I’m going through a similar experience with my parents who are in assisted living. They’ve been locked down since end of February. The first few months couldn’t leave their apartment. Dining room was closed. Not even doctors allowed in. Things are easing a lot now. The difference in their lives has been technology. I got my parents a tablet, showed my dad how to use zoom. He also is a texting fiend and uses duo. We have two Bible studies a week (family and church members are leading) and weekly family meetings with zoom. We set up a family chat group for texting the group at once. I understand not everyone has been able to make use of that, but it has really helped my family.
I hear they're starting to ease up a bit down the street as well. Group exercises of 5 people or less are allowed. And I think other group activities as well, though AFAIK meals are still alone in rooms except for a very few residents. And limited medical visits for non-life-threatening matters .... eg treating conditions that cause chronic pain but aren't medical emergencies.
And the last time I saw Dad when he was still doing well physically was the first day they allowed "face to face" visits. I put that in quotes because of the masks covering all faces up to the eyes, not allowing us to see each other's mouths where most of the facial expressions happen.
The week prior, I had really been hyping this day to Dad on our twice-daily phone calls --- "At last! We get to actually come visit you! ... just 3 more days... just 2 more days..."
But the restrictions were major: The facemasks, visits only 15 min long, only once per week, only two family members, sit across a 6 ft diam table outside, no touching/hugging/etc. Outside visit only, so inclement weather cancels your appointment. I tried to spin the restrictions as cheerily as possible to Dad, but there's only so much of a pig that lipstick will cover.
I believe it's no coincidence that the next morning he gave up and stopped eating and drinking altogether, though I didn't fully find that out until much later when I ordered a Records DB dump of his food and liquids intake.
I kept praying that the lockdown would be over soon, and kept his and my hopes up that it couldn't last forever ... surely not more than a month. ... OK, surely not more than 2 months. ... OK, surely not......
"The difference in their lives has been technology. I got my parents a tablet, showed my dad how to use zoom."
From the beginning 2+ years ago, I knew that would make a major difference for him. But because of extreme arthritis that mostly immobilized his left arm, using two hands was problematic and he couldn't master the use of the tablet I bought. (OTOH my mother-in-law - who lived 4 hrs from here and was only 2 months younger than my Dad - mastered her tablets quickly, and could even initiate videochat sessions with family).
After the lockdown started, we did buy Dad a cordless phone for several good reasons, and then paid a therapist to teach him how to use the phone since we weren't allowed inside. Still, he didn't 100% get the hang of it.
That's wonderful you were able to get electronic communications established with your parents! I know how big a difference it made with my wife's Mom.