Have you noticed your older loved ones slowly losing interest in the things around them? Or, are they looking for new ways to spend their time?
Staying active and engaged, both in mind and body, is extremely important at all ages. You can help your elderly grandmother, grandfather or parent discover new hobbies in their golden years.
Gardening allows your loved one to spend time with nature, while enjoying fresh air and soaking in some Vitamin D. It is also an activity that allows them to nurture something, watch it grow, and in turn take pride in their work. Many seniors enjoy gardening as a hobby.
If getting outside is difficult, or not appealing, for your loved one, indoor gardening is an option. You can easily set up some plants on your loved one’s window sill or kitchen counter, or even have a hanging indoor garden.
Not everyone is interested in writing, but it can be an engaging and therapeutic exercise for people who enjoy it.
A great place to start is with your loved one writing letters to family members – remember when people used to do that! Your older family member may also be interested in simply documenting interesting childhood experiences, favorite memories, or wisdom that they’ve accumulated over the years. Some may even have a creative bent and be interested in writing stories.
The nice thing about writing is that it can be done almost anywhere, and with very little material resources. You could gift your loved one a nice pen and some decorative stationery, and they’ll be ready to get started!
Reading, on its own or via joining a book club, can be a rewarding and engaging hobby for interested seniors for various reasons. First, there are countless genres and topics that can be explored – there is always something for everyone. Reading helps to keep the mind sharp and engaged and if your loved one joins a book club, it is also a great way to get out of the house and socialize with others. Reading will not only help them catch up on the books that they missed reading during their working years, but it can also provide a great avenue for them to meet new people with similar interests.
Card games, like Bridge or Gin Rummy, are great hobbies for seniors to enjoy. They are typically social activities and allow for casual conversation while the game is being played. They are not strenuous from a physical point of view, so they work well for someone who is less mobile. Some games, again like Bridge, are very strategic and help to keep the mind actively engaged.
Some seniors take the opportunity to explore their creative side during their golden years. Photography can be another great hobby – one can find inspiration almost anywhere, and it can be taken up as a serious hobby or as a casual one. Your loved one can always start with a relatively inexpensive camera, and as the interest grows, upgrade it to a more sophisticated one.
Even as a senior, there are many ways to give back to others in the community. Acts of service, while not exactly hobbies, can be very engaging and rewarding.
There are some volunteer opportunities that are very well suited for the elderly. For example, an after-school reading program for children or programs for seniors to visit their peers living in nursing homes can provide fun and rewarding interaction and conversation.
There are also other ways to give back to the community without ever leaving the home. For example, if your elderly parent or grandparent likes to knit, they can make scarves, mittens and hats and donate them to families in need.
Hobbies – any type of hobbies – can help seniors stay active and engaged and provide them with an opportunity to interact with others. So help your older loved one figure out what types of activities might interest them and get started!
Back to All Recent Gift Boxes →
