Elderly patients on wheelchair playing hungry hippos show how to find joy even during the darkest times
As more and more countries were being locked down to break the coronavirus chain, people around the world were coming up with innovative ideas to keep themselves engaged and productive during isolation. A care home in Wales, UK, with its way of quarantining, showed the world how being disconnected is not really that bad and has also restored people's zest to live life come what may.
Wales' Bryn Celyn Care Home came up with a creative idea to keep all its elderly residents and workers occupied and anxiety-free by organizing a life-size version of the children's game Hungry Hippos. They posted the video on Facebook with the caption, "Residents really enjoyed playing a new game today Hungry Hippos. Lots of laughter to lift the morale of the team and residents! 🦛😀❤️"
The video showed the residents sitting in wheelchairs in a circle with several colored balls in the center. Each person held a pole with a basket fixed to the end to capture the colored balls, similar to the board game version.
After the players were in their positions someone was heard calling "Go!" and the workers were seen pushing the players towards the balls while they tried to collect as many of them in their baskets. This not only brought laughs and cheer to the care home but social media users were also endeared by this effort and showering love on the team and the residents.
One commenter wrote, "This has made my day xx you’re the best! X." While another said, "Well done to the team that thought this out, bet it was great fun☺"
"Fantastic idea, well done to the team x. Would love to see you recreate buckeroo," wrote another commenter.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that the country will be tightening its restrictions in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, BBC reported.
First Minister Mark Drakeford says there are 'big changes for us all' as tough new measures are announced pic.twitter.com/dXhIaND9Pa
— BBC Wales News (@BBCWalesNews) March 23, 2020
“Over the last few weeks we have asked everyone in Wales to make changes to the way we live our lives,” Drakeford said in a statement Monday, per BBC News. “We have asked you to stay at home, we have asked you to work from home if you can and not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary,” quoted PEOPLE.
And the UK Twitter took it with a pinch of salt.
When you try and get that second jog of the day in 🏃♂️ #UKlockdown pic.twitter.com/EgRgMvNeOu
— betclever (@bet_clever) March 23, 2020
As the coronavirus was getting more and more real, people were choosing to stay at home voluntarily or due to a lockdown in their country. Italy, which had been under a lockdown for a few weeks now had earlier started this trend of doing productive things while at home. Videos of Italians playing music and singing from their respective balconies started going viral and it not only spread cheer in their country but it also lifted the morale of everyone and showed that even in isolation we can be united.
A whole neighborhood in Italy is singing “Kotak Hati” by Hujan while they’re on lockdown and self-quarantined. #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/yUqVpzWort
— A$AP KILANG (@usernameape_) March 18, 2020
In Italy, they singing “Heal The World” by the king of music while they’re on self-quarantined. 🙏🏻#COVIDー19 #MichaelJackson
— Best of michael Jackson (@BestofMichaelJ) March 20, 2020
pic.twitter.com/3JEdXViphk
Also, when it comes to entertainment and community participation, how can Hollywood stay behind? Many celebrities started posting videos of their quarantine activities to keep themselves and their fans engaged. From Chris Martin to Ellen, globally renowned celebrities came together in solidarity to spread positivity.
As for the video of elderly residents playing hungry hippos, it will restore your faith in the beauty of life and why is it worth living every single second!