We’ve all been spending more time at home and experienced the challenge of trying to entertain ourselves and our children. It can make us appreciate more the challenges faced by seniors on a regular basis to entertain themselves when mobility and travel from home become difficult. Especially given the recent social pressures to stay home, seniors may be challenged to find activities to keep them going as family and friends distance themselves. Here are some home activities for seniors that can help alleviate boredom and depression, and why it matters.
Why Do Seniors Need Activities at Home?
We often focus on the immediate medical needs of our senior loved ones. And while this is extremely important and should be considered our number one priority when caring for them, we do also have to be considerate of their emotional and mental states. This means we need to make sure they have something to do, something to look forward to. Without something to occupy their minds or keep them moving in their house, seniors are more likely to experience depression issues.
Depression, especially in isolation, can become a common problem for seniors. But, it is NOT a normal part of aging. Depression in older adults can manifest in symptoms like feeling tired all the time, trouble sleeping, or irritability.
Activities for seniors that can be done at home can help to alleviate much of the stress they feel. It can also aid in alleviating depression to have something to look forward to daily.
Home Activities For Seniors
It’s important to find activities for seniors to at home because this is where they spend a majority of their time. And when loved ones are unable to come and visit, it becomes increasingly important to find a daily purpose or goal. Here are some fun activities for seniors:
Read
This one may seem commonplace, but often times we forget about this option. Large print format books can be a great option for seniors. Technology has also come a long way in making reading and information accessible to seniors.
Exercise regularly
There are many benefits to regular exercise for seniors . Even with mobility or health issues, there are still ways for seniors to exercise regularly. Check out this article on how seniors can exercise regularly, even from a chair!
Be Creative
There are many indoor creative activities for seniors. They can try their hand at a new hobby or bring back an old one that they haven’t done in ages. This could include painting, coloring, crocheting, or making a family recipe book.
Record Your History
With so much time on everyone’s hands, this is a wonderful time for seniors to record their stories to preserve from generations. All too often these stories go untold and are never passed down to the next generation. Now is the perfect time to ensure their stories live one. Whether that’s through electronic voice recording or simply writing it down, it’s an important task that’s easy to complete. Seniors may even consider creating a family photo album with journal entries.
Spend Time Outdoors
Even with social distancing in place, seniors can still enjoy nature from the comfort of their homes. Simply sitting outside for a little while each day, weather permitting, can alleviate cabin fever. Something as simple as hanging a bird feeder by a window can bring nature closer to seniors, even when they can’t outside.
Volunteer From Home
Virtual Volunteering is a great way to alleviate stress and restore a sense of purpose. Many local charitable organizations could benefit from crocheted or sewed materials. There are even organizations looking for telephone volunteers to speak with shut-ins.
The Senior LIFE Program – Helping Seniors Live Their Best Lives at Home
The Senior LIFE program is built around our individual members with the goal of keeping them at home. Each person receives a care plan that is made to suit their medical needs, and this care plan changes as the member’s needs change.
Our medical and supportive services include physicians and specialists, nursing care, physical, occupational and speech therapies, personal and home care, medications, meals and nutritional counseling, eye, dental and foot care, durable medical equipment and other medically necessary services.
Ultimately, Senior LIFE is a support system, not a replacement for caregivers. Dedicated caregivers play an important part in every participant’s treatment plan, and Senior LIFE can even provide some education for caregivers in matters pertaining to caring for their loved one. Though the program’s focus is on allowing seniors to remain in their homes, Senior LIFE can also help provide respite care, skilled nursing facility care, hospitalization and end of life care if needed.
Senior LIFE aims to be a “one stop shop” model of care. Most care is delivered during the day, but care is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The LIFE Program is a Medicare and Medicaid approved long-term care program that provides complete medical care and supportive services for persons 55 years and older so that they can remain living in their home. The LIFE Program is an alternative to nursing and personal care homes.
To enroll in Senior LIFE, seniors must be 55 years or older, live in the service area, qualify for a nursing home level of care, and be able to live safely in the community. Applying is free, and there is no obligation to enroll. To learn more about the LIFE Program, or to see if it’s the right fit for you and your loved ones, contact us today!
Senior LIFE is a Medicare Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) operating as a LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly) program in the state of Pennsylvania.
