Elderly Care: 5 Winter Activities for Seniors
The importance of elderly care becomes even more relevant in winters since it is a difficult time for seniors to get out and about in the season. It is especially important to help your elderly loved ones stay active during the winter months because it is a critical component of maintaining positive health and well-being in the later years of life.
Seniors may feel isolated or cut off during the winter months – they often face unique health challenges due to frigid winter temperatures, including an increased risk of hypothermia. So, while spending long periods of time outdoors may not be an option, that in now way means that your elderly loved ones can’t have fun.
But before we dive into the winter activity ideas, it’s important to take a moment and explain why it’s important. Staying active for seniors:
Now that we’ve covered the benefits of staying active for seniors, let’s take a look at some fun and healthy activities they can do indoors during winter season.
The amazing benefits of yoga for seniors have always been highlighted and emphasised by doctors and experts across the globe. The best part about yoga is that it can be practiced indoors as well – all you need is enough space to lay down a single yoga mat.
Yoga increases mobility by guiding seniors through gentle stretches, and the meditative nature of this exercise form can reduce stress and depression.
Arts and crafts are good for the soul at any age, and many seniors find that taking up a creative hobby is the perfect way to add colour to a cold winter’s day. From knitting, needlepoint, woodworking and painting to DIY projects and holiday-themed crafts, there’s a limitless range of options for getting those hands moving and the creative juices flowing.
This is important as it will keep them mentally engaged, eliminate boredom, and you never know – it might even end up giving them something new to love and something new to learn as well!
Encourage your senior loved one to join a book club or just simply do a bit of reading. Help them select the kind of books they would like to read and sit with them as you catch up on your reading too. You could also set a reading time and read the same book so that you can discuss it together. You can even go in for an audiobook.
The good thing about forming or joining a book club is that you will be fostering a social gathering of like-minded people who will meet often to socialize, discuss their favourite books, and keep each other entertained as well as sharp.
Sometimes, all you need is a good, long drive to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy the outdoors. Since seniors find it difficult to go on walks outside, take them for a drive. It breaks the monotony and keeps one from going stir crazy too. Take some snacks and a bottle of water along and make an outing of it. If you think your loved one would like something to eat on the way, get a takeout or take them to a nice restaurant – somewhere they would enjoy the food.
Gardening is by far one of the most relaxing and fulfilling hobbies you can have as an aging member of the society. Besides the fact that it gives them something to do and plants to dot over, they can also start eating healthier because they will be growing their own organic vegetables and fruits.
Gardening also helps your senior loved one relax, reduces stress, maintains motor skills and keeps them active. In fact, studies have shown that gardening also reduces the risk of dementia. Simple house plants like succulents, tulips, or herbs are easy to grow indoors during the cold winter months.
Therefore, ensuring that your senior loved one stays active even during winters, is a vital characteristic of quality elderly care. Encourage them to do these five things and do some of the activities with them as well!