Activities for Elderly Parents
Ideas to Keep the Senior Mind and Body Active
Providing mentally and physically stimulating activities for elderly parents will contribute to their health, happiness, and better quality of life.
No doubt about it – all of us are going to age. We and our elderly parents age in different ways. Sometimes, our body starts to complain. Other times, we just can't remember all the things we used to.
Alarming, yes. Surprising, no. At the first sign of forgetfulness, we tend to immediately think "Alzheimer's".
However, mild degrees of forgetfulness are common in all of us. We just focus more attention on such forgetfulness when it comes to the elderly.
Elderly Parents activity is essential in order to help slow the development or progression of such related conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis and overall physical strength.
Sometimes, forgetfulness is caused by depression, anxiety or confusion, and not chemical changes in the brain. In order to keep the brain healthy and strong, it must be exercised.
Your Body
Keeping muscles and joints healthy and strong helps maintain range of motion, movement and balance. While we all may eventually suffer some decrease in mobility and stamina, there is no reason why those in their 60s, 70s and 80s can't exercise and perform weight bearing exercises that help to prevent lean muscle mass loss or loss of range of motion or strength. Elderly parents exercising just might be the ticket!
Your Brain
It is true that we lose some brain cell activity and speed as we age, but that doesn't mean that those in their 70s, 80s or 90s don't score just as high on memory tests as people that are 30 and 40 year old. The key is to keep the brain active and stimulated. Give those nerve cells and brain cells a chance to grow. Keep those electrical connections strong.
The National Institute of Aging and the Journal of the American Medical Association engaged in recent studies that have shown the main difference between a relatively healthy 90 year old and person who is bed-ridden at 70 (not taking into consideration health and medical issues) is lifestyle.
Elderly parents who are active in both mental and physical activities live longer, and with a quality of life that may surprise many who believed that once you attain a certain age, the fun's over. Not so. Those who age well (which means eating right and exercising both body, mind and spirit daily) tend to have fewer illnesses and infirmities than those who lead sedentary lives.
The secret of aging well boils down to these simple activities for seniors: stay active and involved, eat well and exercise or play often.
Things to Do at Home and Away - Recreational Activities for Elderly Parents
Playing games is a great way to keep the brain and body stimulated. This doesn't mean that games or activities for the elderly have to be expensive or difficult. Look at some of the suggestions below for just a few ideas to keep the brain and body stimulated.
For more information on crafts and games and other activities for seniors please see our web page Games for Seniors
Indoors
- Do a crossword puzzle every night.
- Learn a new language or subject.
- Learn a new hobby: painting, whittling, needlecraft, or other craft ideas, etc.
- Exercise!
- Engage in Bingo, Bridge or Card games at your local Senior Center
For Music Ideas for Elderly Parents to Listen to while getting them engaged in Easy Crafts and Games please see Songs from the Past that Make Them Smile
Outdoors - Elderly Exercise
Volunteer in your community – at a hospital or school
- Get involved with social groups
- Join in community recreation outings
- Join a walking group at your local mall or park
- Grow a flower or herb garden
- Exercise!
It doesn't matter so much as what activity an elderly parent does as long as they are doing something! Whether you keep busy with housework or you like to go window-shopping, activity is activity.
Try to keep doing your indoor chores as long as you can. Get out and walk every day. Take a jaunt around your block, if you live on one. It doesn't matter if you can do it in seven minutes or thirty minutes. Engage in weight bearing exercises with 2-3 pound dumbbells to fight against bone loss and muscle deterioration. Keep those joints strong!
It's All About Attitude!
Remember, you either use it or you may lose it. This goes for brain cells as much as it does for muscle and tissue cells. Getting older does not mean you have to deal with infirmity.
Elderly activities offer a sense of empowerment and self-sufficiency for many seniors. Sure, we all have to slow down a little as we age and take extra care with our bodies, but that doesn't mean to stop using your body.
Seniors who find pleasure in life, who laugh often, retain a sense of humor, or look at the aging process as a natural process and not as the approach of doomsday also seem to enjoy less stress-induced illnesses and complications than those who do.
Stress can take years from your life and cause physical symptoms that may lead to high blood pressure, heart problems and depression. Seniors who age gracefully and rely on the benefits of a healthy well balanced diet, regular exercise and a good belly laugh every day feel better, play longer and enjoy life more than those who shut themselves into their homes and sit.
So get up and do something! Your body and your brain will thank you.
Exercise for Elderly
Active Seniors
 |
Games for the Elderly Brain and Mind |
What Creative Activities Help your Elderly Parents through the Day?
Share Activities that your Mom or Dad enjoy throughout the day. Help make someone's day by sharing an activity or craft that can make an elderly parents' day complete!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Why Exercises for Elderly Parents Is Essential 
What? My elderly parents exercise? They're too feeble! It's easy for adult children of elderly parents to believe that our elderly parents are sometimes …
Chair Exercises for Seniors Provides More Benefits than You Might Imagine
Both my parents are elderly and both used to be quite active, though they have slowed down a lot in the past couple of years.
I worried about them …
Foldable Reading Glasses? Who would have thought it....
Foldable reading glasses? That's what I thought, when one day my adult son came to me and showed me his new pair of glasses.
To my surprise, he started …
What to Look for with Free Learning Games
Learning games are not only fun, but they can stimulate memory, cognitive reasoning, and problem solving skills, which is what I focus on when looking …
Autumn Crafts for Elderly Mom and Dad
When the colors change and the leaves start to drop, the crafting begins! My friends’ parents are elderly (in their mid 80s) but still live at home, thanks …
Group Activities for Elderly Nursing Home Residents
Devising or planning group activities for elderly individuals or those in nursing homes is only limited by the imagination. Remember the games that we …
Christmas Games for Elderly Parents
Like I've told my dad more than once, games aren't just for kids. I finally convinced him that adults have permission to act like kids once in awhile, …
Coloring Sheets Provide Options for Elderly Activities
Coloring sheets and pages aren't just for kids..I have first hand experience with my mother. The options when it comes to arts and crafts for seniors are …
Coloring Pages - Activities for the Elderly
I realize that many adult children of elderly loved ones in nursing facilities are alarmed when they find that their parents are being encouraged to color. …
Activities for Elders with Dementia
It's often not easy to encourage elders with dementia to engage in activities and crafts, but whenever possible, try to convince a loved one to get involved. …
Hidden Object Games for Elderly Activities
I love playing hidden object games and realized that the need to focus on specific objects when looking for items on the list would be an excellent brain …
Activities for Elderly Men
I've found whether a loved one lives in a nursing facility, assisted living, or at home, it can often be quite challenging, and frustrating, to get Dad, …
Wallpaper Crafts for Seniors
I was cleaning out my grandmother’s attic the other day and came across some old rolls of wallpaper – a unique vintage design that I just didn’t want to …
Craft Ideas for the Elderly
I've found that it's not always easy coming up with craft ideas for the elderly. You have to take into consideration their eyesight, their cognitive abilities, …
Christmas Scrapbooking Idea
I only got into scrapbooking because Mom wanted to take family photographs that have accumulated in boxes for years and make each of the children a scrapbook …
Fall Crafts for My Elderly Mother
Fall brings with it a wide range of craft and activity ideas for seniors. Of course, when thinking of a craft to do with a loved one at home or in an assisted …
Christmas Decoration Ideas and Holiday Craft Ideas
It's not always easy coming up with Christmas craft ideas for seniors, especially in group forums when everybody has different limitations, skills, and …
Holiday Crafts such as Christmas Stocking Knitting Pattern and Christmas Cards
After my 78-year old mom was diagnosed with vascular dementia, I worried about her ability to continue doing the things that she loved, most especially …
Halloween Crafts, Thanksgiving Crafts and Year Round Holiday Crafting
Year-Round Holiday Crafts for the Elderly
Crafting is a wonderful activity that keeps the mind stimulated, the laughter flowing, and the memories alive. …
Take the Long Way
Instead of walking directly to sit or bed we take the long way.
Walking around the house not only give more movement to the day but also keeps them …
Painting Portraits and Exercise
Mom is an excellent portrait painter and still paints at 92. It earns her some money and gives purpose to her life. She used to live for ballroom dancing. …
Services for School
My mom is good in art and craft, I prefer her to go to special needs school and do services for those children.
My dad is good in computer and I think …
Elderly Activities - General Crafts
We are an elderly housing unit, apartments. We have our own craft group. Currently we make homemade cards for 30 in local nursing home who get no mail …
Games and Crafts for Mom
Games and crafts for my elderly Mom are many and often. I am so lucky to have a mother that still functions at a high level given her age (81). She has …
Elderly Parents Activities - Day Trips
My elderly parents activities center around field trips! They love them. Since neither Mom or Dad drive any longer it does fall on me to take them places, …
Security Walk in Tub for Elders for General Work Out.
The doctor suggests for regular exercise to elders, but what happens when your elder's body is feeling just that little bit tired, their medication makes …
Silk Flower Arranging Not rated yet
Designate a vase for silk flower arranging. Purchase silk flowers (dollar store has lots), remember to separate the flowers if they are in a bunch if it …
Frank Sinatra and Big Bands.Conversation, Reminiscing, LAUGHTER!! Not rated yet
Do your very best.I'm an only child and my mother lived with me for the last six years of her life. It was not always fun. However, my mom got to die in …
Crafts for the Elderly During the Holidays Not rated yet
The holidays are coming up soon and are a joyous time for everyone and including Mom in on the festivities is a great way to bond as a family.
Arts …
Easy Craft Ideas Not rated yet
Crafts for Indoor Activities
Whether you're the activity director in a large nursing home or senior activity center or taking care of Mom or Dad in …
Personalized Coasters Not rated yet
This is a great activity, especially for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia. The supplies are simple to find and very reasonably priced.
All you …
Daily Activities Not rated yet
When possible my elderly person likes to look at old pictures......play the guessing game (use a lunch sack and put any small objects inside, when …
Math Ledger Skills Not rated yet
Accounting...... She used to run a business and is good with numbers. She still does her books down to the penny.
Elderly Activities - Sorting Recipes and Photos Not rated yet
My mom has always been a hard worker, and I've found that she is more willing to participate in activities that are more work-related than game-related. …
Elderly Activities - Puzzles Not rated yet
Any kind of puzzle including:
Jig Saw even those for your children as well as those challenging 1000 pieces puzzles.
Suduko
Cross Word
Play …
Home | Site Map | About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Disclosure
© Copyright evSky Incorporated 2008-2019 | All Rights Reserved
Eldercare for
Aging Parents
Are you having a difficult time with being the "Caregiver" for Mom and Dad?
Click Here to Read What Others are Saying and Leave a Comment About Your Own Experiences....
Or Start your Own Discussion Page!
Recent Articles
-
Need help with negative complaining mother
Dec 28, 20 12:23 PM
My mother is 93, in good health, no major heath issues, totally ambulatory. When my father died 6 years ago we found her a beautiful independent senior
-
Ugh!!
Dec 28, 20 12:21 PM
So I lost my mom 18 months ago. After her passing I would come to my parents house to clean and cook a couple of times a week for my dad. He still gets
-
16yrs of Elderly care with NO HELP
Dec 28, 20 12:18 PM
I came back home in 2004 to help my dad as he had cancer, he eventually passed away few years later. Well here I am am in 2020 still at home taking care