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ISOLATION BE SPLENDID? Over 70 and self isolating? It’s no fun – or is it? We’ve found some things you can do at home.
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elf isolation has its plus points. For starters, you can please yourself. Hurrah! If you want to eat a whole packet of biscuits and watch 10 episodes of Coronation Street back to back, then go for it. You can sing at the top of your voice, dance like no-one’s watching and avoid the neighbour you can’t stand. Things are looking up.
GET CHATTING! If you don’t use email, social media or apps you can still use your landline to let your friends and family know you’re ok. They’ll appreciate your call as much as you do theirs.
PRACTICE POSITIVITY! You have to be more accepting of your life but, more importantly, you have to acknowledge the current situation and respect all the great things you have. Think not about what you do not have but rather what you do. Look at things like how you have plenty of great family and friends in your life or that you have done a great job in your professional life. Think about how you have many events and activities worth looking forward to when this is all over. Make a gratitude list and read it every morning to set yourself up for the day.
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Age UK’s Silver Line “for a cheerful chat, day or night” might be a nice addition for anyone living alone – the number is 0800 470 80 90. The charity suggests, in its coronavirus advice, “setting up a rota with family and friends to make sure someone is regularly giving them a ring”. If you’ve never been introduced to Netflix and have a smart TV, then now’s the time to start the simple process of setting up an account. You can watch Downton Abbey into the early hours. Similarly, if you’ve never followed The Archers, now’s the time to get acquainted with BBC Radio 4. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr/ broadcasts/upcoming
MAKE SOMEONE ‘APPY If you know your apps from your platforms, aren’t baffled by your browsers, maybe you could help someone older (or not) in your community to do more online. If you’re more technically minded, consider an ‘advanced tutorial’ in something like Zoom so that you can keep in touch with community groups or classes they already belonged to pre-coronavirus. There’s lots of music making apps or just turn up the music and sing along. Scholars have shown that indulging in music can provide a sense of belonging. Favourite songs can evoke memories and feelings of connection to a person or place. Or tune into the radio, you may find a few surprises that you’ve not heard before. If you’re missing out on live music Montreux Jazz festival is streaming concerts: montreuxjazzfestival.com/en/50-concerts-to-stream Google your favourite artist to see if they are doing any concerts from their living room.
