Fun Things To Do With Elderly Parents

The human body changes with age, but that doesn’t mean older adults can’t enjoy a variety of activities. There are many activities you can do with your elderly parents, and ways to modify them so older adults can safely stay physically and mentally active in their golden years.

Using the tips explored here will help you find fun things to do with your older parents so you can enjoy quality time together in their golden years.

Why Spending Quality Time With Elderly Parents Matters For Mental, Emotional, And Physical Well-Being

As your parents age, they may reach a point where they need extra care. Several factors may be responsible for this need, including the following:

• Emotional and mental health concerns: Many older adults experience loneliness. Social isolation can occur because of physical limitations, such as difficulty hearing others speak or mobility issues. Financial concerns can also interfere with older adults’ social lives. Staying socially active by maintaining connections with friends and family, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying physically active can help older adults prevent loneliness from causing depression.
• Health issues: Adults 65 and older face an increased risk of developing chronic health issues, including:
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Dementia
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
• Mobility issues: Issues with balance and bone and muscle loss can lead to mobility problems in older adults. Among those aged 65 and older, 37 million falls are reported, and almost one million older adults are hospitalized due to fall-related injuries annually.
• Recovery from injuries or surgery: Older adults may need extra care while recovering from an injury or surgery.

Even if your aging parents have a caregiver or move to a senior living community, your parents will still enjoy significant benefits from spending time with you, including:

• Emotional benefits: Visiting family members prevents older adults from feeling lonely, which helps prevent depression.
• Mental benefits: Conversing with loved ones and engaging in activities, like playing games or enjoying other activities, helps older adults slow the progression of cognitive decline.
• Physical benefits: Staying socially active helps older adults stay healthy, reducing the likelihood of premature death and chronic health issues.

Fun Activities You And Your Elderly Parents Can Enjoy Together 

Spending time with your older parents will strengthen your bond with them. Fun activities you can enjoy together include the following:

• Arts and crafts: Take your parents to a pottery class or bring supplies so they can complete a craft with you and their grandkids. Painting picture frames or decorating them with stickers is a simple, meaningful craft, particularly if you give them a family photo they can display in the frame.
• Baking and cooking: Baking and cooking with your older parents is a great way to spend time together while ensuring they have delicious snacks and healthy foods available.
• Family history project: Research your family history together and create a family tree.
• Community service: Join local volunteer groups with your parents to make a difference in their community or support an organization that’s important to them.
• Creative pursuits: Spend time playing music, painting, singing, or writing together.
• Enjoy nature: Take nature walks, go on picnics, and visit local parks together.
• Playing games: Playing cards, board games, and memory games support your older parents’ cognitive health.
• Storytelling: Watch movies or read books together or tell stories.

Other activities you can enjoy together include:

• Creating a scrapbook with family photos and letters.
• Hobbies, such as gardening and painting.
• Music therapy.
• Reminiscing by sharing family stories.

Tips For Making Activities Safe, Enjoyable, And Accessible For Seniors With Mobility Or Cognitive Limitations 

There are some simple ways to make activities safer and accessible for older adults.

• Add light: Well-lit areas are safer for older adults because they help reduce the risk of falls and compensate for poor eyesight.
• Incorporate assistive devices: Older adults may need a grabber to pick up things without bending or for reaching higher objects. Grabbers can also reduce the risk of falls. You can encourage its use by creating fun games with it. Suppose your parents are playing Go Fish with their grandchildren. Have a bucket of plastic fish beside the table. Whoever has to pick up a card must also use the grabber to pick up a plastic fish. You can give a bonus prize to whoever collects the most plastic fish.
• Modify physical activities: Make physical activities safer and more enjoyable by enjoying them while sitting. Chair yoga, aerobics, and Pilates are popular activities that reduce the risk of falls.
• Use walkers and wheelchairs: Walkers and wheelchairs help older adults with mobility issues enjoy time outside without tiring or falling.

Encourage Family Involvement To Strengthen Bonds And Support Seniors’ Overall Wellness 

Maintaining strong social bonds with the older adults in your family decreases their chances of developing serious health issues, including:

• Anxiety
• Cognitive decline
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke

Additionally, spending time with your aging parents will help them stay healthy while you create memories together.

How Monument Health Facilities Provide Structured Programs, Staff Assistance, And Safe Spaces To Enjoy These Activities 

Monument Health’s skilled nursing facilities prioritize each person’s overall health and well-being. Monument Health offers social activities, including outings, chair yoga, aerobics, art classes, book clubs, and much more. We understand the importance of enjoying activities with family members, and welcome family participation whenever possible to support our residents’ recovery.

At Monument Health, we provide assistive devices and staff assistance to ensure each resident can safely enjoy a variety of fun activities while recovering from illness, injury, or surgery.