Elderly father

[Applejack87]

Hi , my dad is 82 & lives on his own my mother sadly is in a nursing home he usually spends every day with her but due to the Covid19 the care home is on lock down
He’s very lonely & isolating with no friends he also has COPD & vunerable . I’m doing his shopping & he skypes my mum every few days . However I’m concerned for his mental health I just don’t know how I can help him he has an old phone that he uses for calls but it doesn’t have the internet he spends his days sitting watching the tele

Oh that is so sad for your dad.
Did he say he was lonely.
Is there any neighbours around him
My dad is 85 lives alone too and is isolating.
He has learned to use the washing machine since none of his dds can visit.
He was having steak for dinner he learned to cook when my mum passed 2 years ago.
He sometimes has TV and radio on at same time to make noise in house.
I think we feel more lonely for them than they are. Hope this is over soon and we get back to visit them

Hi OP, I'm so sorry for your dad, my dad was in a similar position. Would having a talk radio station on throughout the day help him feel more connected? I know our local radio station actively asks people on their own to just call in and say hi, they are really reaching out to those on their own. TV is so passive Could you also ask other family to take it in turns throughout the day/week to call him?

He can still exercise, so maybe schedule a daily walk nice and early in the morning when fewer people are about?

It is so tough on the elderly right now, I hope you find something that helps your dad.