Isolation is what most often stands between the elderly and a high quality of life. Consequently, physical and mental stimulation are critical for keeping your senior family members healthy and socially engaged as they grow older. Staying active gives seniors a sense of purpose and belonging; besides, leading a busy life increases their cognitive function and helps keep their minds sharp.
So, if you’re looking for effective ways to let your elderly family member stay involved in day-to-day life, New Beginnings offers several activity ideas to keep them engaged at home or elsewhere.
Why Staying Active is Essential for Seniors
Staying active in all aspects of life is crucial for seniors’ well-being. First, most older people have mobility issues that often cause injuries – physical activity improves mobility and reduces the risk of falls. Isolation leads to loneliness that can be combated with social interactions, and mental stimulation will keep cognitive decline at bay.
The ideal lifestyle for seniors is a fulfilled one that involves a balance of physical, mental, and social activities. Our Philadelphia home care agency, prioritizes allowing the elderly to live their golden years in their familiar place where they can get all the help they need but still maintain independence.
Activities for the Elderly
If you’re struggling with coming up with creative ideas on how to keep your elderly family members engaged, don’t worry! The team at New Beginnings is happy to share some tips our caregivers use to keep the seniors active.
Physical Activities for Maintaining Mobility and Health: Seniors often struggle with bone and muscle strength and mobility in general, which is why they so often suffer from injuries. Physical activity will improve their mobility and strength, even the lowest-impact exercise. For instance, a short daily walk can benefit cardiovascular health; besides, it’s always a good idea for seniors to get outside.
Yoga isn’t just for the youth! The gentle stretches and movements of chair yoga increase the seniors’ flexibility and balance, which prevents them from falling and injuring themselves. If your family member is in a better-than-average shape, you can find swimming or aerobics classes that are specifically tailored to seniors.- Creative and Artistic Endeavors: Artistic activities are a wonderful way to engage the mind and use your creativity. Can you imagine the sense of accomplishment a senior will feel when they look at something they’ve created? This is why painting and drawing are excellent – they stimulate the brain and create a sense of purpose. Knitting or crocheting, on the other hand, is extremely calming. Not only that, but these particular activities improve hand-eye coordination, so they also benefit cognitive function and fine motor skills.
Social and Community Engagement: Isolation is one of the biggest enemies of the well-being of the elderly. We also know that staying connected to their loved ones improves their mental health and prevents depression. Caregivers often help seniors set up weekly video calls to connect with their family and friends, even from afar. You can also take it a step further and let your elderly family member join local senior clubs so they can regularly interact with the people of their age.
Mental and Cognitive Stimulation: Sadly, elderly people often struggle with maintaining their memory and cognitive function. So, don’t think that keeping the brain active is any less important than physical exercise. Involve your family members in puzzle games like crosswords and Sudoku to improve their problem-solving skills, and engage them in simple memory games that are fun but can still challenge the brain.
Outdoor Adventures and Nature-Based Activities: Spending time in nature is one of the best mood boosters not only for the elderly but for all of us. Regularly going outdoors is also a physical activity, so try to get your family members to go on easy, peaceful walks through parks or reserves that will allow them to observe nature and bring them a sense of tranquility. If your loved one doesn’t enjoy going outside, you can always involve them in gardening – it’s great physical exercise and is equally rewarding!
Health and Wellness Focused Activities: Holistic wellness-related activities are great additions to physical and mental exercises that improve the seniors’ overall well-being. They can try practicing mindful meditation to reduce stress and improve their focus, as this will make their daily activities easier and more enjoyable. Experimenting with cooking is an amazing way to try new recipes and learn more about nutrition – this will also help you get them to eat healthier.
Digital and Tech-Based Activities for Seniors: Using technology to your advantage will really help you keep seniors mentally engaged and connected with the important people in their lives. You can find countless free or cheap online courses on any subject – let your loved one choose something they’re interested in and allow them to keep learning. Memory games and puzzles can also be played through mobile apps to improve their cognitive skills. Remember that it only takes some time for seniors to become comfortable with technology; afterward, it opens a whole new world of activities.
How Can The New Beginnings Help the Elderly?
One of the hardest decisions a family member has to make for their elderly loved one is assisted care. Moving out of their familiar space is usually traumatic for seniors, so more families favor keeping seniors at home over placing them in retirement communities. The New Beginnings helps seniors with their daily tasks but still encourages them to maintain their independence.
If you’ve decided that home care is the best option for your family member, do not hesitate to contact New Beginnings, give us a call at +1 215-842-5806. Our team will be happy to help you find the most effective home care solutions for those who mean the most to you.