In the retirement years, seniors often have extra time on their hands to spend doing fun things they truly enjoy. Anchorage, AK, home care professionals recommend a few recreational activities your aging loved one might want to try.
1. Dancing
Encourage your loved one to explore the benefits of dancing. Joining a senior dance class can serve as therapy for a number of different ailments, including Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and dementia. Seniors who dance tend to have lower levels of stress and depression. Dancing can also increase strength and balance, alleviate joint stiffness, and boost cardiovascular health.
2. Creating Art
Encourage your loved one to sign up for an art class. Learning a new skill provides valuable mental stimulation, the act of painting or drawing can help enhance fine motor skills, and joining a class creates opportunities for social interaction and new friendships. Art is also a great self-esteem builder because there is no right or wrong. Other artistic hobbies your loved one might consider include.
- Scrapbooking
- Photography
- Jewelry making
3. Letterboxing
Letterboxing is like an adult version of a scavenger hunt. Participants in this activity hide boxes containing a logbook at various public places and post clues to their location online. Once your loved one finds a letterbox, he or she leaves a stamp in both the letterbox’s logbook and his or her personal logbook to indicate being there. If your loved one is tech-savvy, he or she can try a similar activity known as geocaching, which uses a smartphone or a handheld GPS device. Deciphering the clues provides mental stimulation, and finding the locations typically includes walking and other physical activity.
4. Volunteering
Volunteering for a local organization or charity can provide your loved one with a sense of purpose and opportunities for engaging with others socially. The key is to find a cause close to his or her heart. For example, if your loved one is an avid animal lover but is unable to have a pet, he or she could volunteer at the local animal shelter, or a senior who loves children may want to sign up as a foster grandparent.
Participating in activities such as these can benefit your loved one in many ways. For additional suggestions to help boost your loved one’s overall wellbeing, reach out to Anchorage Home Care Assistance. Our caregivers are available 24/7 to provide transportation and social companionship, and they can also assist with many tasks around the house. To learn more about the live-in and respite home care Anchorage, AK, seniors count on, call one of our friendly Care Managers at (907) 770-0907 to schedule a free in-home consultation.