Home Caregiving Tips: Fun and Stimulating Activities for The Elderly
By Jennifer Bell
What fun activities do seniors like to do? In the past, most senior people just retired to their chairs watching TV. However, this has changed over time. Today’s seniors demand adventure, lots of stimulation, and want to learn something new.
As a professional caregiver, you have a unique chance to spend a lot of time with people who need care.
It’s common for seniors to develop a dull and monotonous daily routine that negatively impacts their mental and physical health. The good news is that you can shake up your routine and incorporate fun and stimulating activities to change this. Various options cater to the mental and physical capabilities to ensure constant engagement with people seeking home care services.
General Benefits of Engaging Seniors in Fun and Stimulating Activities
- Promotes better physical and mental health
- Establishes a sense of independence and self-accomplishment
- Keeps them connected physically, emotionally, and mentally active
- Promotes self-expression
- Improves relationships
- Minimizes episodes of agitation and depression
There are many fun-filled and affordable home care agency ideas that can see to it that the seniors become more engaged in their lives. Visit Let’s Get Care if you are interested in aged care facilities.
Check out this amazing fun and stimulating activities list and leverage them as you deem fit.
Crafting
Exploring the artistic side of a senior is one of the fun ways to spend time with them. This activity is good, especially for seniors with limited mobility. It’s also the perfect time to get to know them better regarding their hobbies and interests. Invite them in any crafting activity such as:
- Pottery making
- Knitting or crocheting
- Drawing and sketching
- Painting
These crafting activities are certainly a great way to prevent boredom as they keep the mind active.
Regular Exercise
It’s important to engage seniors in some form of physical activity that gets their endorphins flowing. This also applies to seniors who aren’t very mobile. Some of the healthy exercise routines that can be done include:
- Taking walks together around their community- Consider using walkers for stability, especially for very elderly seniors.
- Having a regular exercise group – Involving attending yoga and senior aerobic classes via exercise videos, TV, or a computer.
- Enrolling in swimming classes
They can also try other activities like golf, which is a nice combination of outdoor and physical activity. Make sure to get some golf equipment from Grips4Less if you plan on trying golf.
Reading and writing
Reading and writing is a fantastic way to keep the brain engaged. If the senior enjoys reading books, magazines, or enjoy writing their own creative stories, ensure that you regularly make this choice available to them. Reading and writing have been proven advantageous to seniors as they:
- Provide a deep sense of passion and purpose
- Improve memory and attention
- Boost creativity
- Reduce stress levels
- Improve sleep
Having a book club among their friends would be a great idea for seniors to enjoy reading, writing, and socializing.
Play Games
Games are inexpensive and are a fantastic source of fun and entertainment. They can be played with visitors, one on one or even solo. More so, games reduce stress levels, keep the brain active and boost confidence. Some of these games include:
- Crossword and jigsaw puzzles
- Computer games
- Brain teasers like Sudoku
- Bingo
- Card matching games – for flowers, birds, pictures of loved ones
- Playing through an indoor golf simulator during harsh weather
Gardening
Gardening is an excellent option for seniors who enjoy outdoor activities. They don’t have to have the physical strength to do a strenuous gardening activity, but basic tasks involving: raking, seed placement, and watering. It’s also a superb way to keep them active and connected to others.
Spending time outdoors also helps them absorb vitamin D as they enjoy the scenery outside.
Music and Dancing Therapy
There’s an undeniable healing power in music-centered activities. Certain kinds of music can help reduce stress, trigger memories, and lift spirits.
Some may enjoy playing a particular instrument or learning how to play one. For seniors who love dancing, consider signing them up for dancing classes and attending live concerts.
Pet Therapy
Pets have a way of soothing and calming. It’s important to have someone available to make sure that the pet is properly cared for in all circumstances.
There’s so much that seniors can gain from connecting with animals. Pets act as a great companion and distraction, and they improve the senior’s mental and physical activity.
Charity Work
An older person can still give back to the community. This is a great way to keep them engaged and make them have a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
Check out for any projects involving local charities, hospitals, or religious setups that you could contribute to. You may engage the senior in cooking for a shelter, visiting the sick, sewing, or planning for a fundraiser.
Keeping your loved one active both mentally and physically is essential. As such, consult your loved one’s doctor about the activities they can enjoy and easily fit in depending on their ability levels.
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
