Locations

Online Activities and Resources2020-10-15T14:15:55-04:00

The Department of Aging and Community Living  (DACL) is committed to ensuring seniors live and thrive in the communities they know and love. This commitment includes ensuring the health and wellness of our older residents. To minimize exposure to COVID-19, we’ve partnered with Around Town DC to provide you with a list of online activities you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home! If you need further support, please give DACL a call at (202) 724-5626. For other needs, email info@iona.org or call (202) 895-9448.

Click here to view upcoming virtual Around Town DC events!

See other events and resources below.

For the Latest Coronavirus News Please Visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

COVID-19 Factsheet

Please read Iona’s Response to COVID-19

NEW CALL & TALK PROGRAMS

  • The Department of Aging and Community Living has launched a new Call & Talk program for older adults looking for someone to talk with while at home. Give them a call at 202-724-5626, go through their voice mail prompts and talk to one of the information and referral coordinators.  They will have someone call you within 24 hours.  After an interview, they will assign you someone as your conversation partner.
  • So Others May Eat (SOME) has been working to provide activities for participants who are isolated at this time. They are providing an 11 am activity call that all seniors have access to. Their program coordinator Dawit Tesfamichael developed this programming to educate, support, counsel, and entertain seniors during this time. The number for the conference call is (206) 800-4833 and the code is 828282311#

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Tips for Wellness During COVID-19

Listen to American University Professor Jody Gan’s Tips for Wellness

Metal Health resources Jody suggests can be found below:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

FITNESS

Online Fitness Videos provide you with a great way to keep active, without leaving your home (or even chair)! Use at your own risk and remember to consult with your doctor before starting a new fitness program.

YMCA Fit & Well Programming

  • 5-7 “Live” remote fitness classes are offered daily. Visit the YMCA Fit & Well website to see the schedule and participate.

Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center Fitness Coordinator, Aunyeah Carr, has created and shared several work out videos. Visit the drop box link.

30-minute workout by Brittany Miller includes light cardio, core work, and light strength training

Hayes Senior Wellness Classes can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v_DByjA5sQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG8wyDnWELM

BodyWise Dance, Margot Greenlee: Inclusive Dance class is heading online on Mondays at 10 am EDT. Come enjoy this free 30-minute online dance/movement break! https://us04web.zoom.us/s/822419666 Perfect for people of all ages and abilities, the class will continue every weekday to provide some dependable routine!

VIDA Senior Center offers online fitness, breathing, English, and other topics.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

ARTS and OUTDOORS

  • These museums offer free online tours.
  • Tour the Strathmore from your Home
  • The National Portrait Gallery Online Experiences–join their email list.
  • 15 Broadway plays and musicals you can stream from home
  • The Metropolitan Opera is streaming an opera every night for free. They start at 7:30 pm. Watch anytime until 3:30 the following day.
  • The National Museum of African American History and Culture has online exhibits for exploration.
  • Tour National Parks
  • Smithsonian Online Learning Lab
  • National Portrait Gallery YouTube Channel
  • 12 Historic Sites to Tour from your Home
  • Cultural Tourism DC
  • Poetry for Life– Please join poet Gary Glazner at 10:30 am EDT each day, Monday through Friday, March 30th through April 10th for Poetry for Life. Toll-Free Number (844) 855-4444. When prompted please enter the access code 270252. These conference calls are listen-only. Poetry for Life is a 15-minute long show that sounds like an old-fashioned radio show. Suitable for all ages! Funny Poems! Happy Poems! Poems that make you want to Dance. Love Poems! Silly Poems!  Contact poet Gary Glazner for more info at garyglaznerpoet@gmail.com Depending on the length of the PAUSE Quarantine and level of interest we may extend programming beyond the end date of April 10th.
  • See Me at the Smithsonian –  is an interactive program for adults with dementia and their care partners. On scheduled weekdays, pre-registered participants (8-10 people) explore some of the Smithsonian’s most beloved objects in small group discussions and multi-sensory activities. See Me provides intellectual engagement, opportunities for socialization, and the ability for loved ones to spend time together in a relaxed setting. In-gallery programs take place at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art, National Museum of African Art, and National Museum of American History.

    Since May 2020, they have fully transitioned to delivering virtual See Me programs. To date, four museums (National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Freer Gallery of Art, and National Museum of American History) have hosted virtual programs via Zoom and plan to continue this practice for the foreseeable future.

    To learn more about See Me at the Smithsonian, please contact Ashley Grady at Access@si.edu


GAMES and INTERACTING

  •  Mather LifeWays Telephone Topics helps you connect with others, learn new things, and enjoy musical performances–all from your home. You can even access guided chair yoga or meditation sessions over the phone. To participate, dial 1-888-600-2560. Programs include:
    • Wellness Programs: Enjoy live, guided chair yoga or meditation sessions to stretch your body or mind.
    • Education Programs: Learn about history, healthy habits, architecture, and more.
    • Discussion Topics: Join a lively discussion on sports, movies, and other topics, and share your own ideas.
    • Music Reviews: Listen and learn about opera, early rock ’n’ roll, and other musical genres.
    • Live Performances: Listen to live vocal performance or master storytelling sessions.
      Click here to learn more about Mather Lifeways.
  • Online scrabble is fun if you like games. Download Words with Friends on your smartphone. You can play with people you know or people you don’t know yet.
  •  DOROT University School Without Walls offers phone and online courses for older adults and caregivers who speak English or Russian. All you need is a phone, computer, or tablet to join lively discussions on a range of entertaining or educational topics. Some calls are even intergenerational. Gain friendship, support, intellectual stimulation, community, and more. Visit their website or call 1- 877–819–9147 for more information and to see a full catalog of conversation topics.
  • Well Connected offers activities, education, support groups, and fun conversation over the phone or online. You can connect no matter where you are and at no cost to you. Conversations run the gamut, with past topics covering everything from art and zoology to meditation. Well Connected also meets 365 days a year, so there’s always a lively conversation for you to join. Most groups last about 30 minutes to an hour. Newcomers are always welcome! And, if you don’t feel like talking at first, you’re welcome to just listen as long as you let the group know you’re there. If you’re ready to register, please contact 877-797-7299 or email coviaconnections@covia.org. Visit their website to learn more.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

DC PUBLIC LIBRARY (DCPL) and other RESOURCES

  • Kanopy allows you to stream movies; Lynda.com will provide access to many software and technology tutorials; Khan Academy also has practice exercises and videos; Mango provides language training. Freegal offers free streaming music.
  • Libby by Overdrive” (downloaded through your app store or you can visit on your computer) allows you to reserve books, download books and listen to audio-books.
  • You’ll see that the DC Library offers many digital resources such as magazines and newspapers, archives, music, consumers’ checkbook, reference, podcasts, and trainings. To open a specific application, click on “visit”, the blue tab at the bottom of each application. You may need to enter your library card and/or pin (usually the last four digits of your library card number).
  • Project Gutenberg Free Ebooks

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

FOOD and SHOPPING for Older Adults (60+)

Stores in the DMV with Dedicated Shopping Hours for Vulnerable Populations:

Online shopping options:

Restaurant Meal Delivery (in addition to restaurants that might delivery directly):

Medicine Delivery:

CVS: https://www.cvs.com/content/multidose


MEDITATION and MINDFULNESS

There are many great tools to use on your phone, computer, or smart device. Insight Timer, but lots of people start with Headspace.  Most of these apps are things you do alone.  You can also always watch people on youtube, and people like Tara Brach, founder of IMCW has lots of recordings of her Wednesday nights. Other recommendations.


ONLINE EDUCATION

Explore what DC has to offer: WAMU’s DCist (https://dcist.com/story/20/03/12/free-ways-to-watch-movies-listen-to-audiobooks-and-otherwise-keep-busy-at-home/) outlines a number of ways to stream movies, magazines, exercise classes, even strolling through Smithsonian archives.
——————————————————————————————————–
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS


LGBTQ EVENTS

The DC Center offers many activities, including weekly Coffee & Conversation for Older LGBTQ Adults, monthly lunches, games, etc. Please see their upcoming events.

——————————————————————————————

OTHER RESOURCES
“Freebees if you’re stuck at home”

———————————————————————————————————–

BENEFITS/SERVICES (prepared by Iona Senior Services Information and Referral Services (Info@iona.org)

-Send other ideas and suggestions you have! Community@iona.org.