When you get older, you shouldn’t stop having fun! Even if you’re not moving around the way you used to, there are still tons of enjoyable activities you can try.
In the United States, over 54 million people over 65 have limited mobility due to severe arthritis, accidents, or other illnesses. Seniors with limited mobility can still be active and participate in a variety of activities, even while in an assisted living community.
You don’t always need to participate in physically demanding activities. Games, low-impact exercise, and creative arts can keep your brain and body fresh and alert. More importantly, these activities are fun!
Low-Impact Exercise
Even if you’re not very mobile, there may be exercises you can do to get your body moving. You can improve your health and mood whether you’re sitting or standing. You can do some exercise routines with or without a walker to help reduce swelling in the feet and ankles.
Low-impact exercises fall into 4 types:
- Endurance
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Balance
Including all 4 types of exercise in your routine lowers your risk of injury and keeps you from getting bored.
Instead of doing the same exercise over and over, mix it up! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Walking
- Yoga
- Stretching
- Tai Chi
- Chair aerobics
Gardening
Gardening provides seniors with both physical and cognitive benefits. You can engage in various gardening activities to improve mobility, reduce stress, and slow the progression of dementia. Here are a few garden activities to try:
- Growing fruits & veggies
- Flower arrangements
- Bird watching
- Propagating new plants
Read a New Book
Reading is a relaxing pastime for seniors who have limited mobility. You may find physically demanding activities exhausting, so reading can be ideal. Reading doesn’t require much energy and can improve memory, stress reduction, and sleep quality.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer physical books, e-readers, or magazines; what matters is that you make reading a hobby. A good book can keep anyone entertained for hours, if not days, and allows you to spend time alone if that makes you happy.
Get Creative
Painting, sketching, and crafting are some creative arts that many seniors enjoy, especially if they have never tried them before.
While sitting in a chair or any comfortable position, you can paint an entire portrait, make a scrapbook, design a family photo album, draw, and so on. Making art and expressing yourself can be a lot of fun.
Making art has several health benefits aside from the enjoyment it provides. It can aid in the reduction of negative emotions, stress, and anxiety and improve physical health.
Make Some Delicious Food
Many people enjoy eating and will visit restaurants to try new foods. If you have limited mobility, you may not always be able to go out, and you might prefer to eat at home.
You don’t have to abandon your passion for food because trying a new restaurant is inconvenient. You can always work on your cooking abilities by:
- Attempting new recipes from neighbors or friends
- Using grocery deliveries to get a variety of ingredients
- Trying recipes from all over the world available online
- Organizing a food club in your senior living community (events like cookie swaps can be fun!)
Play Some Games
Remember when you were a kid, and you used to do puzzles and play board games with your friends and family? Those days don’t end when you get older. Puzzles and games continue to be popular, and they are especially suited to the needs of seniors with limited mobility.
Puzzles and games are ideal because they can be taken anywhere and played anytime. Card games, for example, are interactive and can be played with your friends and family. Single-player games, such as solitaire or sudoku, are ideal if you prefer to be alone or enjoy a quiet game.
Volunteer in Your Community
Giving back to the community in any capacity gives anyone, including seniors, a sense of accomplishment. And giving back to the community by volunteering or donating to charitable organizations is a great way to achieve this feeling.
You can still participate and contribute to charitable causes even if you have mobility issues. Acts of service can range from making art for fundraising events to knitting socks for the homeless—all of which are excellent limited-mobility activities.
Find Community Activities at Serenity South Senior Living
Senior living communities are one of the best places to find activities that accommodate limited mobility.
Serenity South Senior Living promotes mental and physical activity and is dedicated to developing relationships and meaningful connections. Schedule a visit to see what our community has to offer.
