As COVID-19 makes a resurgence across the world, it’s essential to keep populations vulnerable to illness safe by practicing social distancing, masking, and avoiding crowded areas and events. 

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At the same time, social interaction is critical for adults at any age, and even decreases the risk of depression, dementia, and anxiety. Enter virtual activities: the perfect solution that allows seniors to socialize and get active in an accessible, safe way that allows flexibility for everyone.

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Where to Find Online Events & Activities for Older Adults

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At Televeda, we work to combat the effects of social isolation with our interactive live-stream events that encourage engagement and connection. Online virtual classes are an excellent way to form friendships, get active, work their brains, and have fun! 

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If you’re wondering where to find virtual and online events for seniors and the elderly online, we have some ideas for both older adults, caretakers, and activity directors. We’ve included a bunch of online activities and live streaming activities--that aren’t just Zoom calls or Zoom games! 

Televeda

We have to say it! Older adults can join Televeda classes for free to get social, active, meet new people, and combat loneliness. Our accessible live-streaming capabilities allow users to make friends and have fun, while our customizable calendars enable senior centers to use our classes, host their own, or make custom requests to meet all their needs for virtual activities for older adults. 

From virtual trivia and bingo to online yoga and Tai Chi, all of the weekly events can be streamed directly to resident rooms or from one's homes, making it the “place” to go for virtual senior center activities. As a community partner, Televeda develops and implements programming that puts organizations at competitive advantage among other senior living centers, and allows you and your staff to focus on the core duties and needs of your organization. 

Plus, we love to provide activity ideas as well like..

Eventbrite

Eventbrite is a fairly well-known company in the virtual event space. The platform is filled with a wide range of free virtual activities for seniors, from fitness and meditation classes to health care advocacy classes and strength and stretching activities for older adults.

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We even like to add our events to Eventbrite so more adults can check them out! 

Airbnb Online Experiences 

We all know Airbnb for its array of vacation rental properties. But did you know the company recently added online virtual experiences? These experiences are perfect for seniors looking to combat loneliness and connect with other older adults. 

Airbnb Experiences’ offerings include meditation with Buddhist monks, cooking with a Moroccan family, virtual tours of world sites and attractions, and much more. Depending on your budget, you’ll find a ton of amazing opportunities right through your computer. 

Not Just Bingo       

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Not Just Bingo is an incredible site full of ideas for adults, activity directors, and other resources that help senior community staff plan endless online activities and in person events. 

With how-to articles, a free email series, and even a membership option, you can get tons of great ideas to help you get started and improve your virtual activity offerings. 

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DabbleSack

DabbleSack is an online store that curates products for seniors, older community, and caregivers. It isn’t completely online--you can find puzzles, coloring books, and paint sets--but lots of their items can also be used in an online format, and they even have virtual activity kits! 

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BBC Language 

You’re never too old to learn something new, so why not a language? In fact, studies have found that bilingualism may delay the onset of dementia. For beginners and beyond, BBC Language offers free language classes in 40 different languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, and Italian.

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What’s more, the platform has a kids' section to allow seniors to learn alongside their grandkids!

Let’s Stick Together 

Let’s Stick Together is a very unique virtual activity that is fun for all ages, and can also be done in person. It’s similar to “paint by number” but it’s “stick by number” where you--and anyone else you want--can add stickers to a virtual or real sticker board until a creation is made. 

No matter where you are, you can see the virtual sticker board come together as people work on it from their own devices, until you’ve created something beautiful. 

It’s best to watch it in action, so check it out:

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P.S. The CEO is coming herself to teach the Televeda community to sticker board and give access to free sticker boards! Sign up for the class for free here. 

Two Old Bitches Podcast

This activity is going to be perfect for older women who want some entertainment and introspection from people like them: listening to the Two Old Bitches podcast! Feminist thinkers and activists Idelisse Malavé, 74,  and Joanne Sandler, 70, share the stories of women over 50 whose perspectives and experiences disrupt what it means to be “old” and reclaim what it means to be a “bitch.”  

Join their conversations with edgy elder women who make their own rules – whether it’s about politics, love, sex, work, family or fashion. Together they explode myths about gender and aging and re-define what it means to be a woman at any age.  They’re authors, podcasters, and just for the record, by B.I.T.C.H., they mean: Being In Total Charge of Herself.

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Make it interactive by creating discussion groups based on their topics, and get chatting! 

Google Games 

Brain games like Train Your Brain are a great way for seniors to work on their memory skills while having fun. There are different Train Your Brain versions to work on different parts of the brain, including Visuospatial Games, Coordination Games, Attention Games, and Memory Games.

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Other great Google game options for seniors include Parcheesi, Word Search, Maze, and Dominoes. 

At Televeda, we play brain games and virtual bingo every week! Come join us at our next game! 

Bonus? Play online games with your grandkids to get some socializing in! 

Social Media 

Not to mention, you can get your seniors on social media! Although some may think social media is a young man’s game, it can also be used to facilitate communication and socialization at any age.

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For example, Facebook Messenger is a great way for seniors to connect with long-lost relatives, old friends, and their beloved grandkids. Messenger has text and video messaging options and can be used on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. 

Some great social accounts full of resources for adults and their caregivers? 

• @theirgoldenyears
• @thedementiaguru
• @caregivingadvice
• @twooldbitches
• @dabblesack
• @LifewithGrams
• @lovetocarefor
• @ourlittlepeaceofmind
  

Conclusion: Virtual Activities for Adults and Seniors are Limitless! 

There are a lot of options out there to help older adults stay active and make friends virtually. We’ve provided some great ideas in this blog post, but we want to know what you think! What are your favorite ways to stay connected with people on the internet?

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Join Televeda’s live social classes today and share how you get fit at home while connecting with others from all over the country!

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