Retirement doesn’t have to be boring for your senior loved one as there are several stimulating activities they can engage in to keep them active. A lack of stimulating and engaging activities for your elderly loved one can cause them to feel lonely and depressed. Even if your loved one has health concerns such as limited mobility, they can still get all the fun activities they need to keep moving if they move to a retirement community like Discovery Commons At Wildewood.
Keep reading to find some great stimulating mental, physical, and social activities your senior loved one can engage in to improve their overall wellbeing.
Get Them Moving with Physical Activities
Getting the right amount of physical activities can help your loved one stay active and productive. They don’t necessarily have to engage in any intense exercises or activities if they are not physically able. Low-impact exercises such as a walk to a nearby park, chair yoga, dancing, biking, and others. These are activities that can help your loved ones in relieving stress and boost their mood.
Swimming is another low-impact exercise that can help your loved ones to improve their mobility and keep their day interesting. If your loved one is physically fit and able, they can participate in more physically demanding activities as they are beneficial to their body.
Volunteering
Your loved one can also engage in a good cause, as that can help to give them a sense of purpose. The satisfaction they will get from being able to help someone in need is good for their mental health. There are several ways your elderly loved one can participate in helping people and those include:
- Participating in a food or toy drive
- Knitting sweatshirts
- Fundraising activity
- Cooking for a shelter
- Visiting the sick
Arts and Crafts
If your loved one is on the artistic side, let them explore this option to the fullest. Set them up for arts and crafts events, or take them out on a date to the museum or art gallery. You can also invite them out to paint, draw and sketch, knit or crochet basics, create jewelry, make pottery, or do other crafting activities that allow them to free their artistic spirit. These activities will help to keep their mind and body engaged.
Mind-Stimulating Games
Keeping your elderly loved one’s mind active is important to their overall well-being. Trivia nights hosted by you at home are a fun way to keep them sharp and engaging. Individual games that can help engage their mind include crosswords, puzzles, and others. Reading and writing are other mind-stimulating activities that your loved one can do alone to enjoy their quiet time.
Book Clubs
If your loved one enjoys reading books, magazines, and other reading materials, this may be the best opportunity for them to remain mentally active. Sharing their opinions with a group of people will give them a chance to socialize with people of the same interest. This will help them stay sharp and connected to the world.
The most important step to choosing the right activity for your loved ones is to understand them and their interests. Our retirement community is excited to get to know your elderly loved ones and choose the right activities for them. You can contact us today to learn about our senior living options and which one suits your loved one best.
