Hobbies are an important part of life, no matter what age we are. And what used to be an idea that was shoved aside in the busyness of life can now be brought to light with more time during retirement. Whether a seniors live in their own home or a care facility, hobbies are crucial to a productive elder life — creating both physical and mental health benefits. What activities can seniors include in their daily schedules that will help them stay physically and socially active? In this article, we will mention some great hobbies for seniors and how to encourage those who may be reticent.
First, we’ll start with the more active or physical ideas. Various forms of sports and fitness are perfect hobbies for building strength. These may include swimming, golf, tennis, walking, cycling, or exercise classes. Finding a beautiful outdoor trail to walk on a regular basis gives you something to look forward to and is a great starting point. Yoga is another productive active hobby. While your body is exercising, you are calming your mind. Regardless of the level of fitness, moving is the key. Many exercise programs have modifications, and some can even be done in a chair. Another active hobby that also gets you outdoors is gardening. Not only are you getting some exercise, you are also reducing stress and enjoying the sense of accomplishment that is inherent with this hobby — all while adding beauty to the world around you.
If being active is difficult for you or your elderly loved one, there are plenty of hobbies that require less movement. Building jigsaw puzzles is a popular idea that is intellectually stimulating. Playing board games with family and friends is also a lot of fun and a great way to bond with others. Building models of various types is another great indoor activity that requires numerous skills. You can find models to build at your closest arts and crafts store or online.
A hobby that isn’t as active but still gets you out in nature is birdwatching. Watching, identifying, and photographing birds keeps you engaged and provides an opportunity to make friends with others in that community. You may also find yourself creating an area in your backyard to attract more feathered friends. Similarly, stargazing can also provide opportunities to learn about the night sky and telescopes. Other ideas include reading, listening to podcasts, baking and cooking, taking a college class, social media, trying a video game, and learning new skills like a musical instrument, knitting, or drawing.
If your elderly family member doesn’t have a hobby, how can you help them get interested? Try starting the hobby by making a schedule to meet with them to participate together every week. Bring the grandkids for board games, model building, birdwatching, video games, or stargazing. Approach them with ideas and get their feedback and follow through. Of course, you want to make sure they enjoy the hobby, so if they don’t, let them know it’s okay for them to try something different.
If you have an elderly loved one who needs help with daily activities, it may feel like taking care of them in that capacity leaves little time for participating in hobbies with them. A Home Care Service can help, freeing up time for you to enjoy the precious bonding moments that can happen when you are engaged together in the ideas mentioned above. A professional company with a trusted reputation, Griswold Home Care of Greater Orlando assists seniors with daily care needs. Griswold refers specially trained and experienced caregivers who treat your loved one with dignity and respect. They understand you want the best for your family. Contact them to learn more today!