Activity Ideas for the Elderly

When you're trying to come up with activity ideas for the elderly, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. A variety of fun activities can be done with the elderly that keep seniors engaged and entertained.

Aging doesn’t have to mean sitting around watching television. It's easy to find activity ideas for the elderly that can help to keep seniors on the move.

Remember loving paper airplanes as a kid? They’re just as fun as a grown-up. This game is the most fun in groups.

Items you will need

• Large bed sheet
• Scissors
• Permanent marker
• Printer paper
• Large pad or blackboard, and pen or chalk for keeping score

Preparation

1. Cut holes in the sheet large enough for a paper airplane to pass through.
2. Mark each hole with a score using the sharpie.
3. Hang the sheet from a clothesline or from the ceiling.
4. Have each participant design and fold his or her own paper airplane or planes.

Game Play

1. Each participant stands a predetermined distance from the bed sheet and throws their airplane at the sheet.
2. If the plane passes through a hole in the sheet, the participant earns the indicated number of points.
3. Keep track of points on the black board or on a sheet of paper.

This game can also be played with a Frisbee, balls or beanbags in place of the airplanes.

Backyard games can be set up in limited spaces that will keep seniors active.

• Croquet
• Badminton
• Lawn darts
• Horse shoes
• Shuffleboard
• Other outdoor activities

What better time than the golden years to try all of the creative pursuits you dreamed you would do someday.

The great thing about photography is that everything is a potential subject.

• Plants
• Nature
• Animals
• Buildings
• People
• Architectural fixtures and moldings
• Patterns of light
• Shadows

With digital photography, seeing the pictures is instantaneous, so there is immediate feedback about the subject rather than waiting for film to develop.

For the truly brave and creative, digital photo-editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Aperture for Mac allows users to adjust or digitally manipulate the photography to add in artistic effects.

Local community colleges and senior centers offer digital photography classes.

Preserve all of those free-floating pictures and memories with a scrapbook. Scrapbooking projects offer a creative outlet, and scrapbooks make terrific gifts for friends and family members.

Scrapbooks can be as elaborate or as simple as you’d like to make them. Some things necessary for scrapbooks include:

• Art paper
• Photo glue
• Scissors
• Scrapbook pages
• Pens in various colors
• Stickers
• Scrapbook cover
• Memories like pictures, ticket stubs, etc.

Find scrapbooking classes at local craft stores or the senior center. If you'd like more ideas, visit LoveToKnow Scrapbooking.

Beads have come a long way in the past several years. Today’s beads are miniature works of art in a variety of mediums like glass, resin and polymer clay. A quick trip through the craft store and you will see a variety of settings and mediums for stringing the beads. Homemade jewelry is unique and makes a great gift. Check local community college, senior center or craft store for jewelry-making classes.

Volunteering is one of the activity ideas for the elderly that brings the most personal satisfaction. A number of volunteer organizations and opportunities welcome senior volunteers.

• Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, is America’s largest volunteer network for people age 55 and older. RSVP offers nationwide placement of senior volunteers in a variety of organizations.
• Senior Corps matches experienced seniors 55 and older with volunteer opportunities. Read this interview to learn more.
• Literacy Councils are locally run organizations that help promote literacy in communities all across the country.

If you look around your community, you will find ways for the elderly to stay active and engaged in their lives. The ideas above are just a few ways to keep senior citizens feeling active and vital.

• Cheapest Places to Retire
• Top Places to Retire
• Places That Don't Tax Retirement Income

• Pictures of Hairstyles for Mature Women
• Hairstyles for Mature Women
• Short Hair Styles for Seniors
• Over 50 Hairstyles
• Hairstyles for Older Women

• Cognitive Activities for the Elderly
• Tips for Taking Care of Elderly
• Elderly Entertainment
• Special Activities for Elderly
• Ideas for Fun Activities for the Elderly