Keeping active and engaged is essential for all adults, including seniors. With the increased prevalence of isolation and depression among seniors, it is vital to find ways to combat these feelings. This can lower the risk of falls and other injuries. It also helps prevent depression and loneliness, two common problems among older people.

Everyone does not have to be involved in daily activities. There will be days when you only need to do a little bit. But it is still essential to have some physical activity each day.

Understanding the Advantages of Engaging in Indoor Activities

Our bodies become less flexible and more susceptible to injury as we get older. When we are young, our muscles are stronger and more resilient than they will be later on in life. Our muscles weaken as we age, making us prone to falling. In addition, our bones become weaker and brittle, making them more likely to fracture. Our joints become stiffer, and arthritis sets in. We also experience changes in our vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and skin. These changes can limit what we can do and how much we can do. Here’s why it’s so important to stay active:

• Staying fit keeps your body strong and healthy. Stronger muscles help you maintain good posture and avoid back pain. They also help you move easily and safely.

• Physical fitness improves your mental outlook. Being active makes you feel better about yourself. You’re happier and calmer, and your self-esteem goes up.

• Engaging in regular exercise reduces stress levels. Exercise releases endorphins (natural painkillers) into your bloodstream. The result? Less tension and anxiety.

• Regular exercise boosts your immune system. Your body produces chemicals called cytokines that fight infections and boost your resistance to illness.

• Exercise improves your heart rate, breathing, and blood circulation. These benefits help maintain good health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, arthritis, osteoporosis, and certain cancers.

• Engaging regularly in physical activity has been shown to help control weight gain.

• Exercise strengthens your brain. Exercise improves memory, reasoning, and attention span.

List of Fun Indoor Activities for Seniors

As you begin your search for indoor activities for seniors, keep in mind that it is important to find things that will stimulate both the mind and body. The following are some activities recommended by caregivers and ways to stay active at home, regardless of age.

1. Arts and Crafts

Art and craft making with friends or the entire family can be a rewarding experience. There are different types of arts and crafts projects available.

Try knitting, crocheting, sewing, woodworking, painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, pottery, jewelry making, scrapbooking, paper crafting, quilting, cross-stitch, needlepoint, weaving, clay modeling, glass blowing, mosaics, stained glass, leatherwork, metalwork, wood carving, basketry, rug, tapestry design, fiber art, and many others.

By doing these crafts, you will enhance your fine motor skills. Seniors with arthritis and other conditions that affect the hands and fingers may find it difficult to knit, crochet, sew and do other fine motor activities. However, there are a lot of crafts available that utilize larger needles or hooks. Create a wide variety of crafts that you can do with your hands.

2. Card Games

Carrying out a project is fun, but nothing beats playing cards to keep your mind active. There are several card games that seniors can play. Try playing Uno, Bridge, Go Fish, Mahjong, Rummy, Hearts, and other similar games. These games promote decision-making skills, memory, and staying power. As well as expressing your creativity, you can also design entire cards with them. You can use different colors or shapes to make your cardboard design special.

Here are some card games you can play

Deck Building – This is an inexpensive hobby that seniors enjoy playing.
Uno Card – To play this classic game, you need to have at least three players. You want to avoid including a jack, queen, or king. The total number of cards in the deck should be 13. The game aims to end up with the lowest number of cards. It is a fast-paced card game that several players can play at once.
5 Point Bridge Card Game – This is another popular card game that involves complex card strategies and tactics.
Go Fish Card Game – To play this game; you need to have at least four players. The game aims to get rid of your cards as fast as possible. Removing all your cards at once is not allowed. The first player who achieves this becomes the winner of the round. Suppose you have a 4-card hand (2 pairs). You need to remove one pair and leave the other two together.
Rummy Card Game – You are supposed to remove all your cards at once in this game. You need to win by defeating all other players.
Hearts Card Game – You need at least three players to play this game. The game aims to be the first one to get a winning hand containing all of the heart’s cards. Each player’s hand contains a set number of these cards, and each player with no hearts will receive a different card.

3. Playing music

Some people believe that music is an important part of human life. Many seniors enjoy playing musical instruments or listening to music from their era. Most people find music soothing, and it can help them relax. Some of the instruments that seniors can play are pianos, guitars, and banjos. By playing music, you will add a new dimension to your life. It will help you heal a broken heart and be at peace with yourself. It will also give your mind something to focus on when your body gives up on you.

4. Dancing

Dancing can be fun and done in groups or alone. There are millions of different dance moves that you can master if you enjoy dancing as an indoor activity for seniors. Some people like modern dance and others enjoy the classical dance. Some people like to move around to their favorite music and call it dancing. Try the tango, for example. Dance is very therapeutic, and it is much better than participating in passive activities. You need to be physically active when engaging in indoor activities for seniors.

5. Reading

Reading a book as an indoor activity can bring you great pleasure, especially during the cold winter months. Besides giving you knowledge, reading can help with depression and feel good about yourself. It can also improve your memory. Reading is an inexpensive and accessible activity. All you need is an e-reader, and you can read any book you want. You may even have access to a library if your home has one. Several books on the market are very entertaining, yet they are not too long. In just a few hours, or after just a few pages, your next chapter will be ready.

6. Cooking

It is a popular indoor activity that most seniors enjoy. They may have favorite recipes which they can use to cook for their family members and themselves. If you can’t stand the cold outdoors during the winter, stay in and make some nice warm meals for your family. Homemade meals taste much better than store-bought ones anyways. If you are cooking as an indoor activity for seniors, remember to be relaxing and enjoyable.

It can be a fun way to connect with the people around you. Many seniors enjoy cooking together as a family. If you enjoy cooking, you might want to try making your pies and pastries.

7. Cleaning

Cleaning your house as an indoor activity for seniors can be enjoyable and relaxing. Many seniors like to clean their homes with the help of a cleaning service. If you prefer to do your home cleaning, this is also a great indoor activity for seniors. Several products can make your home shine like new. You may want to start by cleaning out your closets, under beds, and in other difficult-to-reach areas. After you have done that, it’s time to dust every room in your house. Cleaning is not only about dusting and vacuuming, though – it’s about organizing as well.

8. Gardening

Gardening can be a fun activity that takes once or twice a week. You could grow flowers or any other plants that you see fit. You don’t need a large backyard to garden either. An indoor planter may be all you need for your indoor activity for seniors. Make sure you wear proper clothing (long sleeves and pants) when gardening indoors, as there is always the chance of getting hurt by gardening tools or falling plants.

9. Watching TV

Watching TV is one of the most popular indoor activities that seniors enjoy. It can be a relaxing process that benefits your health and your mind. Some people prefer to spend their time reading some books or going for a walk, but others want to spend their time doing something else and watching TV is a popular choice for this activity.

10. Online Games

One of the great benefits of being a senior citizen is playing most online games. Some people prefer to play an older version of computer games, which is not very accessible for those who don’t have much free time. Online games can be fun and relaxing if you don’t have much free time. It will help prevent loneliness as well.

Conclusion

After reading all the things that seniors can do as indoor activities for seniors, you will probably agree with me that there are a lot of activities available to them. It is just a matter of choosing the one that appeals to you the most. The ones I have mentioned above are not limited to just this one area. They are indoor activities that seniors can enjoy.

We at Serenity Senior Care will help you find the best activities to offer you and your seniors. We can help you find appropriate indoor activities for seniors to enjoy their remaining years of life by assisting them to become part of the community daily.

If you have any other suggestions or you know of any indoor activities that seniors can do, please feel free to share them with other people and me by commenting below.

The Indoor Activities for Seniors – A Listing of Fun Activities Indoors