Possible activities and Nursing managements for the most vulnerable

groups/populations during COVID-19 pandemic

An activity in Community Health Nursing 2

Submitted by: Group 1

Abata, Kaye
Aguilando, Anthony Seth
Alumbres, Teddy Jones
Amaranto, Karen Andrea
Antimaro, Jessa
Anonuevo, Gleen
Asuncion, Vanessa
Baldoza, Sanny Jale
Baldoza, Sophie Jean
Bazar, Cristina
Britanico, Quisha Suzanne

Submitted to:
Romeo Q. Rivera
Instructor
 Possible activities and Nursing managements for the most vulnerable
groups/populations during COVID-19 pandemic

1. The COVID-19 situation has aggravated the social vulnerability of older

adults. The lack of social interaction and physical activity could have a
negative impact on their (older populations) mental and physical health.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about unprecedented

fear and uncertainty, especially among older adults. The elderly relies on social
connection more than most and they need it now more than ever. The elderly and
retired sometimes need a helping hand and they also often need to have people
around them.

There are several reasons why the elderly are somewhat more vulnerable - they
have more chronic conditions than younger people, their aging immune system
makes it harder to fight off diseases, infections and viruses. Recoveries are usually
slower and more complicated.

Possible Activities

1. Activities that encourages older adults to stay active and safe during the
coronavirus pandemic

It is important to encourage older adults to stay active and maintain gains in strength,
balance, and flexibility that reduce fall risk, strengthen the immune system, and
improve quality of life.

Encourage activity! If older adults are already engaging in outbreak-appropriate

physical activity, tell them to keep it up! Exercise is key to healthy aging. It’s
important to keep exercising to strengthen their immune systems and maintain their
fitness. The National Physical Activity Guidelines recommends engaging in 150
minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week.
  Move Your Way. Practice all 4 types of exercise: Use this infographic to
remind older adults to practice all 4 types of exercise for the most benefits.
Offer examples of each type of exercise for endurance, strength, balance, and
flexibility.

 Stay Safe during exercise: Exercising at home, with appropriate exercises and
guidance, is generally safe and healthy. Offer reminders to help older adults
to stay safe such as:
 Listen to your body. Always warm up before exercising and cool down
afterward. Gauge your level of effort with the “talk test”. You should be
exercising at a level that allows you to talk, but not sing.
 Be aware of your environment. Make sure you are in reach of a counter, back
of a couch, or a sturdy chair that is pushed up against a wall in case you lose
your balance and need to hold on to something. It may also be helpful to put a
chair/couch behind you in case you need to sit or lose your balance.
 Hydrate. Drink water before, during, and after exercising, even if you don’t feel
thirsty.
 Wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Choose shoes that are made for the
type of activity you want to do and choose clothes that work with your activity
and the temperature of your environment.
 Stay Motivated! Exercise is good for almost everyone, yet it is hard to fit
exercise into our daily life. These tips can help older adults overcome
common barriers to exercise and get moving to improve your health.
Participate in a group exercise class online, such as the Go4Life Workout
Videos.

2. Stimulating Mental Activities

Being alone can make it tough to stay mentally engaged, but mental engagement is
more important than ever if you are without a spouse or other person to be with.

Consider these options.

  Games. Word and card games can keep your mind active. Consider jigsaw
puzzles, crossword puzzles, and Sudoku. Don’t forget about online games like
solitaire, Words with Friends, and hundreds of others.
 Using the internet to travel. It is now possible to travel right from your chair.
Visit museums, other countries or cities. Check out Travel and Leisure’s 12
Famous Museum Tours. Here is another collection of museums and other
travel sites including some National Parks. And if you haven’t tried Google
Earth, you must give it a try. Fly to any part of the world that appeals to you
and before you know it, hours have passed by. You can do this from your
smartphone, computer or iPad.
 Reading. Reading is an underappreciated activity. It can stimulate the
imagination and take you to places you have never been to before. Use a
kindle or the good old fashion library.
 Writing. If you can write, try it out. Whether it is journaling or a story you have
been burning to tell, now might be the time to do it. Perhaps this is a good
time to write your personal history for your children and grandchildren.

Keeping Seniors Mentally Stimulated (activities)

Fun Ways to Connect with Technology

Technology can be unfamiliar and frightening territory for many seniors. But now is
the better time to learn. To take advantage of the many social platforms, although it
will require them to have a smartphone, laptop, or iPad, there could be someone in
the family who has and will be the one to teach the elders in the household. (Remind
on the responsibilities and limitations when using Technology).

Here are some of the more popular options for staying connected with technology:

 Facebook. Facebook is the largest social networking platform in the world,

and with good reason. Using Facebook is a good way to stay connected with
friends and family. You can share ideas, repost articles of interest, post
photos, and more. You can even follow news outlets to get up to the minute
information.
  Facetime. Facetime is a video and audio calling service. You will need an
iPhone, laptop or iPad to use it. Like Facebook, it is free. Seeing your children
or grandchildren can be immensely reassuring and fun.
 Email. Yes, good old fashion email is still a great way to communicate with
people. If you really want to impress your grandkids, learn to text.

3. Drawing activities for seniors.

Drawing is a relaxing activity that many older adults enjoy. As well as an

emotional release, drawing also provides opportunities for social connection in
group settings.

Benefits:

 Better communication - Residents living with Alzheimer's and other

illnesses may express feelings by drawing pictures.
 Improved Coordination - It can delay the loss of muscle control.
 Relaxation - It is a wonderful distraction from the blues, chronic pain, and
other stressful situations.
 Pride - There can be immense satisfaction and pleasure taken from
drawing projects.

4 Drawing Activities for High Functioning Residents

Remind participants that anybody can produce good drawings. All it takes is practice.
Walk around the group and encourage them by offering guidance as needed.
Drawing has several types of expressions: Geometric, analytic, life, and illustration to
mention a few. Here are four types of drawings to introduce to participants.

1. Freehand Drawing

Freehand drawings are sketches done by hand without the use of tools eg rulers,
compass, triangle. Participants will express themselves using pencils. They may
copy another drawing or create their own.

2. Upside Down Drawing

This type of drawing stimulates the left side of the brain (the thinking side). Instead of
seeing the picture you see only lines that once connected, form the picture - this is
the way artists see! Of course, the end product will be a little askew which will
generate laughter and interesting conversations. Templates provided.

3. Mandalas

Mandalas are a series of drawing patterns organized around a single, central point.
Drawing and coloring mandalas can be a meditative tool; the focus required
promotes a peaceful atmosphere and a reflective mood. Participants may draw
mandalas free-hand or use compasses, rulers, and other props.

4. Abstract Art Drawing

Abstract drawing or painting means that what you draw does not have to ‘look like’
anything. It doesn’t have to have a recognizable shape. Residents can explore form
and colour the way they want. Show pictures of famous abstract artists to inspire the
group; among them Vassily Kandisky, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock.

Nursing Management

 Encourage them to practice regular care and health habits. The cure
for COVID-19 has yet to be discovered, so maintaining a healthy
lifestyle to keep up the body’s natural disease-fighting capabilities is
their first line of defense. High-risk people need to focus on eating a
well-balanced diet, managing stress levels, and getting adequate
sleep.

 Remind on the limitations and responsibilities in using Technology. Too

much exposure to radiation may affect immune system

 Don’t allow them to come into contact with sick people. Those who are
infected with COVID-19 and those close to them can quickly spread the
virus to others, especially with close contact of around 6 ft. or less.
Completely avoiding contact with the sick helps protect high-risk
 people. Arrangements should be made to ensure they are separated
from the infected to lessen the risk.

 Encourage them to stay home and avoid. Given that COVID-19 is a

new disease, there is no existing immunity for it, making it more likely
for the virus to quickly spread widely. High-risk people are advised to
stay home and avoid crowds.

 Make sure their hands are always washed clean with soap and water
or disinfected with alcohol or hand sanitizers. Regular and frequent
hand washing is one of the most effective ways of killing the novel
coronavirus. Hand washing should last for at least 20 seconds and
include scrubbing the back of the hands, the spaces between fingers,
and underneath the fingernails. If soap and water are not available, any
disinfectant that contains at least 60% alcohol can suffice for the time
being.

 Teach them to avoid touching their face. The COVID-19 virus can
easily enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth, especially
when in a public area, making it all the more important for high-risk
people not to touch their faces. If necessary, they first need to ensure
their hands have been thoroughly disinfected and use a clean tissue to
touch the specific area.

 Help them avoid contact with frequently touched surfaces in public

areas Handrails, door handles, elevator buttons, and the like are
understandably filled with germs and bacteria—even those causing
COVID-19. If a loved one or companion cannot handle these surfaces
on their behalf, it is recommended to cover the area with a tissue
before touching.
 Routinely disinfect surfaces in living and working spaces. Doorknobs,
tabletops, faucet handles, telephones and cellphones are just some of
the living and working spaces that can carry the virus. Regularly
disinfecting with alcohol, bleach, and other disinfection substances
lessens the potential exposure to COVID-19.

 Educate regarding respiratory hygiene. People, especially ones

working or living with high-risk individuals, should be extra cautious.
Covering the nose and mouth with a clean tissue or the inside of the
elbow when sneezing or coughing prevents these droplets from
completely entering the public space and increasing the spread of
infection.

 Social support:
 Check in on them regularly through phone calls.
 Send them a message.
 Leave a note on their front door. Just to let them know someone is
thinking about them.
 Cook something for them and leave it outside their door – ring the bell
or let them know in advance that you are delivering a home cooked
meal for them. Remember: always give it in a disposable container,
sanitize the outside of the container by wiping with disinfectant.

 Advise to practice social distancing but not social isolation. Limit in-
person visits. Help them understand the need to practice social
distancing to keep them safe. It is tough for older adults who cherish
the time spent with friends and family members to maintain social
distancing, so reassure them that you aren’t going anywhere.

 Inform them that if they develop symptoms such as fever with cough,
fever and / or shortness of breath, to call their family doctor, helpline or
nearest hospital
 2. Persons with chronic/underlying health conditions and are
immunocompromised

While COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms in most people infected with it,
those with pre-existing medical conditions are faced with the threat of
developing severe complications from the virus, including pneumonia and
death. High-risk conditions include chronic lung disease, moderate to severe
asthma, serious heart conditions, hypertension, and severe obesity (BMI of 40
and above). Other medical conditions that are not well managed—diabetes,
renal failure, or liver disease—can also be grounds for an increased risk.

Compromised immune system

Those who are immunocompromised have a reduced ability to fight off and
recover from infections, increasing their risk of contracting COVID-19, among
others, and developing more severe symptoms.

Possible Activities

1. Spiritual Activities

Providing spiritual support for people living in long term care is vital to their well-
being. It is especially important now, as residents face the challenges of being
isolated from friends and family.

1. Sacred Music. Music touches us all. Many people with dementia will have
memories of hymns they sang as children or at a younger age. Play religious songs
and hymns from their era for comfort and spiritual well being. Encourage residents to
sing or hum familiar songs.

2. Story-telling. Story-telling encourages positive rapport between staff and

residents/families. Show a nice picture (or pictures) to the client and encourage them
to make up a story about it. You may use pictures from calendars or coffee-table
books. Ask questions to help them along. One of the many advantages of this
activity is it that it does not require the person to remember anything.
3. Radio broadcasts or TV Devotions/Mass. Some people are accustomed to hearing
religious services on the radio or seeing them on TV. Facilitate access to these
services by reminding them of services and assisting with radio tuning or escorting
them to the TV set.

4. Nature related Spiritual Care. Nourish the spirit with nature. Take client to:

•Listen & watch birds outdoors

•Visit farm animals

•Pet baby animals

•Sit under a majestic tree

•Visit the shore to watch and listen to the waves

•Watch the stars under the night sky

5. Rest related Spiritual Care

•Slow walk or wheelchair stroll around the garden

•Sitting in silence

•Holding hands

6. Reading poems or passages from the Bible or other books of faith. Rhyming
poems may bring happy memories and assist with the recall of important life events.
Poetry reading is said to improve mood and concentration in people with Alzheimer’s
Disease. Print some poems in large fonts and encourage residents to read to others.

7. Retrieval of positive memories. Reminiscing about happy memories encourages

the client to resort to long-term memory which may still be remembered with clarity.
Use props like: music, photos, gifts, and other keepsakes.

8. Listening to music. The Mayo Clinic suggests that music can have many beneficial
effects ranging from reducing feelings of physical pain to enhancing memory. Music
genre depends on the individual, as taste varies widely.
3. Easy-to-grow Indoor planting

Most people enjoy growing indoor plants. Besides being a beautiful way to
decorate a room, indoor plants are beneficial to their health. Here are ten easy
plants to grow indoors. They are mostly safe to grow around people living with
dementia, children and pets. Having said this, decorative plants should not be put
in the mouth so adequate positioning and supervision is always important.

1. Christmas Cactus - (Schlumbergera) Can be propagated from a stem

cutting. Produces lovely flowers for a couple of months every year. Enjoys bright
indirect sunlight.

2. African Violet - (Saintpaulia) Has a reputation of being temperamental - not

so easy to get to bloom but has lush foliage all year around.

3. Spider Plant - (Chlorophytum Comosum) One of the most popular house

plants for easy care. Can be used as a hanging plant as well. It works as an air
purifier.

4. Rosemary - (Salvia Rosmarinus ) Thrives on a sunny window sill or similar.

Use sandy, well drained soil and provide at least four hours of sunlight daily. Place
the pot in a drainage pan with gravel in it.

5. Snake Plant or Mother-in-law’s Tongue - (Sansevieria Trifasciata) A natural

and elegant air purifier excellent for bedrooms.

6. Aloe Vera - Improves air quality. Needs little watering. The gel can treat
minor cuts and is good for facial masks.

7. Lady Palm (Rhapsis Excelsa) The easiest palm to grow, enjoys bright
indirect sunlight, and little water.

8. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata) Also known as Lucky Plant or Money Tree.
Easy to care for. They get heavy as they grow so choose a sturdy pot with
moderate depth. Use potting mixture and volcanic gravel (perlite).

Note that some innocent looking houseplants can be toxic for humans and pets.
Be careful when purchasing or receiving cuttings from well-intentioned people;
make sure you research each plant’s toxicity and suitability. Plants that are popular
 but toxic were not added here for safety reasons. Residents in the later stages of
dementia tend to put things in their mouths and the following popular indoor plants
are not suitable for this reason.

3. Drawing activities for seniors with dementia

Benefits:

 Better communication - Residents living with Alzheimer's and other illnesses

may express feelings by drawing pictures.
 Improved Coordination - It can delay the loss of muscle control.
 Relaxation - It is a wonderful distraction from the blues, chronic pain, and
other stressful situations.
 Pride - There can be immense satisfaction and pleasure taken from drawing
projects.

Drawing is a relaxing activity that many older adults enjoy. As well as an emotional
release, drawing also provides opportunities for social connection in group settings.

1. Continuous Line

Place a blank piece of paper in front of a participant and place a dot in the middle.
Provide a drawing pencil and encourage them to do a scribble starting from the dot.
The scribble should be continuous - demonstrate if needed - until the page is full of
loose lines. Then, you may encourage them to shade or color the drawing.

2. Draw Emotions

Ask the participant to draw their emotions - a face that shows ‘how they feel today’:
angry, happy, sad. Demonstrate if needed by drawing a face showing how you feel.
If this is too hard, encourage them to draw random lines to demonstrate how they
feel today, random scribbles, straight lines, zig-zags, anything they feel like doing
with the pencil.
3. Join Dots

Place a blank page with a few dots on it here and there and encourage them to join
the dots. They may choose to shade or color the resulting shapes. Give residents as
much time as they need to complete their drawings.

Nursing Management

 Ensure their maintenance medication and treatments are continued.

For those with underlying medical conditions or are receiving treatment
that suppresses the immune system, there are significant risks involved
if treatment and medications suddenly stop. High-risk people need to
continue their medication or treatment to avoid worsening their
conditions during the outbreak.

 Encourage them to practice regular care and health habits. The cure
for COVID-19 has yet to be discovered, so maintaining a healthy
lifestyle to keep up the body’s natural disease-fighting capabilities is
their first line of defense. High-risk people need to focus on eating a
well-balanced diet, managing stress levels, and getting adequate
sleep.

 Run errands. Ensure their medical supplies are stocked up. Send them
a little reminder asking them if they took their medication already.

 Educate regarding respiratory hygiene. People, especially ones

working or living with high-risk individuals, should be extra cautious.
Covering the nose and mouth with a clean tissue or the inside of the
elbow when sneezing or coughing prevents these droplets from
completely entering the public space and increasing the spread of
infection.

 Postpone unnecessary medical visits. Help them stay in touch with

their doctors if they offer tele-medicine. As much as possible doctors
 and patients should communicate over video, email or other means
rather than face-to-face.

 Encourage them to stay home and avoid. Given that COVID-19 is a

new disease, there is no existing immunity for it, making it more likely
for the virus to quickly spread widely. High-risk people are advised to
stay home and avoid crowds.

 Make sure their hands are always washed clean with soap and water
or disinfected with alcohol or hand sanitizers. Regular and frequent
hand washing is one of the most effective ways of killing the novel
coronavirus. Hand washing should last for at least 20 seconds and
include scrubbing the back of the hands, the spaces between fingers,
and underneath the fingernails. If soap and water are not available, any
disinfectant that contains at least 60% alcohol can suffice for the time
being.

 Teach them to avoid touching their face. The COVID-19 virus can
easily enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth, especially
when in a public area, making it all the more important for high-risk
people not to touch their faces. If necessary, they first need to ensure
their hands have been thoroughly disinfected and use a clean tissue to
touch the specific area.

 Routinely disinfect surfaces in living and working spaces. Doorknobs,

tabletops, faucet handles, telephones and cellphones are just some of
the living and working spaces that can carry the virus. Regularly
disinfecting with alcohol, bleach, and other disinfection substances
lessens the potential exposure to COVID-19.
 Provide set up for emergency contacts and speed dials. Identify one
person nearby who they could rely on to care for them in case you are
not available or far away. Help them to put all important phone
numbers in speed dial. Add the COVID-19 emergency helpline
numbers to their contacts and speed dial.
References

2020. 6 Fun Activities for elderly During Quarantine. Makati Medical Center.
https://www.Makatimed.net.ph/news-and-exhibits/news/6-fun-activities-for-elderly-
during-quarantine. Accessed: February 11, 2021.

Tripken, Jennifer; CHES, Edd; Hergott, Colleen.2020. National Council on aging.

Encouraging older adults to stay active and safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.ncoa.org/blog/encouraging-older-adults-to-stay-active-and-safe-during-
the-coronavirus-pandemic/. Accessed: February 11, 2021.

Sundararajan, Gowri. 2020. Caring for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Here are six ways that young people can support the elderly during the coronavirus
lock-down and social distancing. https://www.unicef.org/india/stories/caring-elderly-
during-covid-19-pandemic. Accessed: February 11, 2021.

10 Spiritual Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease. Golden

Carers.https://www.goldencarers.com/10-spiritual-activities-for-people-with-
alzheimers-disease/4271/. Accessed: February 11, 2021.

10 Easy-To-Grow Indoor Plants For The Elderly. Golden Carers.

https://www.goldencarers.com/10-easy-to-grow-indoor-plants-for-the-elderly/6259/.
Accessed: February 11, 2021.

7 Drawing Activities For Seniors. Golden carers. https://www.goldencarers.com/7-

drawing-activities-for-seniors/6200/. Accessed: February 11, 2021.