For Seniors and Those Who Love and Care for Them: Activities

The COVID-19 pandemic had left seniors vulnerable and isolated. This resource was developed to address some of their needs. It has since been updated with pertinent post-pandemic information.

Staying Active - Physically and Mentally

Even if you choose to remain at home during this time, it is important to keep physically and mentally engaged. You may miss your old routines but maybe this is an opportunity to create new ones.

Listed on this page are activities that require various levels of technical and athletic abilities which reflect the capabilities of the senior population.

Some information from the AARP will help you during this time:

The AARP has ideas for caregivers on how to keep loved ones active at home.

Entertainment

Complete a jigsaw puzzle. The Valley Cottage Library offers a Puzzle Exchange where you can donate and/or take home new or gently use crossword puzzle(s).

Scrapbook your photos

New York Times Crossword Puzzles Website - Free simple puzzles as well as (archived) original crossword puzzles that can be printed. For those who need help with the NYT Crossword puzzles here are some tips and strategies from the writers. (The library does not recommend any specific online crossword puzzle solver but if you should use one, consider who the authors of the tool are by clicking on their "About" link.)

AARP Brain Games - Free Mahjongg, Solitaire, Word, and Arcade games. More games if you have an AARP membership

Learn about your ancestors through Ancestry.com. The Valley Cottage Library has now made this resource accessible from home. Enter the first five digits of your library card number

Your Valley Cottage Library card allows you access to the Libby and Hoopla apps where you can borrow e-books and audio books to be used on your device(s). You can also check out available e-magazines with Libby. In addition you can stream movies through Hoopla and Kanopy to watch on your device(s). If you have questions or need assistance with these apps, please e-mail us at vclref@rcls.org or call us at (845) 268-7700.

The Valley Cottage Library is now opened to the public without appointments. Curbside delivery is still available for those who choose not to come in or are in a rush. Call us at (845) 268-7700.

The library is holding in-person events. Virtual and hybrid events are also being offered. Scroll down our Adult Program Events Highlights page to see what is scheduled and how to register for them.

Crafts

The Valley Cottage Library is now offering its card holders access to Creativebug.com with award-winning art and craft videos, Simply click this link and enter your Valley Cottage Library library card number and your pin basket clipart - Clip Art Library (usually the last 4 digits of your phone number). Then create your account (email and unique password) so you can access the classes now and later.

Just Crafty - Instructional knitting and crochet videos with patterns provided.

Crafting a Green World - eco-friendly crafts

Craft videos and projects from the Do It Yourself Network

Activities Outside Your Home

Find things to do in Rockland County, from dining, outdoor activities, history, arts and culture.

Borrow a museum pass with your Valley Cottage Library Card from the Valley Cottage Library or the Nyack Library.

Exercise

Before doing any exercise routine, be sure to put on a pair of sturdy athletic sneakers and clear the exercise area of anything that may cause you to fall like rugs, decorative items, and furniture. Do not push yourself beyond your capability. This is not the time to take any risks that may result in a trip to the hospital or doctor. Remember to hydrate during or afterwards. (You can click "Skip Ads" to start the exercise video.)

These exercise videos are listed by challenge level (easy to challenging):

Seated exercises for older adults with balance and mobility issues - 10 minutes
Yoga for Seniors - Chair Stretches for Pain Relief, Relaxation, Joint Health, Flexibility, Stress 15 minutes
Chair Exercises For Seniors - 30 Minutes - Whole Body - Seated
Zumba Gold Chair
Challenging seated or standing 30 Min Exercise for Seniors, Older People, and Elderly
AARP 10 minute workouts - stretch, cardio/sculpt, lower body

Learning

Acquire more computer skills with Techboomers.com. Techboomers aims to improve the quality of life for older adults and other inexperienced technology users by empowering them to learn how to use popular and trusted websites and Internet-based applications.

For those seniors that need to enhance their business and/or technical skills, the Valley Cottage Library now has made LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) available to its cardholders. All you need is your Valley Cottage library card number and your pin (which is usually the last four digits of your telephone number).

Take advantage of this time to improve your online critical thinking skills. During this politically charged election season, learn how to distinguish fact from fiction and real from digitally altered, with some reliable tools:

The Reuters News Agency fact checks current news events and coverage.
The Snopes Media Group main mission is to fight misinformation.
FactCheck.org is a project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.
A new goal of The Poynter Institute is to teach older Americans how to sort fact from fiction online through their new initiative - MediaWise for Seniors. In June 2020, the MediaWise program expanded beyond teens and college students to older Americans, teaching America’s 50+ population key digital literacy and fact-checking skills to ensure they make decisions based on fact and not fiction. Read articles from their staff, try their fact-checking tools and sign up for their newsletter. Poynter is also offers fact-checking articles through the PolitiFact.