With snow and cold temperatures keeping older adults indoors for extended periods during winter, heat and humidity in the summer season, or just lack of mobility at other times, finding indoor activities to engage in is important in maintaining physical and mental health.
While this is important for people of all ages, it becomes even more significant in the golden years to prevent loneliness, boredom, and decline.
Luckily, there are plenty of options available for fun and stimulating indoor activities that will keep you or your loved ones interested. From board games to creative pursuits like painting or knitting, these activities can provide seniors with not only entertainment but also opportunities for socialization and learning new skills.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best indoor activities for seniors who want to have fun while maintaining (or even improving) their physical health and cognitive function, and hopefully provide you with some great ideas!
Gentle Exercises For Seniors
Gentle exercises are perfect for seniors who have limited mobility or prefer low-impact activities. Physical activity is important for all ages and can help to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. In older people, this can reduce the risk of falls or other injuries and make life easier and more comfortable in general.
Chair Exercises
Chair exercises are a great option for those with reduced mobility. These exercises can be done while sitting down and provide similar benefits to traditional workouts but without putting too much strain on the legs and lower body.
Seniors can try seated leg lifts, arm circles, or even resistance band exercises to get moving without putting strain on their joints. Local community centers are a good place to find a suitable exercise class or for those with an internet connection for their TV, there are some great chair exercise and chair yoga workouts available on Youtube.
Walking
Walking is also an excellent form of exercise that many seniors can do indoors. Walking around the house or using a treadmill provides cardiovascular benefits and improves overall health.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a low-impact meditational exercise that can help improve balance, flexibility, and relaxation. It involves slow, fluid movements and deep breathing techniques that can help reduce stress and anxiety. Tai Chi can be done in a group setting or alone and can be modified to accommodate different physical abilities.
Although Tai Chi is often practiced outdoors in a natural setting such as a local park, it can also be practiced indoors in the comfort of your own home, or community center.
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Other Physical Activities
Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening is an easy way to stay active and engaged while also improving hand-eye coordination – it’s also a way to get some good exercise without even knowing you’re exercising! Seniors can plant and care for indoor plants or create a small indoor garden and it can provide a great sense of accomplishment and purpose.
A lot of time can be spent planning and learning how to look after plants, as well as doing the physical work of planting, watering, and weeding.
Cooking
Trying new recipes can be a fun and interesting way to keep active while making something delicious that you will enjoy or that you can share with others. Cooking with friends or family can also make it a social activity and it’s a nice way to spend time with grandchildren.
Social Activities For Seniors
As the saying goes, “Exercise keeps the body healthy, but social interaction keeps the mind sharp.” Following our previous section on gentle exercises for seniors, let’s now explore some indoor activities that promote social interaction and mental agility.
Games
Board games and card games are classic options for seniors to engage in friendly competition while enjoying each other’s company. From chess to bridge to poker, there are endless possibilities for game night fun. Hosting a regular game night can also provide structure and routine for older people who may otherwise feel isolated or bored at home.
Next time you’re planning a party for seniors, definitely take a look at these fun party games for seniors for a great variety of choices.
Board Games
Who doesn’t love a good board game! They often only get brought out at Christmas, but board games are a good way to socialize with family and friends at any time. They’re the perfect way to challenge your mind and learn new things while having fun competing with others.
Board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, and Chess are great options for people of all ages and generations. Other classic games like Bingo, Dominoes, and Checkers are also great options for seniors who want to socialize with friends and family.
Card Games
Card games are great fun and can help to improve cognitive function and memory. Try card games such as Bridge, Poker, and Rummy.
Video Games
Video games like Brain Age, Wii Sports, and Tetris are great options for seniors who want to stay mentally active. If you’re new to video games and have younger family members they’ll almost certainly be able to show you how to start with video games and online gaming! If you have an Amazon Prime membership for seniors, you have access to a free online game each week.
Online games like Sudoku, Mahjong, and Solitaire are great options for seniors who enjoy a mental challenge.
Book Clubs
For those who prefer quieter activities, book clubs offer a chance to share thoughts and ideas about literature with like-minded individuals. Reading has so many different cognitive benefits from improving memory, to increasing empathy, and even reducing stress levels.
Plus, discussing a good book with others adds an extra layer of intellectual stimulation and social connection.
Crafting And Creative Pursuits
Crafting and creative pursuits not only provide an enjoyable pastime but also help in keeping the brain active and increase hand-eye coordination.
Crafting can range from knitting, crocheting, and quilting to painting or even making greeting cards. Incorporating crafting into your routine can bring about numerous benefits beyond just providing entertainment. It’s an activity that promotes creativity and helps develop skills while boosting self-esteem.
Mind Games And Mental Stimulation
“Use it or lose it” is a common saying you may have heard of, and there’s definitely some truth in it when it comes to our mental health. Keeping our minds active and engaged is key to maintaining cognitive function as we age.
Luckily, there are plenty of mind games and mental stimulation activities that seniors can enjoy from the comfort of their own home.
Brain Training
Brain games are like a workout for the brain – it’s important to work out your body to stay fit and healthy, but it’s important to give the brain a workout to keep your mind sharp.
Anything from simple crossword puzzles and word searches to more complex strategy games that require a bit more thinking (e.g., Sudoku) can be beneficial.
Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills and can be enjoyed by family members of all ages. Anyone who comes by can sit down and try putting together a few pieces! You can try anything from simple pictures to more challenging puzzles with 1000+ pieces that will take several sittings to complete.
Because they come in a wide variety of sizes and themes, you can choose one that suits your interests to make it more fun.
Movie Nights
Watching favorite movies is a classic indoor activity that is perfect for seniors with limited mobility and one that any age group can join in with. You can watch old favorites or discover new movies that you haven’t seen before.
A good movie is a perfect way to spend some free time any time you’re stuck for something to do.
Check out these recommendations if you’re looking for a simple tv for seniors. Some have built in DVD players for movie night, and can stream all sorts of great programs.
Field Trips
If you want to stay indoors, but still feel like getting out and about, going on field trips is a great way to get out of the house. Visit museums, art galleries, historical sites, and other interesting places if you’re up for meeting new people and those who have similar interests to you.
Check your local community center or church group to see what outings are organized for senior citizens.
Family History
Learning about your family history is something that everyone should do in their lifetime! You can research your family tree, military records, and old photos to discover more about your ancestors and where you came from. The National Archives are a good place to find useful information that might be pertinent to your family history.
Creating a family tree is a great activity for spending time with different family members and for sharing your life story with them as you explore your family’s history together.
Social Media Account
Today, whether you like it or not, social media is one of the best ways to stay connected with family members and friends. For those that are new to the world of technology, it can be intimidating at first as there are new skills to be learned.
However, you can get a laptop with a large screen or mobile device with large numbers that are more accessible for older users, and there are lots of classes available to teach you the basics.
Facebook is popular with a wide range of ages (although maybe not so much the younger generation anymore!) and you can use it to share updates, photos, and messages with friends and family. It’s a great way to get a sneak peek into what’s going on in people’s lives and maintain connections with people you don’t get a chance to see face to face.
Learning to video call using your mobile or laptop is a good way to stay in touch with friends and family members as it helps build a deeper connection than just talking on the phone.
New Language
If you’re looking for something to challenge yourself, a new language can open up all sorts of opportunities for travel and communication. You can attend classes, use language-learning software, or practice with native speakers to improve your language skills.
Rosetta Stone is one of the most popular language-learning programs today and you can use it to learn a new language from the comfort of your home. The subscription isn’t cheap, but you can get lifetime access to 24 different languages so you’ll never run out of things to learn!
A simpler and cheaper option if you have a mobile phone is an app like Duolingo which can teach you a basic knowledge of more than 40 different languages. It won’t teach advanced fluency, but it can give you a good start!
You can progress to more advanced programs later if you want to take your language learning to the next level.
There are so many great indoor activities for seniors
It’s always a good idea to try and get outside for some fresh air as long periods indoors aren’t ideal. However, during the winter months, the time of year when a rainy day or cold weather is common, or the person has mobility issues, this isn’t always possible.
When outdoor activities are out of the question, it’s a good idea to have some fun activities in mind that can be done indoors and that incorporate things such as physical exercise, quality time with family (or the prospect of making new friends) or even the opportunity to try new hobbies.
The health benefits of these great indoor activities cannot be overstated for elderly people. Seniors who engage in regular physical activity have been shown to have reduced memory loss and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.
Maintaining an active lifestyle and participating in social activities can improve mood, reduce feelings of isolation, and increase overall well-being, so why wouldn’t you do it if you can? If you’re stuck in a rut and looking for something new to do indoors today, pick something out of our list and give it a try!
