Connector Tips – Vol. 2

Keeping You Engaged & Informed

We have some residents who have been extra busy this week with our mask making initiative! So far we have collected over 225 masks! The mask have gone to Charlestown employees, UMD, and Gilchrest. We will soon start getting them to medical professionals as well. Thank you to all participating, keep them coming! There is a great need and together we can help make a dent in that need!

This week Connector Tips main focus will be on ways you can volunteer without leaving your home. Service is a great way to help another while also uplifting your spirits!
If you would like to sign-up for mask initiative, bingo and/or daily puzzles, please contact Stephanie at x 601-8133 or Stephanie.Knowles@erickson.com

Non – Computer Related opportunities

• Write letters of encouragement to veterans, homeless, hospital patients.
• Write thank you letters, posters or artwork for essential employees including medical professionals, grocery store employees, Charlestown staff etc.
• Create artwork with uplifting and or spiritual messages and display where others can see.
• Sassy Caps: knit or crochet soft hats for cancer patients. These items are not being accepted right now but will want them once restrictions are lifted. https://sassycaps.org/
• Mask Initiative: Sew mask for essential employees. Charlestown will pick up and deliver. Contact x601-8133 for more details.
• Create a “Who has made a difference in my life and why” book: Write people’s names that have impacted your life in one way or another as well as details of how they have impacted your life. This will bring great joy to others when they read the impact they have had on your life as well as help others understand what experiences make you who you are.
• Warm up America: Crochet or knit afghan squares that will help build blankets for both babies and adults. For pattern call x601-8133
• Census: The census is currently being taken. This is a great thing to do on your down time. You can do this by phone
  1-800-923-8282 or online  https://my2020census.gov/
• Homework Assistance/Reverse Bedtime Stories: Call a child (or video call) and help them with their homework or have them practice reading to you.
• Sign up for streaming access via Netflix or Hulu. This will give you access to MANY movies and TV shows old and new.
• Watch shows that make you laugh, such as Americas Funniest Home Videos – laughing leads to positive mental health!
• Do some Spring Cleaning! Now is a great time to declutter and do all those odd projects you have been putting off.
• Make a written record of your life by answering questions like those about yourself and writing them down. Contact x 601-8133 for additional list of ideas.
• Discover your artistic side. Try drawing, painting or coloring. Coloring pages are available by contacting x 601-8133.
• Cook some fun new recipes
• Make top 10 lists:For a fun thought experiment, try making top 10 lists of everything you can think of – your top 10 favorite movies, favorite places you’d like to go, favorite memories, or a list of secret skills you’d like to learn. Compare them with your spouse or family for a fun “getting to know you” discussion.

Physical Fitness Tips

• Take breaks from sitting – try not to sit for more than 30 minutes at a time.
• Move along with Dance and Bmore Seniors Program. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCFzrC_0LXxHLRqi_LW7qijJlZGH7jk_q
• Put on some music and sing along! Dance if you feel so inspired!
• Take a virtual ride on attractions at Disney. https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/disney-vacations/watch-disney-rides-on-youtube

Creative and Brain Healthy Tips

• DownloadTo transfer a file from another system to your own computer system. Less precisely, it may also refer to a direct transfer from a server to your local terminal over a local area network or an FTP transfer from a remote system to your system. See Upload. READ MORE books from https://www.audible.com/ they are currently offering some free of charge.
• Make and keep a daily schedule. A routine is imperative for many in order to feel a sense of normalcy and avoid boredom. Remember to include a routine for physical hygiene/care. It will aide in keeping your mental health strong.
• Play dress up: Go through that closet and have fun trying on things you have not tried for a while and remembering when and for what event you got them for. You can also use this time to declutter that closet a bit.
• Try Origami: for those without a computer call x 601-8133 for printed directions. https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/origami2/exploring01_04.html
• Virtually volunteer at a museum:You can still be helpful while staying at home. If you have good typing skills, consider volunteering with the Smithsonian Institute, which is always in need of volunteers to help transcribe important documents. https://transcription.si.edu/

“I think when the dust settles, we will realize how little we need, how very much we have, and the true value of human connection.”
-Anonymous

Stress Reduction Tips

• Watch the Beluga Whales at the Georgia Museum. https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/
• Take a tour of Yellowstone National Park. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
• Explore Africa: https://explore.org/livecams/african-wildlife/african-watering-hole-animal-camera
• Virtual tour of the Great Wall of China: https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
• Check out some of your favorite animals at the San Diego Zoo: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

Socialization

• Play games with loved ones while on video chat or phone. Some ideas are…
  • Heads up APAn access point also known as a wireless access point (WAP) is the ceiling box in your apartment that connects to the Enterprise system that provides a WiFi signal throughout the community. It creates a wireless local area network or WLAN at Charlestown. The current ceiling box is a Cisco Catalyst 9... READ MORE (found in your app store on your phone), play 20 questions, Truth or dare, do karaoke together, put on music and dance, cook something “together”, host a virtual party, virtual happy hour, play bingo, play hang man or tic tac toe.
• Come up with conversation starter questions for calls with family or friends. Ideas: Tell me about your favorite vacation. Have you ever had a nick name and what is the story behind it? What are the top 5 things you are most grateful for in life? What makes you smile?
• Take pictures of your hobbies/interests and create a personalized get to know you picture board. Display in the hall for your neighbors to see. You could also post a “fun fact about me” note on your door daily.