Indoor Activities for the Elderly
Written by:
Jeffrey Grossman
Published:
April 20, 2020
Aging presents its own unique set of challenges for our loved ones. Explore some of the most engaging indoor activities for the elderly to stay active.
In 2017, there were over 22 million retired men and almost 27 million retired women in the US. Are you or a loved one running out of things to do after retirement? What are the best indoor activities for the elderly?Staying active and involved in games, events, social or community gatherings, etc., are vital for preserving cognitive function in older adults. Without engaging in indoor activities for the elderly, cognitive decline could happen sooner than expected. Seniors need to stay active—physically, mentally, and socially—by participating in whatever they can.We've put together a list of fantasti things to do when retired and bored for older adults to consider. Plus, we describe each activity’s individual benefits and why you should make them a priority in your day-to-day life.
The Importance of Senior Entertainment
Entertainment for seniors has several layers. Seniors can stay entertained by playing games, doing gentle exercises, and attending social or community groups to combat loneliness. Cognitive health is a significant part of brain health. By staying active, you cultivate cognitive health, as well as, motor, sensory, and emotional function.
Motor function allows seniors to make and control their movements in a safe, calculated way.
Sensory function enables seniors to respond well to touch, which can even include things like pain, pressure, or temperature.
Emotional function allows a person to interpret emotions and respond accordingly.
Seniors can leverage these functions by staying active in their communities, playing group games, eating a nutritious diet, and practicing gentle exercises. These are all worthwhile, therapeutic activities for the elderly.Now, what are the best senior activities for “over 60s” retirees? Let’s find out.
A Quick List of Activities For Older Adults
Now that you know the importance of indoor activities for the elderly, let's explore some of the most fun and rewarding options seniors have.
1. Play a Game
Whether you're a caregiver, or a friend or family member who wants to help, consider playing a game with an older adult in your life.For instance, Bingo has several benefits for seniors:
Social engagement
Decreases risks of mental illnesses
Allows them to foster their memory recall
Improves memory and cognitive function
Cultivates hand-eye coordination
Other great games for senior citizens include easy-to-understand card games, chess, checkers, Scrabble, or even jigsaw puzzles. Any board game or card game will do, as long as it's in line with the senior's mental and physical abilities.As a bonus, almost all of these activities require another participant, allowing your loved one to be social, too. Keeping seniors socially active is incredibly beneficial to their emotional wellbeing.
2. Participate in Low-Impact, Light Exercise
Consider a fun activity for seniors that involves being physically active. Even a simple exercise like walking around the house or neighborhood provides significant health benefits.Seniors can also engage in low-impact exercises, depending on their physical and mental abilities:
Lifting small, light weights
Participating in at home video workouts
Doing simple stretches or chair yoga
Always evaluate your loved one’s capabilities before having them engage in a new exercise. Use these activity ideas as a starting point for a simple, physical routine for seniors during the week — preferably with the oversight of a caregiver, friend, or family member.
3. Stay Socially Connected in Community
About one third of seniors ages 50-80 say they feel lonely or lack companionship. This is detrimental to anyone's health, but especially the elderly's. Social isolation in the elderly can result in cognitive decline, mental health disorders, obesity, a weaker immune system, and more.Therefore, seniors need to stay involved in their families and communities. A simple step to combating social isolation is making a daily phone call to your loved one. If you know or are related to a senior who lives alone, pick up the phone and call them today - even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Here is a list of good questions to ask your grandparents to get you started. Social support groups for the elderly are hugely beneficial to their wellbeing. It provides older adults with friends and community. Other participants in these groups are able to empathize with your loved one’s stage of life and the range of feelings that come with it.
At Home Senior Care Support
As a caregiver, family member, or friend, talk with your loved one and decide which of these indoor activities for the elderly excites them most.Some may gravitate towards memory games, while others may prefer socializing with others. Each senior is unique and will want to participate in different activities. We just created this list to get you started on providing you loved one with options.If you have the qualities and compassion of an at-home caregiver, please let us know—we're always looking for heartfelt individuals to join our incredible team. If you are the family member of an aging adult, we are with you. Finding the best care and support for your loved one is a difficult process. For questions about at home care services by our professional caregivers, give us a call at 434.202.8565.