What Are the Best Activities for the Elderly?

We all want what is best for our loved ones, especially our aging parents, which is one of the reasons for the steady popularity of professional homecare in Santa Monica. However, as our parents become older and older, it gets increasingly more difficult for us to understand their needs and what they are going through. This is doubly true for the elderly who live alone.

To make our elderly loved ones happy, we sometimes need to think outside of the box and perhaps give them a glimpse of exciting new experiences. No one can argue that making sure that the elderly follow doctor’s orders is important, but giving them the opportunity to boost their mental fitness is just as important. 

How do you entertain an elderly person? 

There are ways to keep your elderly loved ones busy with fun, engaging activities, even when you are not around. Here are some inspiring ideas you can try out:

• Reading: aside from boosting brain function, improving memory and slowing down cognitive decay, reading can provide stress relief and enhance sleep quality. What’s more, modern technology brought us easily accessible audiobooks, so poor eyesight is no obstacle. For book recommendations, Santa Monicans can reach out to Santa Monica Public Library, where they will also find an impressive library catalog and a vast variety of books and movies. Extra tip: organizing a senior book club is a great way to combine reading with socializing;
• Hobbies: there are countless hobbies that work great even for the elderly with limited mobility. These include cooking, baking, indoor gardening, bird-watching, playing an instrument, solving puzzles, knitting and crochet, to name a few;
• Active learning: this is yet another great way to keep the mind active. So how about taking up a new language?;
• A boost of creativity through arts and crafts: painting, coloring, drawing, sculpting and similar art projects all bring amazing benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety to increasing the chance of recovery from an illness;
• Regular physical activity: various types of sports and dance can do wonders for your elderly loved one’s body and mind;
• Parties and social gatherings: how about a theme-party to add a pop of color into your elderly loved one’s daily life?;
• Playing board games: this may not sound like an overly innovative idea, but fun and interesting board games are coming out all the time. There is bound to be more than one that will get your elderly loved one hooked!;
• Spending time outdoors: old but gold, outdoor activities are unrivaled in providing a good mood boost and relaxation, in addition to other health benefits;
• Keeping a pet and interacting with animals: there is undeniable scientific evidence of the beneficial effect that interaction with animals has on humans, especially those recovering from an illness;
• Participating in a charitable event: perhaps one of the most rewarding items on this list, this activity will give your elderly loved one the chance to socialize, feel valued and appreciated and give back to the community, all at the same time.

Why are activities good for elderly? 

Staying active and vital even as we age can affect our overall health in more ways than one. In fact, there is scientific evidence that physical activity can have a remarkable effect on the health and fitness of the person going through the aging process. The list of arguments is compelling:

• Better brain function
• Forming stronger relationships with others
• Enhanced physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Longer lifespan

Expert homecare in Santa Monica

A Better Way in Home Care has been around for over two decades. During that time, we have earned a reputation to be proud of and helped countless elderly clients meet caregivers who have turned their lives for the better, advancing both their dignity and quality of life. 

We look forward to meeting you and your elderly loved one and matching you with the finest caregivers in Santa Monica area, who are kind, compassionate and approachable, as well as competent and professional. Give us a call today!