Activities for the elderly at home

Yoga is an excellent example of the kind of indoor activities seniors can do to stay fit and well. It’s a great way to maintain core body strength and improve balance and flexibility. Many people also believe it has a meditative quality that helps relax the mind and soothe the soul.

The beauty of yoga is that it is easily adapted for different levels of physical ability. For example, chair yoga is a low-impact form of yoga that can be done while sitting or standing with a sturdy chair, so it is particularly suitable for seniors with limited mobility. 

The elderly can learn yoga techniques by attending a seniors’ yoga class in the community, but if that’s not an option, they can join an online class – there are literally thousands available. 

Once learned, seniors can easily practice yoga techniques at home without needing any special equipment apart from a yoga mat or something comfortable to lie on, or a sturdy chair.

Meditation and mindfulness 

Meditation is an example of an indoor activity that can help the elderly relax. Long practised as a way to manage stress and reduce anxiety, meditation now includes the concept of ‘mindfulness’, or being in the moment.

Meditation and mindfulness can help train the brain to remain calm and focused even in times of great stress. 

But there’s another compelling reason why meditation and mindfulness are great indoor activities for seniors: They positively impact physical health.

Meditation has been shown to be beneficial for people with diabetes, hypertension, and fibromyalgia. It has also helped to lower blood cholesterol levels, increase HDL levels, and improve blood pressure.

Other physical benefits include improved immunity, positive brain changes, and improved brain functions, all of which play important roles in healthy ageing. 

Learning meditation techniques could be as simple for your loved one as finding a respected book on the topic, accessing a reputable meditation course online or finding a seniors meditation class in their local community. 

Chair exercises 

Chair exercises are particularly good indoor activities for seniors because they put less strain on joints and muscles and can be done by those with limited mobility.

Many fabulous routines are available that can easily be done at home — take a look at these chair exercises.

Writing, reading and listening

Writing, reading and listening are time-honoured indoor activities that help keep the brain active and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Writing 

Storytelling is one of the great indoor activities for the elderly at home. Many seniors love to reminisce and share their experiences, so encourage them to write them down.

They might like to write the story of their life, or have special insights or expertise in a subject they could share with an audience. They could even be budding fiction authors ready to write a novel!

Encourage the elderly to learn how to use online writing programs and tools to make it easier. Help them to start a blog using a platform such as WordPress and how to illustrate their stories with graphics or photos of their own.

Writing is one of the activities for seniors that will help them to explore their own thoughts and feelings, improve their communication and self-expression, and provide an outlet for dealing with their feelings.

It is also good for the brain – for example, it helps improve mental clarity, which improves enhances overall wellbeing and happiness.

Reading 

Did you know that in the UK, books are now ‘prescribed’ by the health profession to help people better understand and manage their health conditions?

Diving into a good book is one of the simplest yet most powerful indoor activities for the elderly at home. Reading helps keep the brain busy, melts away stress, improves mood, and connects seniors to imaginary worlds. Reading may also help ease feelings of isolation.

There are obvious benefits from these kinds of activities for seniors, such as enhancing vocabulary, boosting comprehension, providing education and information, and fostering empathy.

But studies show that regular reading also has amazing physical health benefits, one of which is improving brain connectivity.

Reading also been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate and help people prepare for sleep.

All these benefits help seniors fight depression and prevent cognitive decline, which contributes to them living happier, healthier and perhaps even longer lives.

The great thing about reading is that it’s one of the activities for the elderly at home that they can do all on their own or as part of a book club. They can read almost anything that piques their interest for little or no cost—think the local library, where books can be borrowed in the traditional way and via digital lending library services.

Listening 

There is also another way seniors can consume reading material—by listening! For those living with limited vision, this can be an excellent way to ‘read’, as many books are now available as audiobooks.

Listening is not limited to books. Podcasts are now popular forms of infotainment and a great activity for seniors, helping them stay educated and informed on current affairs and topics of interest.

The number, scope, and variety of available podcasts are almost limitless. Seniors might choose to listen to a podcast on a favourite topic, such as true crime, history, science, sports, or health and wellness. Or they might choose to listen to a particular host who talks about a range of interests and interviews special guests. The choice is theirs, and the benefits are similar to reading.

One of the other great listening activities for seniors is listening to music. Music has long been associated with soothing the soul, stimulating the mind, and enhancing our sense of belonging.  Listening to music can help improve heart health and memory, boost exercise performance, and help manage pain.

Once again, music is now readily available in a variety of formats, including online.

Learning opportunities

Nobody is ever too old to learn something new! Given the ability of our brains to learn throughout life, many seniors can choose to learn something they might never have had the time for before.

Three indoor activities for seniors include: learning to speak a new language, playing a musical instrument, or using technology more effectively. Any of these activities will allow seniors to explore areas of interest and pave the way to exciting new experiences

Learn or practice another language 

Sure, it’s challenging to learn a new language at any time. In the past, it was thought languages were best learned as children, but studies suggest seniors can become proficient at speaking another language and that it can positively impact overall wellbeing. Some studies indicate cognitive benefits.

As a learning experience, it stretches the mind and is therefore an excellent brain workout. Just as importantly, learning a new language is one of a number of indoor activities that can also be great fun for seniors, especially if they know people who already speak another language and can practice their skills with them. This has added social benefits, helping them to stay connected with others.

As well as in-person lessons, there are lots of online programs, tools and apps that can help seniors to learn new languages at home.

Learn to play a musical instrument

Music has the seemingly magical power to connect people and help them stay connected. Learning to play a musical instrument can help seniors benefit from that magic. While this will likely be at least as challenging as learning a new language, it’s also possible and just as rewarding.

Thanks to technology, it’s also now possible for seniors to learn to play an instrument, even if they don’t already own one! Online programs can help seniors learn to play virtual instruments, including the guitar, ukelele, piano, and drums.

Online programs can even teach seniors how to compose their own music! These tools are great for helping them learn the basics at home, especially if they have never played an instrument before.

Learning to play a musical instrument has similar benefits to those associated with other learning activities.

Technology

The elderly often feel daunted just thinking about technology but encouraging them to embrace it will literally open the world up for them. Not only will it help seniors with learning a new language or how to play a musical instrument, it can also help them stay connected.

Teach them how to use social media and they will be able to stay in touch with friends and family, especially those who live far away.

The Australian Government’s Be Connected initiative has been specifically created to build the confidence, digital skills, and online safety of seniors. It also offers free online technology training, live presentations, information and tips, as well as access to free in-person courses via its national network partners.

Libraries and community centres also often provide free or low-cost in-person training sessions specifically designed to help seniors learn the basics and stay safe online.

Creative activities 

A British study suggests what many of us already intuitively know: Being creative is not only an enjoyable way to pass the time, it’s also great for emotional wellbeing. It doesn’t matter much what form the creativity takes or the level of proficiency; it’s the taking part that matters.

There are so many easy creative activities for seniors to excite their interest and enthusiasm, including some they might have engaged in earlier in life.

Knitting and crocheting

There’s something about knitting and crocheting - an almost meditative quality to the repetitive click of the needles or the pulling of yarn through a hook. Again, these are indoor activities for the elderly at home that they can easily do entirely alone or in a group.

In a group setting, there’s the added advantage of socialising with like-minded people and sharing patterns, ideas, and techniques.

Knitting and crocheting are not only creative but also practical – seniors will have the satisfaction of knowing they created a unique handmade garment, household item, or piece of art. 

Embroidery
 

There is something equally meditative and beautiful about embroidery. With a history going back thousands of years, embroidery is another creative art that can be enjoyed either alone or with others. It, too, has a practical and an artistic element. Embroidered pieces, like table runners, pillowcases, toys, and handkerchiefs, can become keepsakes for seniors to give to members of their family.

If embroidery is a skill that a senior does not yet have, they might like to learn it by joining embroidery circles. It's possible to learn online, but not as sociable, and embroidery is very much a tactile art.

The cost of all these beautiful indoor activities for seniors is typically limited to the cost of materials and the simple tools and sometimes patterns needed to create them. There may also be a cost associated with lessons or classes.

Painting
 

One of the joys of growing older is that often seniors have time to explore their artistic side and what better way than bringing out their creative skills via painting on a canvas?

Many older people have discovered great joy in this pastime, which can be done at home, outdoors, or in a group setting.

Painting groups often gather in a particular place to capture a specific landscape and these experiences can enhance the social lives of the elderly.

Although the cost involved in painting can be more expensive than other pursuits, the rewards are often worth it. Seniors will have created a work of art to hang on the wall or to gift to friends and family. Another wonderful keepsake for family or friends.

Colouring

Many people derived great joy from colouring as children. The simple pleasure is being rediscovered with the advent of colouring books for adults. These books often have a particular theme, such as flowers, animals, insects, or mandalas.

A 2020 study revealed that older adults who spent 20 minutes or so colouring in mandalas felt more calm, safe, at ease, rested, satisfied, and just plain good compared to the control group.

This is one of the easiest indoor activities for the elderly at home – all they need is a colouring book and coloured pencils. Adult colouring-in books and pages can also be downloaded and printed from the internet.

Games and puzzles
 

Games and puzzles are examples of other great activities for the elderly at home.

Play card games

Card games require focus and concentration, so they are a great brain workout! There are many interesting variations of Solitaire that the elderly can play alone at home but of course, it’s also a wonderfully social activity to enjoy with family and friends.

Online card games now enable seniors to play without needing a physical deck of cards, either by themselves or with people from all over the world. These games can also be played via apps on mobile phones and tablets.

For those who are new to card games or need a refresher, there's a treasure trove of resources available that not only explain the rules but also share handy tips.

Play board games

And while we're on the subject of games, board games offer another great brain workout. Classics like Scrabble, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit are great indoor activities, particularly on cold and rainy days. Readily available in stores they are often enjoyed in social groups or with family and friends.

Thanks again to technology, there are many other board games seniors can play with others around the world via the internet.

Do a puzzle

Puzzles are also excellent brain workouts. As well as requiring problem-solving, they help with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Traditional puzzles such as jigsaws and crosswords keep the mind active, but there is also now an interesting range of physical brain teaser puzzles made from wood, stainless steel, and even plastic—remember the Rubiq’s cube?

Again, there are also online versions of every puzzle under the sun, so if your senior is tech savvy these might be the way to go.

The great thing about puzzles is that they are indoor activities for seniors that they can easily enjoy at home. As they range from simple to complex, one or more will meet their preferences and skills.

Cooking and baking

Question: Who enjoys a freshly baked homemade cake? Answer: almost everybody! Arguably, making a homemade treat is even more enjoyable than eating one.

Many seniors will enjoy making and remaking an old favourite, but one way that cooking and baking can benefit seniors is by challenging them to discover new recipes or cuisines.

Cooking and baking something new are now two of the easiest indoor activities for seniors at home, as there are many cooking channels both on regular television and online services such as YouTube. Good old-fashioned recipe books can come to the rescue if these prove too challenging.

It might also be a great idea to encourage your senior to have regular catch-ups with friends or family and encourage them to cook with or for them on a regular basis.

This helps them keep in contact with those they love and ensures they continue to use and improve their cooking skills.

Reminiscing and organising

Many seniors love to reminisce about the good old days.

One of the most enjoyable indoor activities for the elderly at home is revisiting and recording their memories. Writing down their memories will be a great intellectual exercise and a wonderful resource to share with their friends and families.

Writing reminisces down is another one of the activities for seniors that is extremely good for the brain. It also has a feel-good factor that helps people enjoy life and feel good about themselves.

While they're about it, they might also like to collect, collate, and organise their photos, which are often lying around in boxes.

If seniors are technologically inclined, they might go one step further and digitise both their written memories and their photo collections. Many online platforms can help them with this.