During this pandemic crisis, the ICAA brings to you resources you could use to help yourself and your customers maintain and continue to improve their wellness. These resources can help you create and adjust your wellness programs.

General activities and engagement Ideas

1. Free materials from National Institute on Aging:
   • Main site
   • Exercise
   • Exercise: Go for Life
2. Activity booklet: created by Jorgensen, J.
3. LaterLife Training. “I CAN” Active Calendar 2020.
4. Arts and crafts:
   • GreatSeniorLiving.com
   • DailyCaring.com
5. McIntosh, D. (March 19, 2020). Going the social distance. Telus.

Staying emotionally well

1. Archer, S. (2018). Happiness and health, part one: How positive emotions affect physical well-being. The Journal on Active Aging, May/June 2018.
2. Archer, S. (2018). Happiness and health, part two: What you can do to boost happiness. The Journal on Active Aging, November/December 2018.
3. Biscontini, L. (2017). Making the mind matter. The Journal on Active Aging, July/August 2017.
4. World Health Organization. (March 11, 2020). Q & A on COVID-19 and mental health. (YouTube: 39.09 minutes)
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) Mental health. Cdc.gov.
6. Oxford Mindfulness Centre. Mindfulness sessions & podcasts. Oxfordmindfulness.org.
7. Humor:
   • HumorEtc.com
   • SuddenlySenior.com
   • ElderOptionsofTexas.com
   • GeezerGuff.com
8. Singalongs and music:
   • Free music playlist and site
   • Old fashioned singalong party.(YouTube)

Staying intellectually well

1. ICAA Innovators. (2016). Steady for Life’s: Steady & sharp brain carnival. The Journal on Active Aging, May/June 2016
2. Brain teasers
   • SharpBrains.com
   • PuzzlePrime.com
   • IcebreakerIdeas.com
   • SuperCarers.com
   • SixtyandMe.com
3. Printable puzzles, art, word searches
   • DailyCaring.com
   • KeepingBusy.com
   • Memory-ImprovementTips.com
   • Reader’s Digest.com
   • Mentalup.co
   • USA Today.com
   • Mindgames.com
4. Free virtual tours
   • 12 famous museums
   • Museums, zoos, and theme parks
   • 48 world-famous sites
   • Travel Channel-8 best virtual reality experiences from around the world
   • The Great Wall of China
   • Google Earth virtual tours world heritage sites
5. Free books, classes, videos, and audiobooks
   • Audible free audiobooks
   • Project Gutenberg-free e-books
   • Eversound Content Library. Free access until April 30th. (just fill out their short form)
   • Business Insider. Free online courses from the best colleges
   • Coursera.org
   • edX.org

Staying spiritually well

1. Ludwig, S. (2017). Spiritual health and active aging: A perspective. The Journal on Active Aging, September/October 2017
2. Write. Read. Converse. Listen.
3. YouTube: search Spiritual music
4. Podcasts:
   • Coughlin, S. (May 29, 2018). Best spiritual podcasts to feel enlightened, self-aware. These podcasts will get you in touch with your spiritual side.
   • Top 15 spiritual podcasts you must follow in 2020.

Using and understanding technology

1. Mitzner, T. & Remillard, E. (2019). How one telewellness project focused on helping older adults with mobility disabilities age in place. The Journal on Active Aging Special Technology issue 2019.
2. Ludwig, S. (2019). The tech connections: Alleviating loneliness as we age. The Journal on Active Aging Special Technology issue 2019.
3. AGE-WELL 4.2 Project. (February 2020). Playful aging: Digital games for older adults.
4. Teleheath
   • Larkin, M. (2018). Telehealth program promotes older-adult health and well-being. The Journal on Active Aging, September/October 2018
   • Medicare covers telehealth services
5. Free Technology to connect with friends and loved ones:
   • Skype:
     Howfinity. (May 2019). How to use Skype-Beginners guide. (YouTube: 6.07 minutes)
   • Facetime:
     Techboomers. (April 17, 2017). How to set up Facetime. (YouTube: 1.42 minutes).
     Techboomers. (April 25, 2017). How to use Facetime. (YouTube: 2.46 minutes)
   • Whatsapp: (especially good for international use-free)
     Howfinity. (September 16, 2019). How to use Whatsapp-2020 beginner’s guide. (YouTube: 10.04 minutes)
   • Google Hangouts

Staying environmentally well: Bringing nature indoors

1. Interactive bird song chart: AAA State of Play. 50 bird species and the sounds they make.
2. Staying environmentally well: YouTube: (search outdoor scenes, nature, animals, oceans, etc. There are thousands and find those that match your customers or your interests.)
   • Relax24. (April 9, 2015). 12 hrs. Soft music-summer scenes-relaxing meditation study reading-snow melting! (YouTube: 12.17 hours)
   • Meditation Relax Music. (September 2017). Absolutely stunning nature! Relaxing Celtic music for stress relief. Calming music. Music therapy. (YouTube: 3.03 hours)
   • 321 Relaxing Meditation Clips. (November 2014). Rain sounds and rainforest animals sound-Relaxing sleep. (YouTube: 2.18 hours)

Workplace safety

1. World Health Organization. (March 19, 2020). Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19

Self-care for professionals

1. Tello, M. (2017). Self-care: 4 ways to nourish body and soul. Harvard Medical School.
2. MyIntent. Free self-care resources. MyIntent.org.
3. Gratitude
   • Burton, N. (November 27, 2019). The art and science of gratitude. Psychology Today
   • Jones, M. (February 28, 2018). 7 easy gratitude exercises that make even the most pessimistic people happier. Inc.com.
   • Proflowers.com.
4. Exercise for self-care and your customers
   • Yoga Couturier, K. Yoga for everyone: A beginner’s guide. New York Times.
   • Yoga with Adriene (has an extensive collection of yoga tutorials for a range of experience). Youtube.com.
   • Yoga Journal. Yoga for Beginners. yogajournal.com.
   • Yee, C. (2018). Yoga for inner peace: A stress-relieving sequence. yogajournal.com.
5. General exercises
   • National Institute on Aging. Go4Life:15-minute sample workout for older adults.
   • McClendon, J. Great 20 minute exercise workout for Beginners and Seniors.
   • Brilliant Aging. (March 26, 2020). Vitality Spotlights-Elevator, days 1 and 2
   • ACSM. Free taped workouts.
6. Dance
   • Canada’s National Ballet School
7. Meditation
   • Headspace. Meditation. Headspace.com.
   • Free meditation application for mobile devices. calm.com.
   • Marchese, G. (October 9, 2019). Best free online guided meditations for beginners. Yoga Journal.
8. Art Therapy
   • Morin, A. (January 24, 2020). How to Relieve Stress with Art Therapy. VeryWell Mind.
   • Klammer, S. 100 Art Therapy Exercises.
   • Free Online Sketchpad
9. Sleep
   • National Sleep Foundation. Sleeping Tips & Tricks.
   • Breus, M. (January 1, 2017). 5 Relaxation Techniques for Better Sleep. Psychology Today
   • Sleep Spotify.com.
   • Mawer, R. (February 17, 2020). 17 Proven Tips to Sleep Better at Night. Healthline.com
   • (April 1, 2020). Sleep hygiene to fight COVID-19. TelusHealth.co
10. Nutrition
    • Powell, L. (2018). Nutrition for healthy aging. The Journal on Active Aging, January/February 2018. P.34-39.
    • How to practice self-care through nutrition. Onegreenplanet.org
11. Finances
    • Hannon, K. (April 2, 2020). Ways to bolster your finances due to the coronavirus. Nextavenue.org.

 

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