24 Fun Activities for Seniors that Promote Better Well-Being
Need fun activities for seniors that promote better health and well-being? Try any of these 24 activities!
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Staying active, especially in old age, is vital to one's health and well-being. Our bodies require mental, emotional, and physical stimulation to remain healthy.
Just consider these findings:
- Seniors who engage in regular physical activity have a 28% lower risk of death compared to their sedentary peers
- Regular physical activity can reduce the chances of major chronic diseases by up to 50%
- Regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression by up to 30% in older adults
Staying active offers countless advantages. Immediate rewards include improved sleep quality and reduced anxiety. Over the long term, benefits extend to a lower risk of dementia and enhanced heart health. It's evident that for seniors to live fulfilling and healthy lives, maintaining an active lifestyle is essential.
But how?
For many seniors, being active can be a challenge. They're often plagued with physical illnesses that can make movement challenging. Old age, mobility impairment, and physical pain seem to go hand-in-hand. Look at these statistics:
- 25% of older adults experience mobility issues
- One-third of adults 65+ fall each year
- More than 50% of those 65+ have some level of joint pain
These barriers can be incredibly hard for seniors to overcome. However, while certain activities may need to be avoided, there are plenty of unique activities for seniors to do, regardless of physical capability.
This article offers a comprehensive list of activity ideas for seniors that are proven beneficial, aren't physically demanding, and promote better health.
Physical Activities
Despite the challenge, staying physically active is essential for seniors. It's been proven to combat age-related illnesses such as:
- Decreased bone strength
- Poor balance and coordination
- And heart disease.
The beauty of these physical activities is that they can be modified to suit the senior's physical abilities.
Low-Impact Exercises
1.) Walking is by far the easiest way to stay healthy. It can be done anywhere and can be made fun by visiting various locations. The American Heart Association has found that walking at least 150 minutes per week significantly improves overall health and reduces chronic disease risk.
2.) Swimming is a joint-friendly exercise for those with arthritis or joint pain. It's been found to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3.) Yoga offers seniors an outlet for improving their balance, flexibility, mobility, and strength. It's a gentle form of exercise that can be utilized by most, even those with limited range of motion.
4.) Tai Chi is an incredibly popular exercise method among seniors and for good reason. Its low impact makes it ideal for those with limited mobility. Numerous studies have found that it helps seniors with balance, stability, flexibility, and even pain. Healthline even reports that it's helped seniors overcome fears of falling.
Strength Training
Muscle loss is a part of aging. Studies have discovered that humans lose an average of three to eight percent of muscle after 30 every ten years. Worse, muscle loss increases after 60, leading to lower strength, balance, and greater fall risks. Strength training can play an integral part in retaining strength in old age.
5.) Resistance Bands are elastic bands that stretch when pulled on. They offer a low-impact method of growing strength and are better suited for those with joint pain. They also take up less room than traditional weights and are more affordable.
6.) Weightlifting is the most common method of building muscle. It involves lifting weights such as barbells and kettlebells to improve strength. However, this method of strength training tends to be harder on joints.
7.) Body weight exercises involve using one's weight to build strength. Common exercises include push-ups, pull-ups, planks, lunges, and squats. This method of strength training requires little to no equipment, is joint-friendly, and can be done practically anywhere.
Balance Exercises
8.) Chair exercises are great for seniors with limited mobility or just starting to exercise. They can be done anywhere a seat is available and require little to no equipment. Try these 12 chair exercises.
9.) Dancing is an excellent way to improve balance. It can be done from the comfort of one's home or in groups as a social activity. With many styles, such as ballroom, contemporary, and pop, there are many outlets that can suit a senior's physical ability and preferences.
Outdoor Activities for Seniors
Sometimes, the remedy to better health is connecting with our roots and heading outside. The fresh air, sunshine, and nature offer a distinct spark unlike anything else. A study involving 117 older adults found that those who spent 30+ minutes outside were more likely to have fewer depressive symptoms, report higher quality of life scores, and report less fear of falling.
10.) Hiking is another easy way to stay active that offers many levels of participation. America is home to 429 national parks, making this an incredibly accessible activity. Apps like AllTrails and Gaia provide a complete list of local parks to explore.
11.) Gardening presents an excellent outlet for stress relief, Vitamin D, and mental stimulation for seniors. It requires almost daily attendance, making it a great hobby that keeps seniors active.
12.) Sports such as Golf, PickleBall, Tennis, Croquet, and Lawn Bowls are all low-impact activities suitable for seniors. They're great entry-level sports that are easy on joints and can be played by many, regardless of mobility levels.
Activities for Mental Stimulation
Keeping one's brain consistently stimulated is vital for seniors. Studies have found that engaging in mentally stimulating activities reduces the risk of dementia and improves memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Below, we highlight activities for elderly people that provide mental stimulation.
13.) Puzzles such as crosswords, Sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles offer outlets for memory enhancement, logical reasoning, and problem-solving.
14.) Games of various styles, such as card games, board games, and online games, offer an excellent outlet for stimulation. Unlike puzzles, playing games offer a better mix of social interaction, strategy, and emotional engagement.
15.) Learning new skills, whether through a new language or painting, presents an excellent form of mental stimulation. Consider this study involving adults 58-86. It discovered that participating in three to five new classes for three months could enhance cognitive abilities to match those of 30 years younger. This improvement was noticeable in just a month and a half.
16.) Reading and writing are age-old exercises that significantly benefit seniors. Whether reading independently, journaling, or joining a book club, these practices enhance memory, delay dementia, improve cognition, and more.
Hobbies and Interests
With retirement comes freedom. Freedom to do what you want, when you want, and how you want to do it. However, with more free time also comes the responsibility of how you will spend it. And while it can be tempting to succumb to the desire to do nothing, it's vital to not.
Actively pursuing hobbies and interests is essential to senior health. A study of 6,900 seniors 65+ found not having hobbies or a purpose in life increased the mortality rate and declined activities of daily living.
21.) Arts and crafts are excellent indoor activities for seniors. Painting, knitting, and pottery are all great outlets that promote creativity can increase dexterity and are low-impact.
22.) Cooking and baking are hobbies that offer multiple benefits for seniors. They can increase appetites as they're more likely to eat food they've cooked. One systematic review found cooking to go beyond nutritional value. It found it to help increase motivation and the frequency of cooking.
23.) Music offers a source of better mental and physical health. It can promote movement through walking, dancing, or stretching. Music can also reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The beauty of having music as an interest is that it's flexible. One can go to concerts, play an instrument, or simply listen to it.
24.) Photography is a creative activity that can be done at home, locally, or even abroad. It can be done with a digital camera, film camera, or smartphone. Research has found it to have a therapeutic effect on seniors, improving their cognitive capabilities, and social behavior.
Harnessing Technology
While intimidating for many seniors, technology can be pivotal in keeping them active. Technology can help seniors in many ways, including providing them with better communication and connection, mental stimulation, access to information, and social interaction.
Below, we identify critical areas of technology and the tools involved that can enhance the lives of seniors.
Communication
- Social media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow seniors to connect with loved ones, share photos, and participate in online communities.
- Video calling: Apps like Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom enable face-to-face interactions with family and friends, regardless of distance.
- Email: A classic communication tool, email provides a convenient way to stay in touch and share information.
Entertainment
- Streaming services: Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime offer a vast library of movies, TV shows, and documentaries.
- Online gaming: Many games are designed to be mentally stimulating and can be enjoyed alone or with others.
- Music streaming: Services like Spotify and Apple Music provide access to various music genres.
Learning
- Online courses: Platforms like Coursera and edX offer a variety of courses on various subjects, allowing seniors to continue learning and exploring new interests.
- Tutorials and how-to videos: Countless online resources provide step-by-step instructions for various tasks and hobbies.
Because seniors did not grow up with the level of today's technology, it can be hard for them to use. It's important to practice patience and be supportive when showing them how to use technology. With the proper guidance and encouragement, they can adapt to technology and utilize it for its many benefits.
Conclusion
The right activity can enhance a senior's health. Its mental, emotional, and physical benefits offer fun ways to fulfill seniors' needs and keep them healthy. Whether picking up an instrument, working out, or learning a new language, keeping one's self-active in old age is key to leading a fulfilling life. Continuous studies have proven this.
Related Resources
About the Author
Brandon Landgraf is the Digital Marketing Manager for Carex Health Brands. He finds passion and fulfillment in creating content that enhances, improves, and enlivens others' quality of life. All of his written work is formulated to not only offer essential advice and tips but back it with proven studies and experts. His mission is to connect with readers and provide steps to make their lives better.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
About Carex Health Brands
Carex is your one-stop shop for home medical equipment and for products that assist caregivers with providing the best possible support and care for their loved ones. Carex Health Brands has been the branded leader in in-home, self-care medical products for over 35 years. Our goal is to improve the lives of our customers by bring them quality products that bring dignity back to their lives. With our three nationally distributed brands, Carex Health Brands serves national, regional and independent food, drug and mass retailers along with wholesalers, distributors and medical dealers.
Social Activities for Seniors
Retaining social connections is another vital aspect of healthy aging. Seniors aging in place, especially by themselves, tend to be at greater risk of loneliness. The group activities for seniors listed below offer marvelous outlets for remaining engaged.
17.) Community centers frequently hold classes, clubs, and events. Some even offer senior-specific events. Check your local community center for information regarding activities.
18.) Volunteering can be an excellent option for seniors needing a sense of purpose. A study found Americans 60+ who volunteered have lower disability and higher levels of well-being. Volunteering can get seniors around people, keep them active, and improve their self-esteem and worth.
19.) Travel groups specifically for seniors can make traveling more accessible, affordable, and safer. Travel groups involve traveling in groups that include guides. Travel companies provide itineraries that often include tours, a travel plan, and activities.
20.) Online communities are a great activity for seniors at home to stay socially engaged. Because the internet is a big place, there are plenty of options for seniors to join. Consider the seniors' interests and hobbies and search for online groups and forums in which they can participate.