Fun Activities for Older Adults
There are a lot of fun aspects of aging, such as retirement and grandchildren, but sometimes, as seniors become less independent, life can become dull. Many seniors find themselves unable to participate in activities they used to love. Although, this doesn’t have to be the case! There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities that are fun, active, and age appropriate for seniors!
Here are 12 out of the box indoor and outdoor activities for seniors:
6 Indoor Activities for Seniors
1. Crafting
Crafting is pretty broad, but that’s because every senior has different interests! Maybe one senior enjoys knitting, while another enjoys scrapbooking, while someone else enjoys painting. With social media sites like Pinterest, the crafting possibilities are absolutely endless! Crafting is a great way for seniors to spend their indoor free time.
2. Play computer or video games
Wait – don’t video games turn brains to mush? Not always! Video games and computer games can be really good for seniors, keeping them sharp mentally, while continuously working on motor skills. Seniors can participate in crossword puzzles and word searches online, or get up and get moving with more active games on gaming systems like the Wii.
3. Get cooking
Cooking and baking are great activities for seniors, and it almost always results in eating all sorts of delicious food! Seniors can pick out a favorite recipe from the past, or try something completely new! The best thing about this fun, indoor activity, is that it doubles as cooking dinner!
4. Learn to play an instrument
Ok, so a senior isn’t going to become an instrumental master if they’ve never even picked up the instrument before, but learning a simple song on the guitar, piano or keyboard can be a fun way to help seniors keep their minds young!
5. Journaling
Everyone has a story to tell, especially those that have lived a long life. That’s why writing in a journal is a great activity for seniors! Some seniors may like to jot down brief notes day by day, while some enjoy going back in time and writing down some of their most memorable stories. Writing is a great way for seniors to reflect on life!
6. Dancing
It’s time for seniors to get up and get active and learn a new dance, whether their preference is tap dance, ballroom dancing or jazz, dance classes are great for seniors! Whether a senior is rekindling an old love for dance, or they are new to dance altogether; either way, every senior is sure to have a great time with this indoor activity.
6 Outdoor Activities for Seniors
1. Go pick stuff
Try berry picking, pumpkin picking, apple picking, and more! This is a fun, outdoor activity for almost any season. Not only does this get your senior out of the house and walking around, but you also get to keep/eat whatever you pick! This could lead to fun crafts and dozens of yummy recipes.
2. Plant a garden
Planting a garden provides continuous entertainment due to its need for care. Each day the senior can go out and water, weed and otherwise take care of whatever he or she chooses to plant. Which, in turn, is the best part! Choose to plant flowers, vegetables or whatever your heart desires.
3. Cast a line
Who doesn’t like fishing? Actually, the best thing about this activity is that it can be done in almost any location; whether the closest body of water is a lake, the bay, a river, a creek or even the surf of a nearby beach! Fishing is a great activity for every senior, including those who have never fished before!
4. Set up a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are a great way for seniors to get active outside! Hide some things around the property, whether it’s candy or other goodies, and then give a prize to the people that find everything. Not many things are more motivating than candy and prizes!
5. Visit a petting zoo
Because who doesn’t like petting adorable animals? Petting zoos are a great way for seniors who love animals to get up close and personal, all while in a safe environment. A petting zoo, seniors will come in contact with goats, chickens, horses, llamas and sometimes even cows and pigs! Not to mention, most of these animals love being around people due to their domestic upbringing.
6. Take pictures
Whether a senior has a digital camera or a disposable camera, everyone likes being a photographer for a day. Go outside and take pictures of anything, or make a list of things to find and snap pictures of. Seniors can then make prints of whatever they captured and create other crafts, such as a scrapbook.
When it comes to fun activities for seniors, it’s important to think outside the box. Unique, new activities are more likely to get seniors up, active and participating!
