Our 15 Favorite Senior Living Hobbies
There’s no such a thing as too much free time! Retirement is often seen as a time to relax and kick back, but many find themselves taking up new interests during their retirement years. That’s usually where refreshing, active senior hobbies come in.
Residents in a senior living community have a variety of opportunities available to them that can help them stay mentally stimulated and engaged. Senior living activities can stimulate the mind and help delay or prevent memory loss, whether it’s fitness classes, a book club or getting a little R&R in the area. Communities like Artisan at Hudson even encourage resident involvement by offering them the opportunity to propose their own ideas for clubs and activities.
People in retirement can explore new interests, engage in physical and social activities and pursue their favorite hobbies. Seniors can enjoy a wide range of hobbies that provide numerous physical and cognitive benefits. Such activities enhance seniors’ knowledge, increase their skills and maximize their leisure time.
Keep reading to learn about our 15 favorite hobbies for seniors who are ready for a fun-filled retirement!
The sun and nature provide a great deal of therapeutic value to many people. The act of gardening is an extension of this. It’s also a great form of exercise for those who enjoy being outdoors. Gardening also helps increase both your mobility and motor skills, as it involves hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Swimming is a good low-impact physical activity. It is a great form of therapy for osteoarthritis sufferers and boosts cardiovascular health and muscular strength.
A lot of people enjoy dancing, and it provides many benefits as well. It’s not only fun to learn a new dance style, but it’s also a good way to get healthy and improve your range of motion. You can also ask a studio if there are any classes for seniors in or through local senior living communities.
If you have a knack for you can get involved in your community’s groups or clubs. At Artisan at Hudson, there’s the Crafty Angels Club, whose members knit and crochet pieces for donations to charities. There are also Field Trip Planning and Welcoming Committees and even a Model Airline Club.
Reading regularly helps keep the mind sharp because it provides active mental engagement. For senior living residents, reading is more beneficial than passively watching television. Here at Artisan at Hudson, for example, we have our own exciting Book Club. In fact, book clubs are tremendously popular at senior living communities.
Those with a creative streak can easily find outlets in creative writing. Writing is regarded as one of the best activities for promoting expression and creativity, but it also allows you to tell stories, whether fictional or biographical.
One of the greatest benefits of having your own hats, scarves and blankets is you will always be prepared for any cool morning or evening. If you choose to donate, your gifts can be meaningful. Knitting also prevents arthritis and tendinitis and slows cognitive decline.
The brain is challenged, and critical thinking is encouraged by playing board games, like reading. You get to enjoy social engagement with board games since many require multiple players.
You should continue to practice your musical instrument in your senior living community if you already know how. Learning a new skill such as playing an instrument helps keep more parts of the brain active if you don’t know how to play one already. By learning an instrument, you will not only demonstrate discipline, but you may also make new friends.
Painting has the same benefits of enhancing self-expression and positivity as writing. Additionally, the art form enables people to solve problems and improve their motor skills.
You can improve your memory and concentration by solving crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku. Alzheimer’s disease has been found to be delayed and, in some instances, prevented altogether when these puzzles are used regularly.
Do your best to find out what your family’s history is. Researching your parents and your spouse’s family history, not to mention your aunts, uncles and other relatives, will keep your mind busy as you delve into their past. Your family can benefit from the information that you collect for generations to come.
For someone who has always worked with their hands, woodworking may be the perfect hobby. Old wood can be refinished with classic and intricate details, which can bring out a lot of creativity.
In addition to being good for the body, regular exercise is also good for the mind. Among its benefits are reducing stress and hypertension, improving your balance, and strengthening your core. In addition, yoga classes can be adapted to a range of physical abilities so that no one will be excluded. Strength, mobility, and balance are the key components to ensuring independence as you age. Make sure the community you are considering offers fitness classes that address all three.
You can become a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program as a hobby that provides social engagement and an opportunity to give back to the community. By passing on your knowledge, you will be able to influence a young mind that is in need of a positive role model.
Artisan at Hudson offers world-class senior care services in independent living, assisted living, and memory care. If you’re interested in our unique community, schedule a tour and see what everyone’s talking about.