How to Stay Connected
BE SOCIAL. STAY HEALTHY. Learn to ADAPT.
In these times of unprecedented sacrifice and unease, the temptation can be strong to change up every routine and regimen in your life. After all, if nothing feels normal, then nothing is normal, right? Wrong. At times like this, it is more important than ever to maintain as much normalcy in your life as we possibly can. So as we all adapt to a temporary reality of social distancing, remote working, remote learning, and constant hand-washing, we can't forget to STAY CONNECTED AND BE SOCIAL. But how do we do that?
Learn how to conquer social isolation through virtual experiences
Virtual experiences can be a wonderful way to feel invigorated, alive, and connected with the outside world. But first, you need to ensure that you or your older loved ones can tap in to these opportunities:
- Help older adults learn how to participate in video calls.
- How to use the latest, greatest connectivity software and apps, all in one site.
Get Involved Digitally
- Attend Events, Play Games, and View Webcams
- Beat Stress and Anxiety
- Avoid Scams and Stay Educated on COVID-19
- Virtual Connections: a one-stop-shop for senior activities, culture & education, spirituality, wellness, and more.
- Best online arts & crafts events.
- "Attend" one or all of 15 Broadway plays and musicals from the comfort of your own home.
- Best online music events.
- Help kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews keep their minds active with Audible's Free Online Books.
- Read practically any book you can think of at Open Library internet archive of books.
- Stay closer to home with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati's listing of of virtual events. These include: Shabbat services—streamed LIVE—from local temples, The Cincinnati Zoo's Home Safari via Facebook Live, The Cincinnati Art Museum Webcam, Wump Mucket Puppets via Facebook Live, and more.
- Best online food & drink events.
- Take a college-level course of your choice through the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
- Travel the world and beyond via amazing webcam sites. These include: The International Space Station, The Northern Lights, Yellowstone's Old Faithful, San Fransisco's Fog Cam, Animal Cam, and many others.
- Learn new ways to exercise and stay active—especially if you or a loved one are an older adult!
- Show off your smarts at AARP's free-to-play online Bridge Game—plus a host of other virtual games.
- Master Mahjong with Master Qwan.
The links that we've compiled below are excellent sources for stress management. Learn how to breathe, meditate, or just be happy!
- An introduction to stress, guided imagery, and affirmations for kids and adults.
- Take a time out to practice proper breathing through visualization for 2 minutes or 10 minutes.
- Yale University's ever popular Happiness Class is now free online.
- Five Ted Talks that will help you reduce anxiety and build resilience.
- The Buddhist Dharma Center of Cincinnati is offering free meditation groups via zoom.
As the old saying goes, "Where there is confusion, there is money to be made." And where there is money to be made, there will always be con artists, scammers, identity thieves, and worse. Given the uncertainty of our current economic environment, the last thing any of us should want would be to get separated from more of our money. Here is what you should know:
- Avoid coronavirus scams and learn what the FTC is doing to stop them.
- For the latest consumer guidance from the FTC and FDA: How to steer clear of fake cures.
- To learn how to protect yourself from COVID-19 and what you should do if you feel sick with up to date information from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
- 6 questions you need to ask if you have a loved one in a nursing home.
- Learn the 'atypical' symptoms older adults present with COVID-19.
- All-In-One-Place article to help you avoid scams—from the "seal of approval" people at GoodHousekeeping.com
- How to Wash Your Hands & How to Apply Hand Sanitizer—from John Hopkins. If you think you know how to do these things, you might want to think again. At this point, you really can't be too careful.