9 fun and engaging activities for senior citizens
Introduction
We all know that getting old can be tough. Seniors have a lot to deal with, including changes in their health, physical limitations and more. But one thing they don’t have to deal with is boredom! There are so many things you can do with older adults that will keep them engaged and active for years to come. Here are some ideas for activities your senior loved ones will love:
Paint ceramics
Ceramic painting is a fun activity for seniors. It offers many benefits, including the chance to be creative and express yourself in new ways. Ceramic painting is also a great way to socialize with others, since you can get with a group of friends or family members and paint ceramics together.
If you’re looking for a fun outing that your senior loved ones will enjoy, consider taking them on a group trip to an arts studio where they can do some ceramic painting. This type of activity can also be used as gifts at special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries—or just because! Finally, using hand-painted pottery can help decorate any room in your home (whether it’s in your house or apartment).
Create a travel board on Pinterest.
While your loved one likely can’t go on cultural tours or visit national parks, you can pin images of the places you would like to visit on Pinterest. This is a great way for seniors to dream about new places without leaving home.
Setting up a travel board will help keep your mind active and engaged in what may be one of their favorite pastimes. You can create boards for different destinations based on budget, time frame and other factors such as proximity to family members who could accompany you on trips or places where there are good medical facilities nearby should something happen while traveling abroad.
Create a miniature garden.
Miniature gardens are a fun and relaxing activity for seniors. They’re also easy to make, especially if you keep the plants to just one or two types (such as succulents). The best part about miniature gardens is that they can be displayed anywhere. A special table in the living room? Sure! A windowsill? Absolutely! Even an old pantry shelf will do in a pinch.
Miniature gardening is also great for groups of seniors who want to spend time together but aren’t physically able to go out and do things anymore. It’s perfect for those who don’t want their friends hanging out at their house all day long, or who find it difficult to get around outside because of physical limitations like arthritis pain or poor eyesight; plus there are no weeds so you don’t have to worry about pesky yardwork taking up your time!
So whether you want something fun and engaging while also helping others with disabilities live independently, miniature gardening is an excellent option!
Paint watercolors
Watercolor is a great medium for seniors because it isn’t as messy as other paints. Watercolor paints are made of pigments suspended in water, and get their color from the pigment. Watercolors can be used on almost any surface, including paper, cardboard and fabric.
Watercolor is also a wonderful way for seniors to express creativity and relaxation through painting. In addition, painting with watercolors keeps your hands busy so that you don’t focus on aches or pain in your fingers or wrists!
Play a board game
If you’re looking for an activity that’s engaging, fun, and doesn’t require much in the way of physical exertion, playing a board game is the way to go.
Playing board games can be an incredibly enjoyable pastime for seniors. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, games promote social interaction and mental stimulation while giving players a chance to get in touch with their inner child. They also give older adults space-related tasks that they can complete by themselves or with other players—a great way of staying connected with friends and family members!
Watch some classic movies from your youth.
Watching old movies is a fun activity that brings up memories and helps you get to know your loved one. It can also be a great way for seniors to connect with their family members, as well as share stories about their past.
If you’re looking for ways to bring the family together, consider watching some of your favorite classic films. There’s nothing wrong with reveling in nostalgia from time to time!
Bake something they used to love when they were younger together.
Baking is a fun and safe activity for seniors. It can be a great way to spend an afternoon. Baking can also be a creative outlet, allowing seniors to create delicious treats for their family members and friends. Baking is especially ideal for the days when weather makes it difficult to spend time outdoors.
You’ll have no shortage of desserts to choose from. There are plenty of options out there besides (or alongside) cupcakes and brownies:
Cream puffs
Whoopie pies
Fruit pies (Blueberry peach pie is always a crowd favorite!)
Exercise their brains and hands with a jigsaw puzzle.
Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to keep your mind active and limber. For seniors, this can be especially important as their bodies become less able to move as they once did. As you work together to put the pieces of a puzzle together, you’ll engage in some physical activity while also using your brain to reason out how the pieces fit together.
You can find jigsaw puzzles of all levels of difficulty from simple shapes like farm animals or just sky-colors, to more complex ones that depict buildings and landscapes. If you have trouble finding one that suits you best, try looking for puzzles with large pieces such as 150+ piece puzzles which will be easier than smaller ones with less than 100 pieces (or even 50).
Practice photography skills by capturing the perfect shot.
In addition to being a great way to keep a senior’s mind sharp, photography is also a fantastic way to see the world in completely new ways. Whether they are capturing nature or people and pets, photography is an opportunity for them to get outside and engage with others—not only as subjects but also as collaborators and mentors.
Photography can be an excellent outlet for expression of creativity, and it’s never too late or too early in life for someone to start taking beautiful photos!
Conclusion
You don’t need to be a senior to enjoy these fun activities, but they can be especially beneficial if you have elderly loved ones. Try some of these ideas with your family or friends who are in the aging process!
We hope you enjoyed this list of fun activities for seniors! If you have any other ideas that aren’t listed here, please share them with us in the comments below! We would love to hear from you.
