-What’s your favorite way to waste time? -Whose your oldest friend? Where did you meet them? -Who had the biggest impact on the person you have become? -What’s the most useful thing you own? from-250 Quality Conversation Starters: The Only List You'll Need -What is the most adventurous moment in your life? -What type of cuisine are you most interested in? Who is the person you look up to? -What was your most embarrassing moment?
from-Top 40 Cute And Funny Things To Talk About On The Phone
When conversation becomes slow, whip out your trustee conversation cubes! These can be homemade. You can make as many as you want. Place random conversation topics on each side, and toss them around to see what your topic for the day is.
from:19 Fun activities and ideas for talking over the phone!
Sometimes people want to chat but have not much to say to each other. One way I create interesting conversations is by reading play scenes together over the phone. A: I'm calling the waiter. B: What's the matter? A: This steak has too much fat. B: What do you want the waiter to do? A: Bring me a better steak. B: I wouldn't do that. A: Why not? B: They will drop the new steak on the floor, step on it, and then spit on it. A: You're crazy. B: Then the waiter will give you a big smile as he brings you the new steak. A: Where do you get these crazy ideas?
Kim Lavin, Social Worker, Selfhelp's Nassau Holocaust Survivor Program, has a hidden talent: singing! Watch this special message from Kim & hear her beautiful voice. Though our social workers can't visit our clients right now, they're just a phone call away! #TogetherApartpic.twitter.com/2AUEecQprC
Glimmering Bridges The mission of our group is to provide weekly phone calls and check-ins to people within the United States. Everyone is welcome: elderly isolated at home, a patient in the hospital with limited visitors, a caregiver, or just want someone new to chat with. We hope to lessen isolation and provide people with information about local resources. Contact Us: glimmeringbridges@gmail.com 813-846-8677 website link
Offers Help Map. The Help Map allows those in need to easily identify which neighbors have raised a hand to assist with an errand — or just give a call to check in.
Also Nextdoor Groups. Some of you may have used an early version of this tool to organize around shared interests like hiking or reading. We have officially launched Nextdoor Groups so neighbors can organize for those who may need assistance during this challenging time. In my neighborhood, we pulled together a group in the hopes of directing some kindness into our community as we feel the impact of social distancing
Texting Activities
Tighten up your rhyming skills with this game of rhyme. The first person begins by texting a word or phrase. The opponent then has to text back with another word or phrase that matches the first. Keep the game going back and forth until someone gets stumped. This is a great way to stay in touch with a friend who lives miles away
This is a fantastic, fun texting game to play over the phone where you select a topic of conversion and you need to talk about it for a minute. It looks very simple, but you are not allowed to deviate from the topic at any time and should not repeat any word more than once. This game enhances the oratory skills of a person as well as the knowledge of their words, not to mention it may lead to improvements in your overall texting speed.
Abbreviations:To play the abbreviation texting game, all you have to do is pick a category, mention an abbreviation or acronym; then your opponent has to tell you the correct meaning of the abbreviation.
“Storytime” is a game with a life of its own, where players can build on each other’s creative snippets to make up a story with no boundaries. But it doesn’t have to be innocent like the ones your parents used to read you. How to play: One person will start out the story by “setting the scene”, and the two players will take turns building on the first entry. Players can set boundaries like keeping it realistic, or throw everything out the window and have fun with it. The story can only be built with one sentence entries, and it will end after the 20th text.Texting Games: The 16 Best Chat Activities To Pass The Time Kiss, Kill or Marry- This one is a classic that your girlfriend or boyfriend will love playing with you. Tease each other and see which celebs, actors, musicians, sports star of just about anyone your partner would – kiss, kill or marry! 9 Fun Texting Games To Play For Couples - Icebreaker Ideas
The rest of the site is still under construction, but as long as you are wearing your hardhat, feel free to enter! link Video Call Activities One of you lists three “facts” about himself. One of the “facts” should be false. Try to list the facts in an even voice, so as not to open a lie in advance. Another player is trying to guess which of the facts is false. 21 Fun games to play over Facetime or Skype calls
Read Bedtime Stories Many authors and celebrities are reading books in videos during the pandemic, but grandparents can also record themselves reading books and send their videos to your kiddos while you're stuck at home. Your kids can also hop on a Skype or FaceTime call with grandma and grandpa before bedtime and have them read a bedtime story.
Tell Jokes or Riddles Before the call, agree to gather up a page full of riddles or jokes to tell one another. My Littles absolutely LOVE to tell me jokes or ask me riddles that they are sure I won’t possibly guess. The only rule here is that you have to LAUGH!!! Even if it’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard. . . which will probably make you laugh anyway! 15 Fun Games to Play Over Skype (or other video chat)
My 8 year old daughter just yelled “Oh no the toilet is smoking!!” My wife and I ran to the bathroom to find this. It’s just day 4 of home school.
An article I read talked of a fellow in a nursing home having just passed away. While cleaning out his room, an envelope was found labeled most treasured possessions. When opened it was found to contain the greeting cards the fellow had received Electronic Greeting Cards
Twitter "A seven-year-old boy who was struggling with loneliness during lockdown has received over a hundred handwritten letters, after asking for pen pals." link
Play-By-Mail: Play Fun Games via Email Casually "For a long time I wanted to communicate with people in general in a non-chat format. It was only when I was on vacation with limited access and resorted to exchanging long emails with a friend who was similarly inclined that I realized that what I wanted was penpals. 45 years ago I had them but I had forgotten about the whole things. The social networking apps that are really fronts for dating apps are a poor substitute for PPW.-Max from Italy" from: Pen Pal World Activities with Kids 200+Activities you can do with Kids at home
Alexa Lets Chat
Say "Alexa Lets Chat"!. This will connect you with an artificial intelligence socialbot that can (hopefully) converse coherently and engagingly with humans on popular topics for 20 minutes
All Amazon Echos will all run "Alexa lets chat"
Current Fire Tablets will run Alexa lets chat, so will many older models. .
To do so on a fire tablet:
-you must have or create an Amazon account on the tablet
-Go into settings
-Choose Alexa
-on the Alexa page set Alexa to the on position Fire Tablets are a lot easier for a senior to set up then an Echo. The 7 inch fire tablet is available for $49 from Amazon
Gaming Sites Board Game Arena offers 175 multiplayer board games that you can play with friends or thousands of gamers around the world. Can be played on a computer, smartphone or gamebox link Plato is an app for android or iphone/ipad that has over 30 multiplayer games including: Table Soccer, Werewolf, Pool, Ocho, Mini Golf, Bankroll, Conspiracy, 4 in a Row, Sea Battle, Hold’em Poker, Minesweepers, Go Fish, BS, Zombie!, Draw Together, Dots & Boxes, Ludo, Literati, Chess, Big Two, Gin Rummy, Dice Party, Dominoes, Rock Card, Smugglers Den, Checkers, Reversi, Spades, Backgammon, Go, Hearts, Baloot and Euchre. Pogo.com offers over 70 online games
Remote Computer and Smartphone Control My mom could not use a computer or tablet without assistance. I was able to assist her using one remotely using Teamviewer a program that allows remote control of a Windows computer and many android smartphones/tablets http://teamviewer.com also the google play store.
Teddy Bears "About 35 percent of British adults sleep with teddy bears, according to a Travelodge survey. Respondents said they snuggled with the toys for comfort and a better night’s sleep, and one expert said the reasoning makes perfect sense. “Cuddling a teddy bear is an important part of our national psyche as it evokes a sense of peace, security and comfort,” Psychologist Corrine Sweet said in a Travelodge press release obtained by Yahoo! Finance". link
I suspect any soft cuddly object will work well too.
The Google Play store and Apple Apps store each offer millionsof apps. Problem is unless you know what your specifically looking for its kinda hard to find apps of interest. I've created a website that indexes these stores and allows users to browse for apps using the index, enabling you to find apps that match with your personal interests.
Here is a link to the website: Boredom Busters Here are some favorite apps for seniors
Rummikub
Is a favorite activity of many seniors. You can play against the computer, or play with players from around the world. Partners are almost always available.
Here's a link to some of my favorite smarthphone apps link
Books
SimplyE
SimplyE makes it easy to browse, borrow, and read any eBook in your library’s collection on your mobile device; no need to download multiple apps. Set up your account in three easy steps: 1. Open the SimplyE app 2. Find your local library 3. Enter your library card ID to browse, borrow, and read! Don’t have a library card? No problem. Thousands of public domain classics are available as soon as you download the app, no library card required.
National Emergency Library The Internet Archive has over 1.4 million booksavailable for loan in its library. For the duration of the cornavirus crisis, their wait list ios suspended and all books are available immediately with no waiting
Library systems across the country are beefing up their on line offerings of both books to loan and activities. Check out your local library for details. Here's an example from NYC's Queens Public Library Queensd Public Library Virtual Arts and Cultural Resources In NYC the Queens Public Library Book By Mail program also holds "teleconferences to chat, play bingo, learn about art, and so much more" Here is a link to view their offerings, and though these offerings are only available to New York City residents, the Virtual meetups concepts they offer( by teleconference and Zoom video) CAN be duplicated by your local library.
The
Met’s series of free opera streams begins with Bizet’s Carmen,
conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and starring Elīna Garanča and
Robert Alagna. Due to unprecedented demand and web traffic, we
recommend you access the stream through the Met Opera on Demand apps
for Apple, Amazon, and Roku devices and Samsung Smart TV
Walking “Did you know that every minute you walk can extend your life by 1.5 to 2 minutes?” -HealthLine
Walking is the " simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health. American Heart Association
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Unfortunately it can be boring especially walking in your house. Here's how I solve the home walking boredom problem -I walk back and forth through the length of my apartment (very boring indeed!) -As I walk I either play an audio book, listen to music or listen to a podcast. What this does is shifts my minds focus from the repetitive boring visual landscape of my apartment to the excitement of listening to my favorite music, or focusing on a great audio story.
Zoom Teleconferencing
Senior Centers, Libraries, Parks Departments and other organizations, can hold online events through the use of the zoom app
Offers Help Map. The Help Map allows those in need to easily identify which neighbors have raised a hand to assist with an errand — or just give a call to check in.
Also Nextdoor Groups. Some of you may have used an early version of this tool to organize around shared interests like hiking or reading. We have officially launched Nextdoor Groups so neighbors can organize for those who may need assistance during this challenging time. In my neighborhood, we pulled together a group in the hopes of directing some kindness into our community as we feel the impact of social distancing
The Rotterdam Philharmonic teamed up with a Dutch healthcare provider to film the finale of Beethoven’s 9th with all the musicians playing their parts by video from their homes.
Reddit Grief Support offers a place to share stories, ask questions or seek advice. Grief affects every person in a different way every time. Whether you are grieving the dead, a relationship, a job, a pet, a place or an era you are welcome here.
