COVID-19 Resources for Older Adults

Despite the call for social distancing, laughs can still be shared, smiles can still be reciprocated and hearts can still be warmed. Through these times, there are many way older adults can safely engage in their communities. To help promote safe connections during COVID-19, engAGED has compiled a list of resources and activities to help older adults stay engaged.

General Activities

• Write letters to friends and/or family about some of your favorite memories together

• Reach out to a faith-based leader for support on starting a phone based or virtual faith-based study group or book club

• Try scrapbooking, drawing, or painting

  • For more inspiration on creative care, visit Timeslips’ Creativity Center

• Call a warm line - A telephone service with a friendly voice on the other end that will offer emotional support

  • Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line: 1 (800) 971-0016

  • North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry’s Hope Line: 1 (866) 578-4673

  • AARP Friendly Voices: 1 (888) 281-0145 (English) or 1 (888) 497-4108 (Spanish)

• Have a surprise conversation with a new person through QuarantineChat

• Listen to a wide range of interesting discussions and programs through Mather Telephone Topics

• Check on neighbors by starting a phone tree and schedule calls to check-in with each other

• Write a poem, short story or start journaling

  • Tips on writing life stories from Psychology Today

  • Narrative and personal writing prompts from the New York Times

  • ‘Make Up A Story’ from a gallery of images

Technology-Based Activities

• Use FaceTime, Zoom or Skype to spend time with your friends and family

• Learn about virtual volunteer opportunities through AARP’s Create the Good program

• Develop a virtual mentoring relationship with a college student through Mon Ami

• Go on a virtual tour of a museum or go on a virtual safari

• Listen to a new podcast:

  • Try NPR or others specifically for older adults

• Go on a virtual visit to the library to view and download books for free:

  • Getty Publications Virtual Library

  • The National Archives Virtual Library

• Start your journey to life-long learning and take a class:

  • Open Culture

  • Coursera

• Explore at-home workout options to keep you fit:

  • Exercise with the National Institute on Aging’s Go4Life workout videos

  • Take virtual class at the YMCA

• Listen to a free audiobook:

  • Librivox

  • Audible

  • Additional sites

• Watch a concert, opera, or dance performance:

  • Kennedy Center Digital Stage

  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ailey All Access

  • NPR Music’s compiled list of live virtual concerts

  • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s VSO Livestream

  • Royal Opera House’s YouTube Channel

  • Vienna State Opera’s live performances

  • The Metropolitan Opera’s Nightly Opera Stream

While we must modify our approaches to social engagement, it is possible to continue to stay safely connected.

Last updated: 04/16/2020