Fun Recreational Activities to do at Home with Elderly Loved Ones

As we age, our bodies change. We lose bone density and muscle mass, and our joints may stiffen. These changes can lead to physical limitations and decreased mobility. As a result, many seniors face challenges participating in recreational activities they once enjoyed and leads them to stay in their homes longer. And because they acquire physical limitations, it doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy doing fun activities anymore. They can still accomplish a lot as long as they have a little help.

Recreational activities are essential for your loved ones’ mental well-being because it allows their brain to take a break and regenerate. It is important when caring for someone with mild cognitive impairment because it helps them stay sharp and prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Recreational activities are also ideal for older adults with mobility problems as it allows them to stay active and engaged without having to worry about falling.

Ideally, you should be doing exercises and activities with your elderly loved ones that they enjoy. It will not only reduce their boredom levels and stress but will also have a positive effect on the quality of your time together.

However, finding the activities that interest them can be challenging, so you need to think of something engaging or look for it. And since you have found this page, it means you are searching for the best physical activities that will provide enjoyment for your elderly loved one. Luckily enough, we have compiled a list for you.

Later on in this article, some of the best recreational activities that you can do with your loved one at home are outlined. These are ideal activities to get them up and moving while also having a lot of fun together.

Benefits of Recreational Activities for the Elderly

Recreational activities have many benefits for both older adults and their caregivers. These include:

1. Improves Mood
Recreational activities can be beneficial for both older adults and their caregivers. It gives them something to do with their free time, which can help them relieve boredom, unwind and relax. The benefits of recreational activities for mood are similar to those achieved from participating in competitive games such as chess or cards when they were younger.

2. Reduces Stress
Stress levels are so important when caring for a loved one with cognitive impairment because it affects their health and daily routines in a negative way. Fortunately, recreational activities can help reduce your loved one’s feelings of stress and make them more willing to participate in social activities. It will also positively affect their quality of life in general.

3. Boost Self Confidence
Recreational activities are a great way for older adults to boost self-confidence and feel a sense of accomplishment. Having the ability to complete a task, especially if it’s something they haven’t done in a long time, can be very fulfilling and rewarding. It also gives them something to talk about and share with friends and family.

4. Strengthens Social Bonds
It is important to keep a strong network of friends, family members, and social groups as we age because it improves mental health and quality of life. Engaging in recreational activities with older adults can be an excellent way to spend time with your aging loved ones and build strong relationships. It also allows your loved ones to remain active and keep up with their social circles even if they live alone.

5. Improves Physical Health
Older adults who engage in recreational activities are more likely to have a higher quality of life than those who don’t because they will be much more active and productive in their daily routines. Activities like these stimulate and improve their brain’s cognitive abilities by helping them retain information, solve problems, and maintain good mental health.

All of these benefits show how important it is for your loved ones to stay engaged despite old age and they can still be very active while enjoying their senior years.

Some Fun Recreational Activities to do at Home with Elderly Loved Ones

Here are some of the best recreational activities that can be done by your loved one at home, especially if they have dementia or other health issues that prevent them from going out often:

1. Read Books
Reading is a wonderful pastime for any age group, but it’s even better for elderly loved ones. Reading provides them with a chance to relax, escape reality, and gain knowledge. It can also provide them with a mental workout and challenge their minds. Reading is an excellent activity to do while you’re in bed or at a chair or table. You don’t need to be physically active for reading to be considered exercise.

2. Cultivate a Garden
Switching to a healthier diet and removing any stress-inducing stimulation from the outside world is vital in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for older adults. It is crucial to keep their minds busy and bodies active even while their fitness levels decline and health issues occur that prevent them from exercising. One of the ideal ways to give your loved ones an opportunity to enjoy their stay at home is by participating in several gardening activities with them! It can include planting seeds, pruning vines, weeding, picking flowers, and watering plants.

3. Making Crafts
Creating craft items is one of the most popular hobbies for seniors. Many elderly persons tend to enjoy creating new items and using their skills to make something beautiful. It can have health benefits because it will give their brain something to focus on and distract them from their feelings of stress and boredom. The feeling of accomplishment from making something useful is also an important aspect of this hobby.

The best part about making crafts with your loved ones is that you can do it together! You get to bond, have fun and spend quality time with them at the same time. Some fun and simple craft projects include:

• Making Greeting Cards
• Creating Decorations and Holiday Ornaments
• Making Your Own Family Photo Album or Collage

These crafts are relatively easy and the materials needed are commonly available in the home.

4. Doing Regular Exercise
Older adults need to exercise regularly because it increases the amount of oxygen and blood flow to their muscles, leading to improved strength, endurance, muscle tone, and circulation. Exercise has been shown to lessen the risks associated with falling as well as improve moods in those who are at risk of experiencing symptoms of depression. The exercise can be more or less vigorous depending on the physical state of the senior but it should not be too vigorous or stressful and must be accompanied with adequate water intake and ample rest in between cycles.

5. Brain Games
Your loved one needs to remain mentally active and stimulate their brain as much as possible by participating in several cognitive exercises and activities. An ideal way to do this will be through brain games.

Brain games are very useful for maintaining cognitive health because they involve different learning, reasoning, and problem-solving areas. It is also an excellent way to reinforce and improve their memory.

The following are some of the best brain games for seniors to stimulate their minds and improve their memory.

Chess: It is a popular and timeless game that people love to play. The game requires you to use problem-solving skills and strategize your moves in order to win. The ability to use strategic thinking while having fun at the same time is a great way to keep your aging loved one’s mind sharp and improve memory.

Sudoku: It is one of the most popular puzzles in the world because it challenges your brain like no other! You can play this game with your loved one by printing out specialized paper versions or downloading the app to your cell phone.

Crossword Puzzles: It is also an ideal brain game to play with your loved ones. Many of puzzles have a theme and can stimulate their memory and improve their memorization abilities.

Word searches: These are challenging ways for you and your loved ones to have fun at home. Just print out word searches from online sites or create unique ones with your loved one! You can also encourage them to come up with the words themselves.

6. Cooking Together
Another excellent activity to do with your loved one at home is cooking together. It will help them in not only keeping their mind sharp and healthy but also they can enjoy spending time with you in the kitchen. There are so many benefits that come from cooking with your loved one. If you practice meal preparation at home, it will reduce costs for both of you because you won’t have to go out for a meal as often. It is also a great way to become more independent and learn new skills.

Conclusion

There are many ways for you and your loved one to stay healthy, active, and have fun at home. Most of these ideas involve spending quality time with your loved one doing something enjoyable that deals with cognitive skills and memory improvement. Just as important is making sure you’re both having fun doing the activity, which will help them stay motivated.

– Written by Andrea Gibbs