Combat Social Isolation
Monroe County Office for the Aging hopes you stay safe and healthy during this pandemic!
Combating Social Isolation is something we take very seriously, so we have compiled a list of resources and activities that can keep you engaged while you are home. Be sure to check back for new additions!
General Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Up-to-date information on COVID-19
Wellness Activities
Headspace
Free guided meditation
Wheelchair accessible trails in New York
Go4Life Viewos from the National Institutes of Aging
Free online sample workouts for older adults.
Happy – A free app that provides emotional support 24/7
Recommended by the American Heart Association, Mental Health America, and others.
Resources to Stay Connected
AARP Community Connections
Online mutual aid groups (informal groups of volunteers) that stay connected, share ideas, and help those most affected by the Coronavirus. Whether you want to start a group, find a group, or get assistance yourself, the directory can help you connect with people in your community.
NY Project Hope – Coping with COVID
The Emotional Support Line provides free and confidential support 8am-10pm, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Help Line is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling.
Phone: 1-844-863-9314
Institute on Aging Friendship Line
24-hour toll-free Friendship Line for people ages 60 and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-free 1-800-971-0016
Alzheimer’s Association – Rochester Chapter
Free resources, helpline, caregiver support, and information for those with dementia and their caregivers. Includes local events and activities in Monroe County and Finger Lakes region.
24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900
Well Connected by Covia
Connects individuals to virtual classes, conversations, and activities by phone (no internet required). Programs available in English and Spanish:
(877) 797-7299 (English)
(877) 400-5867 (Spanish)
Lifetime Connections Without Walls by Family Eldercare
Telephone activities program providing opportunities for older adults to connect with others in their community and across the country using a telephone conference call system.
(888) 500-6472 or [email protected]
Memory Well
Offering free and paid service. interactive digital timelines to help promote connection between family members through videos, pictures, audio, letters, and notes.
SAGEConnect
SAGEConnect links LGBT elders with their broader community, reducing isolation and promoting well-being. Interested individuals can register at the link provided or call the registration line at 929-484-4160.
Tools and Tips for Reaching a Remote Audience
This tip sheet from NCOA describes different tools for reaching a remote audience. Many different tools are included, including Facebook Live, GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, etc.
Free Internet services a for limited time (eligibility restrictions may apply)
Comcast COVID-19 Stay Connected
Low-income older adults that have internet-enabled devices but lack WiFi in their homes, may be eligible for two months of free internet service through Comcast.
Phone: 855-846-8376.
If older adults are caring for children in grades K-12 or in college that are living or staying with them, free 60-day subscriptions for internet service may be available at Spectrum/Charter at 844-488-8395 and Optimum/Altice at 866-200-9522.
Additional activities and resources to support socialization
- Writing letters or sending children’s art to nursing facility residents.
- Assigning a nursing facility staff member as a primary contact for families to facilitate inbound communications as well as outbound.
- Fostering partnerships with new entities, such as local police, mail carriers, high school students and school bus drivers to pick up and deliver prescriptions, groceries, and home delivered meals for older adults.
Caregiver Resources
New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC)
Resources for caregivers during COVID-19
National Alliance for Caregiving
Tips and resources for caregivers to help manage during COVID-19
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
ARCH National Respite Network
Respite and caregiving resources during COVID-19
New York Connects
1-800-342-9871
Area Agencies on Aging (Local offices)
Family Caregiver Alliance
COVID-19 Resources and articles for family caregivers
New York State Kinship Navigator
Resources for kinship caregivers in New York State
Northeast Business Group on Health
Resources for employees, with specific information for working caregivers
Caregiver Action Network - Caregiver Resources, Tips and Help Desk
Caregiving tips and resources for caregivers during COVID-19.
Alzheimer’s Association: Tips for Dementia Caregivers
Tips for caregivers of those with dementia living at home or in assisted living facilities, and tips for staying healthy.
Care Plan Templates
Templates on creating care plan for a loved one
The Elder Care Locator - 800-677-1116
National number for information on local aging services.
Volunteering:
Translators Without Borders
For those who are fluent in more than one language.
Librivox - Volunteer to translate information
Read and record chapters of books in the public domain and make them available for free on the internet.
United Nations Volunteers
Online volunteering with the United Nations allows organizations and volunteers to connect from anywhere in the world on any device.
Entertainment:
Metropolitan Opera
“Nightly Met Opera Streams,” a free series of encore Live in HD presentations streamed on the company website or available on all Met Opera on Demand apps.
Books:
Listen to free audio books on Audible.
Tour
Google Earth National Park Tours
“Visit” national parks across the country and talk about which ones older adults have been to. What did they see? Who were they with?
Smithsonian’s National Zoo Animal Webcams
Watch live video streams of elephants, lions, giant pandas, and naked mole rats at the National Zoo.
National Aquarium Live Broadcasting
Tune into the Blacktip Reef, Jellies Invasion and Pacific Coral Reef livestreams and enjoy a piece of the Aquarium from home.
American Museum of Natural History
Find the latest form the Museum including blog posts and videos online.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Self-Guided Tour
Virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop of mobile device.
Google Arts & Culture
Features content from over 1,200 leading museums and archives. Available online or as a downloadable app.
Education:
DOROT University Without Walls
Offers hundreds of classes available over the telephone. DOROT’s requirement for an in-home visit by a social worker is waived for this program, but advance registration is necessary. Register by calling (877) 819-9147 or sending an e-mail to: [email protected]
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
MOOCs are free online courses available for anyone to enroll.
Religious Activities:
Check with local religious organizations. Many are providing live or recorded remote viewing worship services.
Information for Potential Elder Abuse and Adult Abuse Situations
For Older Victims and Family, Friends and Neighbors of Older Victims
Statewide
To report abuse, call your local county Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services. Referrals are accepted Monday-Friday, during normal business hours. If you feel it is an emergency or are in imminent danger call 911.
Adult Protective Services (APS):
To report adult abuse, call (within New York State only): 1-844-697-3505 between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. or contact the local, county social services department’s Adult Protective Service bureau.
Monroe County Department of Human Services- Adult Protective Services
Monday-Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
585-753-6532
After-hours emergencies: 585-461-5698
NYS Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-942-6906 or 711 for Deaf or Hard of Hearing. They will direct you to a local resource.
