Sunday, May 10, is Mother’s Day and it is right around the corner! Since we are still sheltering in place, try planning a Virtual Tea Party in honor of the day and the special women in your life.

Start by sending Zoom or FaceTime invitations by email. Suggest dressing up, wearing a fancy hat, using a favorite teacup or china, and preparing cookies or a nice treat. A tea and cookie basket can also be delivered to the front porch of your loved one! Once you are all virtually gathered, invite everyone to share “mom gratitude”, photographs, and stories.  You can even take a screen shot of your tea party to remember how you connected in this unique and celebratory way!

Take advantage of the beautiful weather outside to engage in cloud watching and nature strolls. By taking a walk together, you can both relax while enjoying the beautiful change of scenery and take in the spring blooms! Look up at the sky and use this creative opportunity to identify shapes and figures forming in the cloud above! Observe and describe the world around you, or simply relax and just watch them float by…

Engaging in outdoor activities relaxes the mind, calms the body, and restores the soul. You can even take this as an opportunity to engage in a religious or spiritual practice with your family or care partner. Perhaps just take a few deep breaths together and provide some emotional wellness.

As with all activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Hummingbird Project encourages you to practice CDC Guidance for Older Adults: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/covid19-guidance.html

While feeling the effects of isolation, animal lovers are especially missing their four-legged visitors. If visits from their favorite family pets or volunteer Therapy Dogs are currently on pause, try sending pictures, videos, or even hosting virtual engagement with animals through a video call on a phone or Zoom meeting!  Animals naturally have the gift of promoting emotional wellness. By helping a friend or loved one see a beloved pet being walked, groomed, fed, or at play, they can experience an increase in joy and humor that naturally comes from observing furry friends!

Sheltering in place may be keeping everyone physically at home, but nothing can stop you or your loved one from virtually traveling around the world! Through the use of digital technology, The Hummingbird Project provides “Armchair Travel” destinations to connect with anyone who is experiencing isolation. We connect to your computer or tablet and share beautiful photos of a chosen destination and incorporate storytelling, cultural history, regional cuisine, and engaging conversation. The focus is to escape into a new world, try out a new way to engage together, and laugh with friends and loved ones! Family and friends can all “sign-on” to the trip and experience it together. For more information on how you can bring this fabulous experience to the older adult in your life, please call Tiffany Ramirez at 916-990=7944 or email tpaigeramirez@sageeldercare.com. 

Inspiration coming direct from a Hummingbird Project Activity Specialist:

How did I know connecting with my client virtually would benefit them? Good question! One week when my elder client was slightly under the weather, we canceled our time together due to safety precautions. After hearing from the family that she seemed a little blue, I asked them if I could call her and recreate our time together by telephone. Not only did she thrill upon hearing my voice, she asked if I would call her again as it made her feel “like we were holding hands.” Planning your virtual time together is fairly simple after the first go and it felt just like we were in the same room. Reaching out to your loved ones and friends technically is an advantage in today’s age.  Join the revolution…keep those who are isolated in the loop!