Contrary to popular belief, today’s older adults are more active than ever! From water aerobics to transatlantic cruises, many are spending their golden years as productively as their younger ones. They don’t feel confined to one place – or even one country! – in their quest to enjoy and enrich their lives.
However, there will always be a subset of older adults that generally stay at home, whether it’s due to illness, frailty, or simply because they prefer being there. But not to worry. There are tons of terrific options for keeping older adults active in both mind and body. Read on to see hobbies for seniors that are as easy as they are fun!
Help with hobbies for seniors
In addition to being homebound, what do you do when your loved one has problems with vision, hearing, mobility and more? Or what if they do want to get out of the house, or attend a special program with people their own age? That’s where a professional home health aide can be extremely beneficial. They can assist the older adult at home, and even provide transport when needed. You’ll see that our list of hobbies gives a few examples of what we mean.
Cooking
Many older adults already know how to make simple meals, like fixing a salad or heating up a can of soup. But if they never learned how to prepare more complicated cuisine, you may find they have an interest in starting! A home health aide can buy the ingredients and do the prep work, while your loved one chooses the recipes and supervises. A fun, delicious way to learn a practical skill!
Exercising
Exercising often presents a challenge to the homebound. However, there are workouts you can adapt to suit their capabilities. Wheelchair dancing, stretches, low-impact aerobics, indoor cycling, walking with a companion, and even lifting light weights are all possibilities. You’ll want to check with your loved one’s physician before they start an exercise program, but when they do, you may be surprised at what they can accomplish. And the best part is, the longer they keep an exercise routine, the longer they’ll maintain their endurance, flexibility, and muscle mass.
Volunteering
For some, the free time that comes with retirement is a joy. But to others, it’s a burden because they don’t know how to spend that time in a meaningful way. If your loved one spent their entire life working, they may enjoy volunteering part time. They can be a respondent for a hotline, stuff envelopes for a charity, and do other tasks that don’t rely on heavy physical labor. If they do wish to volunteer outside the home, this is another area where a health aide’s transportation services can be invaluable.
Bonus hobbies for seniors
In addition to the hobbies above, here are a few other exciting options:
- Painting
- Yoga
- Reading (including books on tape, or large print for the visually impaired)
- Getting a pet (as big as a cat or dog, or small as a bird or goldfish)
- Sewing
- Blogging
- Scrapbooking
- Container gardening
- Singing
- Bird watching
- Learning a new language
- Puzzles (such as Sudoku or cross words)
- Writing
- Crafts
- Jewelry-making
- Taking classes online
- Building model cars or planes
- Card playing
- Communicating with grandkids online
- Woodworking
- Clock and watch repair
Get your loved one involved in hobbies for seniors today!
If you help take care of an older adult, you know how important it is to keep them physically and mentally active. These suggestions are by no means exhaustive. The key to finding great hobbies for seniors is to build on something they already enjoy, and encourage them to try new things. See if you can tailor activities your loved one has always liked in order to make their hobbies worthwhile. That way, whether at home or out and about, their golden years will be crammed with good times!
If you are unsure of how to best help an aging loved one, the trained and compassionate staff at the Institute on Aging is here to help you make that decision and gain the best in at-home care for older adults. Contact us to find out more.
