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'COVID Loneliness Squad' helping isolated seniors during pandemic

Posted at 5:30 AM, Aug 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-31 13:05:59-04

BROOKFIELD — The pandemic created a second invisible crisis for our seniors: Soul crushing isolation and loneliness.

The Health Resources and Services Administration reports isolation compares to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Part of protecting seniors from feeling this is how the ‘COVID Loneliness Squad’ was born.

A music therapist on staff with Synergy HomeCare has used her guitar and voice to bring joy to the seniors they care for.

We saw this one the eyes of 93-year-old Jeanne Callies of Brookfield. She shares how she feels when she hears a familiar song, “I want to jump and dance around!”

Callies shares how companionship with her caregiver Lisandra keeps her active, “We play together now, we’re playing puzzles.”

“That will keep her mind busy and its a boost for memory,” said Lisandra Santana of Synergy HomeCare.

According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, about a quarter of Americans 65 and older consider themselves socially isolated, and loneliness is associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Here’s your Rebound Rundown:

  • Playing familiar songs can spark a senior’s memory and get them motivated.
  • Play cards, puzzles, or cook with them to keep their mind active.
  • You can learn more about Synergy HomeCare by clicking here.

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