Active seniors are healthier seniors.
Getting older doesn't mean that the person has gotten so feeble that they can't do anything for themselves. However, life as a senior citizen can be an adjustment for some. A man who has worked to support his family all his life can experience depression after retirement. A woman who has raised children and suddenly needs assistance of her own can also experience moments of depression. Getting older doesn't mean they have to sit around the house and await the inevitable. Motivate them to enjoy their new life.
Family History
As the family patriarchs turn over the reins, an activity they can busy themselves with is telling the family history for future generations. To get him started, stationary stores sell writing notebooks that have questionnaires that he can fill out. Once the memories start coming back, a set of legal pads or notebooks can get filled up quickly. Seniors enjoy this activity because they see the value of leaving something behind that can potentially get passed down for generations. You can also video tape them telling the family story verbally.
Old Hobbies
Some physical activities may not be possible for the senior in your family, but she can still enjoy most other activities she participated in all her life. Encourage her to talk about things she always loved to do. Help re-introduce her to those activities to encourage her to keep active. If she enjoyed cooking, find someone for her to cook for such as your family, homeless shelters or churches. If she enjoyed sewing, dust off her sewing machine and purchase some fabric.
New Hobbies
The only time it is too late to learn a new trick is after the heart has finally stopped beating. Find out if there is something he's always wanted to learn, but never got the chance. Now, that he has plenty of time, encourage him to take the chance. If he always wanted to golf, purchase some instructional DVDs and a golf putter for him to put around in the backyard to learn golf. Quilting and knitting are other activities that your senior can learn to keep her busy.
Physical Limitations
Physical ailments are a factor in getting older. Seniors can take part in arts and crafts without performing stressful movements. After purchasing a few supplies from an art store, such as paint brushes, blank canvases and paint, the senior could be busy creating for hours. Activities such as scrapbooking only require a pair of scissors and a scrapbook. The senior can complete one scrapbooking project and move on to another.
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