A Guide to Constructive Activities For Seniors

“Hmm, Mom seems to have lost interest in everything. I wonder what’s going on and what I can do to help.”

As a Baby Boomer, maybe you’ve had this thought about a parent. Whether retired from a long-term career or an empty nester, elderly people can begin to feel like “what’s the point of living?” If you haven’t already, now is the time to consider the various activities for seniors to enhance their daily lives. 

If you haven’t already, now is the time to consider various activities for seniors that can enhance their daily lives. 

Over the years, many elderly people have probably lost family members and close friends, which can lead to depression or a general sadness and loss of interest in the world. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings. It is sad to lose people who were important in your life.

At the same time, it’s important to look forward and to have activities that encourage critical thinking and provide opportunities for social interaction.

There is a multitude of activities for seniors that they can engage in. Some activities encourage mental stimulation and some require physical engagement. Both are valuable to a senior’s overall good health.

Some Mental Activities For Seniors

Here are some ideas for mental activities you might find helpful.

• Hobbies. Did your parent have a hobby they enjoyed at some point?
• Engaging in religious activities. Was your parent a member of a religious organization?
• Joining a book club. Was he or she a reader?
• Becoming a birder.
• Joining a quilting bee.
• Gardening. Even just planting a few pots can be satisfying.
• Cooking. Maybe a younger friend or family member would like to learn to cook.

Chat with your parent to find out about any hobbies or interests they might have enjoyed earlier in life. Or, maybe they would like to take up a new hobby but aren’t sure how to get started. You could help them research it and find resources for them.

Religious affiliations can offer both mental and social stimulation. Maybe a minister or rabbi can arrange a regular visit or perhaps a friend or family member can drive them to religious events.

Here are more ideas for stimulating mental activity.

Some Physical Activities For Seniors

We all know that staying physically active is also an important aspect of living a healthy life. Not only is the physical activity important, but the social aspects of being physical are important especially to seniors.

Many organizations that provide activities for seniors offer group classes and activities that involve physical activity and social interaction.

Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Gentle yoga classes. These have become quite popular for seniors as they encourage gently moving joints and stretching, which is important for flexibility. Yoga also helps with balance, which is crucial in keeping seniors from falling and breaking a hip.
• Walking. If the senior can, walking with a group provides an excellent way to move the body, chat with other walkers, and enjoy being outdoors.

There are many resources to help you improve the quality of life of a parent or elderly friend. You can find answers to many of your questions in my blogs.