What Are The Best Types Of Indoor Activities For Seniors?
We can go to great lengths to ensure our elderly loved ones receive the very best care they need. Heaps of research can be undertaken in selecting the most appropriate home, special attention heeded upon their comfort needs and even exceptional dietary requirements taken into consideration. Then, after devoting all that effort to their wellbeing, why would we want to just sit them in front of a TV and let them mentally deteriorate as the result of a passive, sedentary life?
From an outside perspective it may be tempting to assume that elderly people residing in care homes / nursing homes are deserving of respite from an active lifestyle and should even be content with the opportunity for sleeping a lot.
As recent studies prove however, it is important to maintain brain stimulation in older people to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This means that encouraging stimulation is not only good for breaking boredom, but that finding activities for elderly residents can be vital to their health.
With this in mind, we have compiled a suitable list of potential activities for elderly residents of all degrees of mobility. The following are all indoor activities for seniors that should ensure their days are as varied and exciting as safely possible.
FAQ's
Trying New Experiences
Learn the best type of indoor activities for seniors.
Whether it be tasting new food or putting brush to canvas, trying new experiences promotes sensory skills and offers the opportunity to discover a new passion in life. Whatever the activity may be, it is important to remember that as well as enjoying the act of ‘doing’ within the moment, the action also serves as a catalyst for further stimulation by encouraging later engaging discussion about them with fellow residents and family members.
Learning
Teaching residents a new skill such as some basic computer operating or a handful of foreign phrases is perhaps the most stimulating brain activity of all. With a good teacher, learning can encourage excited interaction amongst peers and leave them feeling inspired.
Examples include:
- Art
- Cooking
- Computers
- Crafts
- Languages
- Writing
Exercise
The encouragement of light physical activities for care home residents has been popular for years. Slow-paced, undemanding movements that are essentially just warm-up exercises help keep the elderly mobile for longer. As a result many extend the length of their independence for years. While most care homes feature the following exercises, a few have even employed the use of game consoles such as the Nintendo Wii to get residents moving.
Examples include:
- Dancing
- Sports
- Stretches
- Walking
- Weights
- Yoga
Fun in Groups
Feeling part of a group is an essential element in achieving and maintaining happiness. One of the best ways to engage residents into group activity is via games. While there are some obvious examples such as bingo, dominoes, cards and board games, to keep them stimulated it might be an idea to try new games such as giant crossword puzzles.
Other ways of encouraging group stimulation are to invite guest speakers to give seminars, actors and musicians to perform, and even domestic animals for them to interact with.
Examples include:
- Concerts
- Discussion Group
- Games
- Petting Sessions
- Reading Club
- Seminars
The activities listed above should ensure that they all have the opportunity to do so as contentedly as possible, and with a longer mental health life ahead of them. If you’re looking for a Nursing or Care Home in North Devon or Somerset call us on 01769 573 166.
