Photo courtesy of Sarah Hoffman The parents of Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly’s Elder Services Coordinator Sarah Hoffman pose with a cutout of her which they keep with them.

HOUGHTON — Elders in Michigan have been asked to stay home, like the rest of us. Many are going above-and-beyond to protect themselves from the dangers of COVID-19. Retirement and nursing homes are working hard to keep residents separated enough from the public and each other to prevent the disease from endangering lives. However, that isolation has an impact.

“We all depend on connections and relations,” said Leslie Griffith, outpatient program director at Copper Country Mental Health Services.

She said right now a lot of the elderly are entirely unable to maintain the social activities they’re used to. This can cause loneliness, but also an increase in anxiety, lack of sleep or oversleeping, potentially unhealthy changes in eating patterns, and worry. The American Psychological Association even links it with early death.

Spending time worrying about things that can’t be controlled is unhealthy, and Griffith says to try and do things to break up that “worry track” and keep people engaged.

Breathing and relaxation exercises help, so do distracting activities like puzzles, word searches, sudoku. If a computer is available, there are more and more virtual tours available, of museums, parks and other attractions.

“That’s another way to keep people engaged cognitively,” Griffith said.

Of course, many of the elderly have not adopted newer technologies.

“We’re doing a lot of phone calls,” Sarah Hoffman said.

Hoffman is Elder Services Coordinator at Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly in Hancock. She said she works a lot with the elderly who need company or assistance. Many of them don’t have or know how to operate a video chat or other 21st-century technology.

Hoffman said the mental and physical impacts of isolation can be as impactful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Little Brothers is matching volunteer callers with their elderly callers to make social check-ins and help with errands like groceries and prescriptions. They’re also still bringing patients to doctor appointments, at the doctor’s discretion.

Hoffman had more ideas on how people can help themselves, and each other through periods of physical distancing and potential isolation.

“It’s always important to still wake up at a normal time, get dressed, find things to do,” she said. “Don’t stay in bed all day, because that can start to diminish your mental health.”

She also recommended activities like puzzles and coloring, and also television.

“TV is fine, too,” she said. “But don’t make that the whole thing.”

Other than the risk of becoming a couch potato, Hoffman said getting too much information through constantly watching news programs can become a burden itself.

Hoffman also encourages creativity in finding ways to stay close. Her parents are living downstate, making regular visits impossible.

“I made a cardboard cutout of myself and I mailed it to them,” she said.

If you don’t feel you can check in often enough with a parent, grandparent or friend, enlist help. Hoffman said you can form a kind of support group by asking their neighbors, church members, or other friends to check in on them, too.

Hoffman also said not to push too hard checking in, either.

“We shouldn’t be overdoing it where we’re tired or exhausted from trying to keep in touch,” she said. “Do what’s right for you, too.”

If someone wasn’t too social before, they aren’t likely to become more social under a ‘Stay Home’ order. That’s okay. The APA says that the negative effects of isolation are associated with “perceived social isolation” and don’t apply to chosen solitude. Reach out to them, but if they seem satisfied with a short check-in call, don’t force a long conversation.

Those who would like to volunteer with Little Brothers can call 482-6944. Hoffman said they can use people to deliver groceries, make medical appointments, write letters, make phone calls or share other talents as they can.