Keeping an active life for seniors is important to keep them mentally, physically and emotionally healthy. My Father is 90 and his motto is “I have to keep moving to be able to get up and move.” At 90 he cares for himself, washes his own clothes, fixes his own meals, and does some yard work. He only gave up mowing his lawns last year, but he still drives to the market. Here are just a few ideas for seniors and their family members to look into.
Activities for Mental Sharpness:
- 1. Reading- is a great way to keep your mind sharp. There are books that have large print for sight problems. A Kindle eBook can change the font of the type to make their books easier to read.
- 2. Games-such as crossword puzzles or word games are good ideas.
- 3. Puzzles-are great and come in all sizes, pictures, and amount of pieces to the puzzle.
Physical Health Activities:
- 1. Walking-is a great way to keep active. Small walks up and down the street or go to a Mall and walk around during bad weather.
- 2. Gardening-will get them outside and in the fresh air. Even if it is, just to water plants.
- 3. Senior Bowling Leagues- are great and meet exercise, and social needs.
- 4. Wheelchair bound exercises– no reason not to take part in physical exercise, there are exercises just for individuals who are in wheelchairs. Check with your local Senior Centers.
Emotional Health Activities
Social gatherings are necessary for seniors to keep from getting lonely and depressed. Friends are an important part of anyone’s life and seniors are no exception to this. Even if they are living in a senior home visiting during meals, in each their rooms or a common room will do.
Having family or friends come to visit or call can lift up the spirits of anyone just knowing someone cares enough to visit or call keeps depression away. Taking a senior to family gatherings is so important to them and so much fun.
My Aunt and Uncle are in their 80’s and go dancing and out to dinner with friends every Friday night unless ill. They get exercise and get to laugh and talk to friends as well. They are both heart patients and my Uncle has had hip surgery. They also go to all of their grand kids ball games and school activities.
Senior Citizen Centers
Most senior centers offer so many things for seniors most of the time for little or no cost to them. Here are a few that I know of:
- 1. Classes-in art, financial issues, exercise of different kinds just to name a few.
- 2. Travel– they offer trips they plan for seniors that are day and weekend trips, to plays, movies, casinos, museums and more.
- 3. Potlucks-those are great for socialization and making new friends.
- 4. Dances and parties-are a wonderful way to have some fun get some exercise and make new friends. Even if you do not dance, the gatherings can be fun.
- 5. They accommodate physical limitations when planning all of their activities.
There are so many things that seniors can join in to do, places to go, classes to take that are just for seniors. The main thing is to get moving to keep moving, know your limits and limitations and do not over do all activities. Age is not a reason to sit around and miss all of the fun in life, so join in.
Elder One Stop: http://www.elder-one-stop.com/senior-activity-ideas.html
Love To Know Senior Citizens: http://seniors.lovetoknow.com/Category:Activities_for_Seniors
