The realities of life during the Covid-19 pandemic have changed everyone’s daily schedules, and heightened everyday challenges for many – especially older populations who rely on weekly events and social interaction to help maintain their independence and sense of community.
By necessity, older adults are embracing technology and the potential benefits it can offer. Increased adoption of technology equips elders with a stronger sense of connection through virtual communities and allows them to remain at home. Our MOVING Together classes create structure in one’s daily life and provides a routine activity to look forward to when they otherwise cannot physically connect to the outside world.
A MOVING Together participant offered, “I’m especially glad that we can still have our online community in these days when we are being told not to be with people. But we are together, which is really great.”
Online virtual classes can help ease the stress tied to preparing and traveling to an on-site class for participants and caregivers. A Health Science Journal study demonstrated that therapeutic use of virtual technologies by the elderly population significantly contributes to a better quality of life and improves the parameters of living, including moving around independently to perform daily routines.
MOVING Together classes emphasize evidence-based movement, mindfulness and social interaction to allow dementia and Alzheimer’s individuals to maintain their independence at home for as long as possible. The MOVING Together team has seen first-hand how patients are determined to remain independent. They are committed to working through technology challenges and learning curves so they can log on to move and stay connected with their community.
Class coordinator, Amanda Lee, enjoys supporting the participants and instructors during the movement classes. Recently she shared “some of our participants are pretty technologically savvy...but those who need a little more help are very resilient and motivated to work together so they can log on and participate in the exercises and socialize with the friends they have made online.”
And participants agree: “it’s so nice to be part of this group, but also to be safe within our own homes at this very trying time”.
Caregivers benefit from the classes along with the patients. One commented “whatever the foresight that went into this is wonderful. It’s been great, but especially now we feel like we can work with some people and we don’t have to worry about where you’ve been or where we’ve been, and it’s just nice to be with our group.”
Amwell’s CEO says: “now that many seniors have taken the first step and tried accessing care virtually, they’ll be more open to using it for other care needs in the future.” As we move forward through the Covid-19 pandemic and into an uncertain future, we anticipate that even more older adults will engage in online communities like MOVING Together and embrace them as an integral part of their daily lives.