People often think getting healthy means going to the gym. However, there are many activities seniors can do at home to increase their physical and mental health. Finding activities to do at home also makes it easier for seniors to stay on track with their exercise regimens when they’re sick. Here are a few healthy activities seniors can enjoy at home.
1. Start a Backyard Garden
Gardening is an activity that can be as simple as potting a few flowers outside or as involved as packing the yard full of delicious edible plants. Either way, growing a garden involves walking, kneeling, and bending to tend to the plants, which increases a senior’s physical fitness. If seniors grow fruits or vegetables, the health benefits increase, since they’ll also be encouraged to eat nutritious meals.
If your loved one needs help with preparing nutritious meals, consider hiring a caregiver. Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elderly home care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
2. Learn a Foreign Language
Learning a foreign language takes time, which means seniors can enjoy this activity at home for many months. Today, foreign language learning programs can be found online and in video formats so seniors can choose whichever one works best for them. As seniors work on their lessons, they can strengthen their memory abilities. Working with partners to learn new languages also provides seniors with socialization that enhances their days.
3. Play a Video Game
Playing video games has earned a bad reputation as an unhealthy activity. However, older adults can benefit from playing these games when they choose the right ones. For instance, video games that encourage dancing or making motions like hitting a ball help seniors get some exercise. Using controllers also increases hand flexibility and loosens up joints affected by arthritis.
4. Spend Time with a Pet
Spending time with animals helps seniors enjoy a sense of companionship, and stroking a dog or cat’s soft fur lowers blood pressure. As seniors play fetch with their pups or tempt their kittens with feather toys, they also move their bodies and increase their daily activity levels. Laughing at a favorite pet’s silly antics boosts emotional health.
Spending time with pets is a wonderful way for seniors to stay healthy and recover from illnesses. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of homecare services. Richmond Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services.
5. Practice Painting
Whether seniors prefer oil paints or watercolors, there’s always something beautiful they can create. Painting can be done indoors or outdoors, which allows seniors more options for how they spend their time. It’s also possible to learn new techniques by watching videos online. The process of painting promotes relaxation and increases range of motion in the arms and hands. Seniors can turn painting into a social activity by asking caregivers to paint alongside them or pose for portraits.
For families living in Richmond, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (804) 207-4746.