Stimulating Activities for the Elderly
Note: All of the belove mentioned activities can be found in a house for the elderly that is a part of the retirement living in Orange County program.
Feeling like the senior you love has slowly fell into a monotonous routine? It’s quite normal for adults to get into an unnatural routine that eventually dulls their spirits and negatively affects their physical and mental well-being. There’s good news: You can introduce a whole host of stimulating activities to help improve your loved one’s health and quality of life.
There’s a wide array of ideas which can cater to a range of physical abilities and mental capacities, which means you can engage your elderly loved one in as many ways as possible.
Explore this checklist of 10 fun activities you can use as you think it is appropriate to help your loved one who is aging more engaged in their own life.
- Crafting Let their creativity be a part of their crafts. Invite them to use watercolors or acrylics, draw and sketch (with anything from pencils , markers to crayons or chalk) knit simple or more complex patterns, design jewelry, make pottery, or participate in any craft activity that allows them to demonstrate their artistic talent. Many older adults value the opportunity and the freedom to discover new ideas. It’s also a great way to connect with others in a group environment. You may even have the desire to wear, gift or even sell their creative creations.
- Gardening If you have an elderly relative who loves the outdoors gardening can be a fantastic choice. Even if they do not have the physical strength and capability to handle more challenging gardening tasks, there’s easy tasks to do like raking placing seeds, and watering. You can take care of anything from flowers and shrubs to the fruits and plants. This activity awakens the senses and allows the person in your life a chance to get a dose of critical Vitamin D. In the case of more physically fit seniors, there’s also the benefit of working out in tasks such as gardening, digging, and weeding. In the end, the fruits of their labour will be at full flower for additional enjoyment.
- Walking & Exercising Help your loved one with an aging condition increase their levels of endorphins by doing any form of exercise. Enjoy walks together in their neighborhood, or encourage them to join an exercise class or sign them up for swimming. Think about opportunities for organized fitness classes such as seniors aerobics, yoga, or other cardio-based and strength-building options. If they’re unable to leave their house you could set up fitness videos that they can engage with on the television or via a computer.
- Higher Learning Is your loved one the kind of person who studies? Consider allowing them to participate in ongoing lectures or continuing education classes. This is a great option to maintain your mental alertness and keep them engaged. Certain senior living facilities and community centers in the area offer these kinds of learning opportunities. Check out the offerings at nearby community colleges. There are a variety of choices to take advantage of cultural and academic events for seniors.
- Reading & Writing If someone who is in your life likes magazines, books, or other reading materials, be sure to provide these resources accessible regularly. It can be done on your own, in conjunction with two of you , or as groups. Do you think they would enjoy discussing the latest books they have read in a book group setting? It’s a fantastic opportunity to share their opinions as well as interact socially. Maybe they love to write the stories of their dreams. If so, encourage them to do some writing of their own. Brief articles, family histories, poetry, autobiography, creative writing, how to’s, the sky’s really the limit! Writing helps keep the mind alert and the creative side open. It can also lead to an increase in the need to be passionate and a sense of purpose.