YOU CAN ALWAYS STAY ON THE GAME
10 Healthy Activities Senior Adults Can Enjoy At Any Age
Published on November 14, 2024
Credit: Ravi Patel
Being a senior adult in this day and age is not the same as it was just a couple of decades ago. The advancements in modern medicine have allowed everyone to live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life than ever before. And, as long as we take care of ourselves, staying active is possible at any age. We have compiled a short list of 10 things that can be done by almost anyone and can provide endless benefits to the body and mind.
Pets
Credit: Nikolay Tchaouchev
It is no secret that pets bring life and joy to any house, making it a home. Older adults can enjoy the company a dog or a cat can provide, as long as the breed is not too attention-demanding. Also, a pet provides a wonderful excuse to get outside and stay connected to others.
And, thanks to most senior living communities now being pet-friendly, residents can bring their companions with them.
Music
Credit: Jacek Dylag
Like reading, music provides a welcome break from everyday life to anyone who attempts it, whether by playing it or simply enjoying it. Today’s seniors are part of a generation that revolutionized music and many have decidedly specific tastes.
Learning to play a musical instrument, any instrument, is a highly stimulating activity for the brain, at any age. And if playing isn't an option, listening to both old, familiar tunes and new music can be a delightful mental pastime.
Art Classes
Credit: Sarah Brown
Anyone who has ever attempted an artistic endeavor knows how immersive and rewarding it can be to spend time on your own, creating something for the pleasure of it. Many artistic expressions like painting or drawing require almost no physical effort and can be done either indoors or outdoors.
Watercolor and acrylic painting as well as drawing and sketching are all high on the list of avenues for artistic expression and, also, making art in a group can be an enjoyable way to engage with others.
Online Games
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Online games are not only for children and young people. At least not anymore. Connecting with others doesn’t always mean participating in an in-person event and chatting with friends and family online can be very convenient for people with reduced mobility.
Playing online games can help maintain social connections while training basic hand-to-eye coordination skills, which is especially important for senior adults.
Lectures and Education
Credit: Alexandre Pellaes
An excellent way of staying mentally alert and engaged is achieved by expanding one’s knowledge. Attending lectures in nearby locations is an activity that combines physical and mental exercise. But watching and even participating online is very rewarding as well.
Also, enrolling in classes of any subject that might be of interest is a great way of stimulating one’s mind at any age.
Book Clubs
Credit: Christin Hume
Readingis one of the most fulfilling activities that require almost zero physical effort and almost anyone can perform and thoroughly enjoy. And, while traveling with the mind through a book’s pages can be done anywhere, it is especially suited for the indoors.
Book clubs are a great way to socialize and bond over a thing all the participants love: books and reading. This kind of groups can be found almost anywhere and many are especially suited for senior adults.
Gardening
Credit: Markus Spiske
Getting your hands dirty while cultivating the soil is one of the most noble activities a human being can perform. And, nobility aside, is also fun, rewarding, and cheap.
Gardening is an enjoyable activity that requires almost no physical effort (unless you plan on cultivating really big plants) and it can be adapted to whatever space is available. Watching life develop, harvesting fruits and vegetables, pulling weeds, and nurturing plants is an endeavor that is well within most senior adults’ reach and provides enormous amounts of joy.
Group Exercise Classes
Credit: Anupam Mahapatra
Group exercises, like yoga, tai chi, or aqua gym, are fun and social ways to improve flexibility and balance, which are key to preventing falls in older adults.
Almost every neighborhood has a center or location where at least one group exercise class well suited for senior adults can be found.
Hiking and Walking
Credit: Jon Flobrant
A good walk can provide a breath of fresh air and a boost to natural "feel good" endorphins. Walking around the community is an easy way for a senior adult to keep active, and can also be a good way of making friends.
Hiking and walking are low-impact activities that provide valuable exercise while stimulating the mind by discovering new places and creating memories.
Cooking
Credit: Alyson McPhee
Last but not least, an activity that is rewarding for both the part that does the cooking and the one that does the eating. Cooking is really fun and therapeutic even for someone who has never done it before (as long as she or he stays away from overtly complicated recipes at first).
There are infinite websites and books available that teach how to cook anything and everything, tailored for each individual group of people, including senior adults. Just pick a recipe you enjoy and give it a try.
