Fun and Healthy Activities for Older Adults

While older adults should enjoy outdoor activities like walking, shopping, a spa day, or eating out, sometimes, it’s best to stay indoors. It can be too cold, hot, rainy, or snowy outside, but inside, there’s always some coziness to enjoy.

You can do anything you set your mind to. But you may need a little inspiration to get started. Fun things you can do in your free time are listed for you below.

Retirement Community Activities

If you have the good fortune of living in a highly-rated retirement community like All Seniors Care —you can enjoy many fun and stimulating indoor activities. For instance, you may have access to an indoor gym, swimming pool, or pool table. The retirement community may also offer craft classes, exercise classes, bingo, and even active video games like the Nintendo Wii.

Plus, a wide range of independent, assisted living, full care and memory care options ensure that you have the support you need to adopt an active lifestyle.

Crocheting, Knitting, or Sewing

If you’ve never knit before, there’s no better time than now to learn. It’s a fantastic way to keep your hands busy and your mind occupied while working on something useful or beautiful at the same time. If you already know how to knit, there are lots of great projects out there that can sharpen your skills.

Crocheting is another great option. There are so many patterns out there that it’s impossible not to find one that suits your style and interests. Crochet is also easier on the hands than knitting if you have joint pain due to arthritis.

If neither of these things sound enticing, consider learning how to sew. Sewing is another entertaining activity for the mind and soul.

Experts say that such activities are good for the brain, enhance motor skills, and encourage socialization in older adults!

Reading

There are so many interesting books out there for you to explore! Try some nonfiction, like the biography of a historical figure. You can also try some light and fun fiction like a romance novel or mystery story.

In addition to entertainment, reading offers many other benefits to older adults:

• Improved memory
• Enhanced cognition
• Longer attention span
• Mitigates risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves sleep

Writing

You may be surprised how relaxing it can be to write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. It’s a great way to express yourself and relieve stress, too. Alternatively, you can write poetry or short stories about your life experiences, memories, and topics you feel strongly about.

Writing can be quite therapeutic. Sharing your writing with loved ones or friends in the community can help you socialize and strengthen your relationships.

Learn New Technology

Technology has come a long way over the last few years. There are lots of ways that older adults can learn about new gadgets and programs without having to go back to school. For example, you can consume the latest tech news on YouTube. You can also easily convert your mobile device into a Virtual Reality (VR) device. Many older adults are enjoying VR nowadays.

Take time out for fun and healthy activities. Whether it’s learning something new, spending time with others in your community, or engaging in indoor physical activities, create experiences that you can savor.