Anderson, Wellness Director, noted that Immanuel Campus of Care wellness center and saline pool (complete with a lazy river and water slide) are some of the top features of living at the campus. Prior to the virus outbreak, the facility also offered 28 different kinds of 33 fitness classes.

“One of our immediate goals was to shift our program to be accessible in an online format,” Ginny explains. “A big challenge was pulling this all together while remote. It required residents and staff being open to trying something new, using technology many have never used before, and delving into a whole new world of training virtually.”

Finally, Assisted Living Facilities can definitely offer seniors physical activities.  This being said, the staff and program directors will need to work together to find innovative solutions..  The goal, exercise with  proper social distancing guidelines.

Redesigning Activity Programs to stop Social Distancing Slowing Loved Ones Down

They were trying to offer residents plenty of fitness opportunities while maintaining social distancing.  The staff got very creative.  They relied on the newest technology to keep residents connected during these times. The community’s restructured social distancing fitness opportunities now include a full roster.  These have shown to keep residents connected and active:

• Residents are participating in a daily live Zoom video exercise classes.  They are doing stretching, upper and lower body workouts as well as some kinds of low impact aerobics.
• The facility shares ideas for activities residents can do while social distancing, such as local hiking areas, dog parks, other live exercise class opportunities, and sites for brain games.
• Residents can walk the  4/5 mile fitness challenge course that they set up.
• Staff make daily in person “well being calls”.  We want to make sure residents are getting all their needs met. These calls are made more often to those who might be feeling more isolate.
• Residents can mark off activities that they’ve done during the week on “Stay Active” Bingo cards. 
• Immanuel is also working with the local Peoria Exercise Science program to connect student trainers with residents. 

Not many of the Immanuel Campus of Care  residents had their own fitness equipment.  However,  that was quickly overcome. “Residents rolled up their sleeves and got creative, using soda cans or and water bottles for weights. Everyone is learning how to move around their personal spaces in a different way,” explains  Anderson.

Immanuel Campus of Care  also welcomes residents’ feedback.

“Residents regularly share ideas about keeping fit and connected with each other as well as staff members. They also share feedback about our new daily wellness classes,” notes Ginny.

Physical Activities and Social Distancing

With some creativity, facilities can still offer residents physical activities. Some ideas include:

• Try some kinds of video exercise classes
• Yoga
• Meditation apps 
• Tele-medicine conferences with physical therapists
• Get everyone out in the hallway  for exercise classes.  The residents remain in the doorways of their own rooms
• Group walks through parking lots, with social distancing in place

To sum up,  these new activities are not designed to entirely replace the previous programs.  However,  they will definitely help to keep seniors active while social distancing precautions remain in effect. .  Don’t Let Social Distancing Slow Loved Ones Down by using these tips.