Fun Activities To Do At Home

A Summer Bucket List for Seniors filled with fun, a sense of accomplishment and inspiration

With a state-by-state approach to COVID-19 prevention and re-opening, seniors can experience various stages when it comes to staying home or venturing out for certain activities.

Still, based on the latest information, the World Health Organization advises that people over 60 wear masks in public areas, especially when social distancing is not possible.

With different restrictions, health concerns, and personal preferences in mind, this Summer Bucket List for Seniors can help you stay safe and live life to the fullest:

1. Free cooking classes, anyone? Right about now, your rotation of meals might be getting a little tired. You can always hop online for recipes from places like allrecipes.com, foodnetwork.com and bettycrocker.com, complete with user reviews and videos walking you through the recipes. Plus, many classes teach you the art and science of baking, broiling, basting and so much more. Check out this excellent compilation from PopSugar of 12 Free Online Cooking Classes You Can Take Right Now.
2. Try some online workouts for seniors. Good for balance, strength, mobility and mood, exercise is so important. Equally important is finding exercises or routines that fit your activity level and keep you interested. The National Institute of Aging has a full range of free exercise videos online, and you can search YouTube for yoga, Pilates, weights, and chair workouts for all levels.
3. Give your car a good clean. A clean car is one of life’s simple pleasures, isn’t it? Grab the shop-vac, a damp rag, leather protector spray, window cleaner and a roll of paper towels and go for it. Better yet, if a neighbor kid is looking for a little extra cash, you can recruit them for the job.
4. Watch the fireworks from your car. With July 4^th approaching, there will likely be plenty of fireworks displays happening around town. Pack some snacks, drinks, and lawn chairs, and meet a small group for a socially distanced night of fun in or out of your car.
5. Take a drive. Speaking of cars, remember when people took Sunday drives just for the fun of it? It doesn’t need to be Sunday to bring this tradition back. Admire beautiful houses or yards, go through a drive-thru for a good cup of coffee, and take in the sights.
6. Write a memoir. It sounds overwhelming to think about writing a memoir, but not when you start small. Check out this article from none other than Oprah herself on 3 Things You Must Write Down This Month, and how that can add up to a book. You can also find writing prompts here and here to get you started.
7. Work from home. A job we love can help us feel connected to causes and people we care about. Check out this list from the AARP with 19 Jobs You Can Do Without Leaving the House.
8. Mind the view. What’s your view out the window? What you see every day will affect your mindset and mood. Add flowers to a windowbox or plant a fragrant perennial shrub outside your window. Consider adding a bird feeder right outside the window or even attached to your window to remind you that beautiful things are all around us. Check out this list of the 8 Best Hummingbird Feeders from Good Housekeeping.
9. Plan a trip. You may have had to cancel one or put planning on hold. But there’s no reason you can’t take this time to research your next destination. Check out airfare options, local accommodations and attractions, even map out your itinerary for each day. We thought this list was kind of fun: 17 Trips Travel + Leisure Editors Can’t Wait to Take As Soon As We Can Travel Again.
10. Sort through old photos and videos. If you’re anything like us, you probably have a lot of pictures on your phone and lying around in boxes and albums. Now is a great time to print the ones you’d like to frame or share with others at places like walgreens.com and Shutterfly.com.LegacyBox.com actually consolidates and digitizes your memories. Gather all the loose photos you have in boxes, old film, home movies, and tapes, and have them saved onto a DVD or the cloud, where they’re preserved and you can share them with others.
11. Take a virtual tour. Visit the world’s most famous museums, national parks, zoos, and landmarks with free virtual tours. Find everything here.
12. Research your candidates. And make sure you’re registered to vote. We elect the 46^th President of the United States this November the 3^rd. Now is the time to make sure you’re registered to vote. It’s also an excellent time to research the candidates and see where they stand on issues that matter most to you and to generations to come. You can start by taking a look at AARP’s Six Ways to Check Out a Political Candidate.
13. Look up for inspiration. If the world has gotten a little claustrophobic over the past few months, we’d understand if you needed to look elsewhere for inspiration, like out into space. Even amateur astronomers can have fun exploring the sky, with or without a telescope. Print out a star chart at Stellarium.org , learn the location of the planets at Sky & Telescope, and check out The 10 Must-see Skywatching Events to Look for in 2020.
14. Have a social distancing driveway or backyard get-together. Keep it simple and safe by arranging chairs 6ft or more apart or have everyone bring their own. This works especially well for neighbors who can walk over. Tell everyone to bring their own snacks and refreshments and enjoy each other’s company for a couple hours.
15. Garden and grow. We know that gardening and growing lowers stress, makes our yards more beautiful and cooking more flavorful. But did you know there’s a natural anti-depressant in soil? You read that right. Mycobacterium vaccae has been found to mirror the effect drugs like Prozac have on neurons. Scientists think this soil bacteria may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. So get a little dirt under your nails and plant up a container of tomatoes, a windowbox of herbs, or a landscape bed of summer annuals, and call us in the morning.

We hope you find ways to stay inspired, feel accomplished, and have some fun this summer while staying safe. And remember, we’re here for you if you need us.

Our Employees Practicing Core Values

Traditions Management communities practice our core values daily to maximize the quality of life for our residents and provide the highest level of care and service. Our team members honor our values by recognizing important versus necessary actions, serving with dignity and building lasting and meaningful relationships with residents and families.

With these core attributes in mind, we proudly highlight the following members of our Traditions team who have recently been promoted from within.

Congratulations Libby Mellinger, Rebekah Nicholas and Heather Satterfield! We are grateful and blessed to work alongside you.

Libby Mellinger
Executive Director

Libby was born and raised in Indiana and was drawn to the locally owned and operated Traditions at North Willow community. She received her Activity Director and Certified Nursing Assistant certifications in 2002 and added her Social Services Designee certification in 2004.

Libby joined Traditions at North Willow in November of 2016 as a Community Relations Director. In February of 2019, she began taking classes to become a Residential Care Administrator and received her license this June when she was promoted to Executive Director.

“I have been given incredible opportunities with Traditions Management. The owners and Regional VP of Operations supported and encouraged me along the way to stick with it and achieve my goals.

North Willow and our residents are home to me. We work hard to make this a place of excellence in every way possible because we care so much about residents and their families. We know their stories and their wishes, and I believe strongly in serving everyone with options that enrich and often change their lives in surprising, positive ways.”

Libby is the proud mother of four children and grandmother to one grandson.

Rebekah Nicholas
Community Relations Director

Rebekah graduated from Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Global Studies. She joined the Traditions Management team as a front desk receptionist in December of 2017, was promoted to Move-in Coordinator in September of 2018 and then promoted once again to Community Relations Director at Traditions at Beaumont in April of 2019.

“I am so honored to help people along their journey, and Traditions has allowed me to continue to grow as a person and professional. I never expected all of these opportunities, but the possibilities truly are endless with the right tools, skills and development!

It is a privilege to walk alongside a new resident and their loved ones as they navigate potential struggles living at home, goals for a new way of living and as they take a leap of faith and become part of our community. It is a joy to watch them make new friends, thrive and enjoy life.”

Rebekah and her husband live in Louisville and enjoy spending time outdoors with friends & family whenever possible.

Heather Satterfield
Community Relations Director

Heather was born and raised in Kentucky and moved to Southern Indiana with her family in 2007 to help care for her father. She began work in healthcare as an in-home caregiver and knew she wanted to continue serving her elders.

Heather joined the Traditions Management team in August of 2017. She was a part-time housekeeper and a part-time receptionist. In May of 2018, she was promoted to Move-in Coordinator, then promoted shortly after to Community Relations Director at Traditions at Hunter Station in September of 2018.

“I’ve always felt welcome at Hunter Station and have been given the tools to grow and succeed. I’m honored to be considered for these positions and appreciate that Traditions sees and recognizes their employees and believed in me.

I know what goes into caring for someone close to you, someone you care about. My oldest daughter has a very rare chromosome disorder called Kleefstra Syndrome. My residents become part of my family, and I love to hear their life stories and to build trusted relationships with them. This is a beautiful place we share together each day.” Heather and her husband have three daughters, Olivia, Peyten and Emma.

Related Articles:

• Promoting Our Core Values in the Care We Deliver

Looking On The Bright Side During Hard Times

With so much discouraging news, it’s quickly become clear that we might need to work a little harder to find the silver linings. We can make smart choices about social distancing, wearing a mask, good hand-washing hygiene and taking care of ourselves, but aside from that, we don’t have a lot of control over the Coronavirus and developing a vaccine.

We do have control over how we choose to move forward. There is good reason to be optimistic and look for the silver linings. Optimism is associated with a whole host of positives, including a stronger immune system, reduced risk of chronic diseases and greater odds of longevity.

So, let’s get to it. Ten ways to find the silver lining in uncertain times:

1. Looking for the upside has become a way of life. Some would consider it a matter of survival during a worldwide pandemic. We need to believe there is good in the world…and there is! From the neighbor kids playing porch concerts and delivering care packages to elderly neighbors, to people making time to pick up the phone, send cards, share music, adopt shelter pets, donate masks and raise money for others. Kindness matters.
2. Helping someone else is a great way to change the world (and our attitude) for the better. According to Marianna Pogosyan, Ph.D., in helping others, we help ourselves. “Research has found many examples of how doing good, in ways big or small, not only feels good, but also does us good. For instance, the well-being-boosting and depression-lowering benefits of volunteering have been repeatedly documented,” says Pogosyan. “As has the sense of meaning and purpose that often accompanies altruistic behavior….Moreover, there is now neural evidence from MRI studies suggesting a link between generosity and happiness in the brain.” Psychology Today, May 30, 2018
3. More time for gardening and working in your yard. Less time out and about means more time at home. And now that the weather is warming up, why not spend some of it turning your yard, porch or patio into a beautiful, relaxing place.That could be as simple as buying a hanging basket or elaborate as planting up a raised garden bed or containers with fragrant herbs and flowers. Either way, studies have found that being outside and gardening can reduce depression and anxiety, relieve stress, lower blood pressure and accelerate healing.
4. More time for walks. It didn’t take quarantine and stay-at-home or safer-at-home orders to uncover the benefits of walking, but it sure made us more prone to put on our shoes and get some fresh air.Walking and other exercise lowers blood sugar and is good for the heart, bones and muscles, immune system, mental health, waistline and brain, staving off age-related memory loss, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
5. If you needed a reminder about how remarkable and brief life can be, here it is. We’ve heard about the high toll Covid-19 has taken on human life around the world, and how it has forced families and friends to spend extended time apart. The numbers are sobering and loss of life, heartbreaking.Life is fleeting under any circumstances. Stay curious, connected, hopeful and grateful.
6. The resilience of nature. The Coronavirus has transformed daily life. It has also transformed the natural world in remarkable ways. Mount Everest is visible from Kathmandu, Nepal for the first time in living memory. Rare leatherback turtles have returned to lay their eggs on empty beaches. Water and air are cleaner. And with zoos closed to the public, some animals, like rare giant pandas are successfully mating.
7. The resilience of the human spirit. Friends and families have camped outside hospitals to show their love or to see their first grandchild. When lifesaving masks concealed doctor and nurse’s faces, they pinned pictures to their shirts so patients could see their smiles. A Kansas farmer shared one of just five N95 masks with the Governor of New York—he wanted a doctor or nurse to have it.Look for the stories of people who rise to the occasion and share the best of themselves.
8. We can relate. You’ve heard people say, ‘we’re all in this together.’ We’ve got a lot in common right now. Keep that in mind the next time you’re feeling lonely or anxious. And don’t forget to share how you feel with someone you trust.
9. Humor. Sometimes it takes a little humor to help us cope. During quarantine and a case of serious cabin fever, our dogs are tired of going on walks with us, people are living in and loving their pajamas and we can only reorganize the spice rack so many times.Plus, when did toilet paper become the hottest ticket in town?
10. Heroes are everywhere. Thousands of doctors and nurses have come out of retirement to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic and millions of healthcare professionals and first responders have put their lives on the line to help others.An Italian engineer turned scuba masks into ventilators, sports arenas have been converted to hospitals and homeless shelters and people from all walks of life are raising money and stepping up to help others. No act is too small, especially to the person on the receiving end.

 We hope you’ll join us in looking for the silver linings. And remember, we’re here for you if you need us.

Tips And Resources For Seniors To Stay Safe

While nearly everything has changed over the past couple of months and almost daily, there are some constants. We need to keep the refrigerator stocked and fill prescriptions, kids graduate, people celebrate birthdays and, as luck would have it, we all need toilet paper.

Meeting these needs and remembering others’ special moments (if only from a distance) takes a little extra planning now. Even Amazon Prime can’t fix everything.

So, how do you find what you need without sacrificing safety and a lot of extra lead time?

SHOP ONLINE.

Chances are it didn’t take a worldwide pandemic for you to get comfortable shopping online. But if it did, it’s never too late.

Even small, local retailers have moved much of their inventory online and made it easy to shop and pay online securely with a credit card or a variety of apps and payment services (e.g. PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and many more big bank services). Consumer Reports breaks it all down for you here. Or ask a Millennial in the family to help you set yours up.

You can shop for almost everything this way, including groceries. Each store or grocery chain will have its own system designed to let you search for specific items by brand, size, and quantity. Grocers will even let you choose whether or not to allow substitutions when they’ve run out of something on your list. It’s all very intuitive, give it a try.

What to remember: Don’t wait until you need milk to order online. Pick-up and delivery were taking up to a week from the order date in some markets.

We recommend having a running order you can add to (just like a grocery list) and don’t wait until you run out to hit send. Many apps will let you schedule a recurring order (e.g. once a month), or a 90-day supply (e.g. prescriptions) and will save your previous orders to make it easier next time.

CHOOSE DELIVERY OR CURBSIDE PICK-UP.

Whether you order online or over the phone, be sure to ask about delivery services. Many local deliveries are free or can be arranged for a small fee.

You can even specify where you’d like your goods delivered (e.g. on the front porch, in front of the garage, etc.), and someone will ring the bell, knock, or even call or text you once they deliver.

If delivery isn’t available, ask about contactless curbside pick-up. Most stores will provide a phone number to call once you pull into a designated area. Pop your back hatch or trunk and they will load everything for you.

What to remember: With both options, you can pay in advance so there is no exchange of money or contact required.

SHOP IN PERSON DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS OR DURING SPECIAL, DESIGNATED TIMES.

Many grocery chains, pharmacies, and club stores are designating a block of time (most often first thing in the morning) for high-risk people to shop (i.e. people 65 or older and those with serious underlying medical conditions).

Experts say this can be a safer in-person option because the store has been freshly sanitized and is much less crowded. They also recommend planning your visit. Make your list, and stick to it. Now’s not the time to wander every aisle.

The CDC also issued these in-person shopping guidelines to make it as safe as possible:

• Only shop in person when you absolutely need to.
• Avoid shopping if you are sick.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering.
• Shop during off-peak hours or during special hours for high-risk people (65 or older, and those with serious underlying medical conditions).
• Disinfect the shopping cart with wipes if available.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Use touchless payment if available.
• Use hand sanitizer right after paying with cash or touching a keypad.
• Use hand sanitizer after leaving the store, then wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at home.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What to remember: The less exposure to others, the better. Make a list and follow CDC safety guidelines. Pay with a credit or debit card that can be disinfected after use.  

ASK SOMEONE TO PICK IT UP FOR YOU.

The people who care about you are just waiting for the opportunity to show you. Especially now. But sometimes it’s tough to know how to help.

Be specific. Ask for what you need, or take someone up on the offer when they ask if you need anything. You would do the same if you were in their position.

What to remember: You are not being a burden. People are looking for ways to make life easier for others. Check with family, a friend, a neighbor, or even your church or neighborhood association if you need help.

AND THEN WHAT?

No matter how you get essentials, there are some simple rules to follow to keep you safe:

• After you get home or bring in shopping bags or boxes, put them in the garage or on the floor and wash your hands.
• After you put everything away or are ready to open, wash your hands again. Also, disinfect door handles and surfaces.
• According to a recent article in AARP, as well as the CDC, “contact with food and food packaging isn’t thought to be a main way the virus spreads,” so there is no need to disinfect packaging or foods themselves. Simply rinse fresh produce like you normally would in water.

With a little planning, you don’t have to sacrifice safety to plan a menu, celebrate someone special and stay healthy. And when in doubt, wash your hands one more time.

We hope you’re finding ways to stay healthy and happy, and that you reach out to others to be sure they do the same. We’re here for you if you need us.

During these difficult times, you may wonder where the best place for is your loved one. We are confident that our Community is just that! If you are struggling with the current uncertainty, or considering a move home, we hope the information below puts your mind at ease.

Care Needs While at Home

• Providing personal care for a loved one at home should be evaluated depending on family dynamics.
• Home health services may provide some help, but growing demand and personnel shortages have made these services difficult and/or exceedingly expensive to schedule appropriately.
• It’s difficult for home care services to ensure proper infection control measures and personal protective equipment (PPE) are always used. Shortages in supplies and the logistics of multiple home visits per day make these protocols especially difficult.
• Consider additional responsibilities such as buying groceries, cooking, possibly administering medication, doing the laundry, and ensuring the home is free from potential contamination.

A Safe Home Environment

• Seniors with cognitive impairments may become more confused or agitated if they are moved from a familiar environment. These changes can increase challenging behaviors that are difficult to manage safely in the home.
• Families need to ensure that everyone at home are taking the necessary precautions to not become exposed to the virus and have access to proper PPE to eliminate this risk.
• As businesses begin to re-open and people return to work, it will be especially difficult to ensure the home environment remains uncontaminated.

Emergency Care

• Is there a plan to handle acute illness or injury? Is there an emergency button available for prompt and safe medical attention if the need arises?
• In many ways, the importance of safeguards required for COVID-19 highlight the numerous benefits of living in a supportive community setting like ours.
• We have carefully implemented specific recommendations provided by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and have access to necessary and provided PPE to ensure reduced contamination.
• Our community continues to work cooperatively with various agencies to navigate this pandemic, including the CDC, state departments of health and other agencies.

After the Pandemic

• We are almost through this pandemic. Many people will be returning to work or their normal activities and will not be able to provide full-time care for their loved one.
• Our community will return to normal activities, allowing you and your loved one to enjoy daily events and dining with their friends. We truly understand the concern for your loved one or that you miss them and are concerned for their health and safety.

We are happy to discuss your personal situation and will do everything possible to help you feel better about your loved one’s health and safety. We can and want to continue to care for your loved one!

Thank you for your trust and for wanting to be a part of OUR Traditions Family!

During these difficult times, you may wonder if moving your loved one into a community is the best idea. We are confident that our Community is just that best idea! If you are struggling with that uncertainty, we hope the information below puts your mind at ease.

Care Needs Staying at Home

• Providing personal care for a loved one at home should be evaluated depending on family dynamics.
• Home health services may provide some help, but growing demand and personnel shortages have made these services difficult and/or exceedingly expensive to schedule appropriately.
• It’s difficult for home care services to ensure proper infection control measures and personal protective equipment (PPE) are always used. Shortages in supplies and the logistics of multiple home visits per day make these protocols especially difficult.
• Ongoing and additional responsibilities such as buying groceries, cooking, administering medication, doing the laundry, and ensuring the home is free from potential contamination.
• Isolation and loneliness is increased during stay at home orders.

A Safe Community Environment

• During the height of the pandemic:
  • We proactively ensured we had appropriate PPE to help eliminate the risk of potential spread and contamination of the virus.
  • We actively set protocols advising staff of the proper processes for cleanliness, social distancing, and PPE wearing.
  • We ensured transparency with families on communication regarding visitation, daily activities, and encouraged social socialization through many media platforms for everyone to still be in touch.
  • We understood the importance of staying close even when far apart and took meals and treats to families and those considering coming to live with us to keep that one-on-one human connection.
  • We know the importance of the human touch and made sure that our residents were still loved and cared for by our staff even though they could not touch their loved ones.
• Seniors with cognitive impairments may become more confused or agitated during this time if they are seeing different at home care givers due to high demand and low supply. In our community, they are cared for by a consistent caregiver that understands their impairments and can bring them a sense of calm and reassurance.
• We have strict protocols to ensure that all staff are taking the necessary precautions to not become exposed to the virus and have access to proper PPE to eliminate risk of potential contamination.
• We have strict protocols of disinfecting and cleaning to ensure the environment remains uncontaminated.

Emergency Care

• The importance of safeguards required for COVID-19 highlight the numerous benefits of living in a supportive community setting like ours.
• We have carefully implemented specific recommendations provided by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and have access to necessary and provided PPE to ensure reduced possible contamination.
• Our community continues to work cooperatively with various agencies to navigate this pandemic, including the CDC, state departments of health and other agencies.
• We have 24/7 nurse care, medical directors, and pharmacy services on site.

After the Pandemic

• We are almost through this pandemic. Many people will be returning to work or their normal activities and will not be able to provide full-time care for their loved one, but we can.
• Our community will be returning to normal activities, allowing you and your loved one to enjoy daily events, visiting together, and dining with their friends and family.
• We are looking into further social media socialization to continue to aid in the ability to stay connected as we slowly start to understand the daily procedures and protocols of everyday life.

We truly understand the concern for your loved one’s health and safety. We are happy to discuss your personal situation and will do everything possible to help you feel better about moving your loved one into our community. We CAN and WANT to care for your loved one!

Thank you for your trust and for wanting to be a part of OUR Traditions Family!