It can be crucial for seniors in retirement to find hobbies they like. This can help them fill up their time and find ways to stay busy when their family isn’t there. It can be hard to take care of older adults because they still want to feel independent, and they may not want to bug you. If you want to ensure your senior who is aging in place is cared for while you are at work or taking care of your own family, it’s time to think about elder care services. This might also help a senior keep a regular routine that includes time for hobbies.  

Having a hobby and a routine is equally important, and these are two things that elder care providers can help seniors with. If seniors need to go out and buy supplies for their hobbies and can’t rely on you to drive them, elder care can help with this. If you have been looking for new hobbies to recommend your parents try out this year, start with this list.  

Some Hobbies that Elder Care Aides can Partake in with Your Senior

Build Fairy Houses 

If a senior has a yard, they can start building little fairy houses to place around their yard. If they have younger grandchildren, they can use these newly built fairy houses to make scavenger hunts for the kids. This gives the seniors something fun to do and allows them to interact with the kids later on. Hobby stores or online stores will have fantastic fairy house options for seniors to build.  

Wood Carving 

Not all seniors will have the space to do this, but if they do, wood carving can be a fun way to create little statues for their yard. If they love to garden, this can be something fun to do where they can see the results later. They can also start painting signs for doors and use wood burning to make designs. There are now wood-burning tools that look like pens that may be easier to handle and safer than other tools to use for wood burning. This is a hobby that needs to be done outside.  

Sewing Dresses 

A senior who used to love to dance doesn’t have to give up the passion. They can take it and use it somewhere else. For example, if a senior loves to swing dance but can no longer move the way they used to, they can learn to create clothing for swing dancers. This might be a fun and unique hobby that can inspire them to become more creative.  

Arrange Flower Centerpieces  

In the summer, a senior may work on gardening. If they have tons of flowers, they can start trimming them and creating arrangements for family members. This is a fun way to get outside and make a nice gift for others. They can also use them as their own decor for their house.  

Dry Fruits and Flowers 

If a senior owns a dehydrator, they can dry out fruits and flowers to do arts and crafts with. It can be a fun way to make decor for homes, like making wreaths for doors.  

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Lake Forest IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today at (800) 860-9823.

Moving regularly is important for people of all ages, but it can be especially important for your aging family member. A regular daily movement practice helps her to keep her body as strong as possible and it can be a great way for her to manage some health issues. 

Get Medical Approval First 

Your senior’s doctor needs to be the first stop after she decides she wants to move more. Her doctor can give your senior detailed information about the types of exercise that she should be doing and can also help her to understand her limitations around exercise. This is vital because exercise is about helping her to feel better and to have a better quality of life. Exercise isn’t about making her work out to the point of injury. 

Find More than One Type of Exercise 

When your senior is starting out, she might go with one type of exercise. But each main category of exercise offers different results and accomplishes different goals. Strength training builds her muscles and balance and flexibility exercises can help her to become more limber and avoid a fall. Cardio exercises strengthen her lungs and her heart. All of these types of movement accomplish something very important. 

Explore and Get Creative 

As your elderly family member gets more comfortable with moving more, she might be more interested in trying a variety of exercises. For example, she might have wanted to try walking as her only cardio, but as she becomes stronger she might want to try out the stationary bike. Finding new ways to have fun with exercise can be wonderful for her mental health and her outlook toward exercise. 

Exercise Doesn’t Have to Be All about Pushing 

Your elderly family member really needs to understand that exercise does not have to be about exhaustion and pushing herself to the edge of her limits. Relaxation activities can be part of her daily movement practice. Tai chi is a great way to stretch, to improve her balance, and to practice breathing exercises. Even if that’s the only exercise she’s doing, she can accomplish a lot and she’s not wearing herself out. 

If your senior lives alone, it might be a good idea to consider bringing in elder care providers to spend time with her while she works out. Elder care aides can offer companionship and help to ensure that she’s safe, too. If she needs help with other aspects of life, they’ve got her covered. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Lake Forest IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.