No matter how old we are, we all love to have fun, and elderly people are no exception. Particularly sharing with others enjoyable activities, having a good laugh and boosting the energy can be a superb way to stay active in life. A list of leisure activities for elderly might help in achieving this.
What Exactly Is Considered to Be Leisure Activity
McMillan Dictionary offers a definition of leisure activities: “activities that you do to relax or enjoy yourself”
Merriam-Webster says: “freedom provided by the cessation of activities; especially : time free from work or duties, while Britannica says: leisure is uncoerced, contextually framed activity engaged in during free time, which people want to do and, using their abilities and resources, actually do in a satisfying or a fulfilling way (or both)”
Josef Pieper (1965) in the publication: “Leisure- The Basis of Culture” explains how leisure, in first place is a mental and spiritual attitude of the non-activity of the person, of an inside calmness; it means not being busy, but letting things happen, and it can not be viewed as a plain result of spare time.
According to these, the highlight of leisure is an un-obligated time fueled by the person’s optimistic view on spending it.
Why Is It Good for You?
Wikipedia says: “Older adults, specifically, can benefit from physical, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of leisure. Leisure engagement and relationships are commonly central to “successful” and satisfying aging”
Scientists Rowe and Kahn, in their highly popular at the time book Successful Aging, in 1987, described this term as
-being free of disability or disease,
-having high cognitive and physical abilities, and
-interacting with others in meaningful ways.
Can we agree with this description 33 years later? I think so. We would all want not to have any diseases or disabilities when we get older, and would also like to have a well-functioning brain as well. The need of being accepted as a part of society and have a role in it is an important part of aging, too.
We do have more needs to be fulfilled as we age, whether we are aware of them or not, but the lack of any can have a negative impact on either our physical or mental well-being:
-have regularity in our lives
-be adequately stimulated, mentally and intellectually
-purposefully and satisfactorily spend the newly freed time
-spending time with family
-be considered socially useful
-have a successful social life, be welcome in various social circles
-have possibilities to express ourselves, achieve self-realisation
-be able to gain spiritual satisfaction
-keep fit and well-cared for
Recreation as a Leisure Activity
Recreation is one way of spending some leisure time for those who view it as a satisfactory activity. Others will experience it as a forced upon them, a have to do thing, but it is important that we stick to it, especially as we age. Group recreation is not only increasing health and our fitness, but is also an opportunity for meeting people, socializing, implementing talents or skills acquired through lifetime. It can also be a wonderful opportunity to learn from others.
-If you used to play basketball in your younger days, tennis or soccer, why not seek for a senior team nearby and join them? It will be a very good physical activity for you, if your physical health permits it. If your doctor does not agree, you can still come and enjoy their game
-think of yoga, tai chi to combine pleasure with benefits for your balance, as physical as mental
-walking is one of the best, low impact activities, and also the most affordable, as you need nothing but a pair of comfortable shoes. You can go solo, or you can team up with someone for a regular walk, daily, or at least three times a week
There are also walking communities in almost any area, as UK, as USA and probably in other countries, as well. Look them up and join, if you can. You’ll probably be able to choose between short, easy routes and longer, more demanding ones. Anyhow, you can make new friends and get yourself out of possible isolation and loneliness, lose weight if you need to and share good laughs.
-go for cycling, through some nice landscape. Visit the nearby village, if you are fit enough. Or train to become such
-bird watching can be a quite enjoyable leisure activity, either alone, either organized, with a group. You can enjoy it from your window or at local or remote nature reserves, with or without binoculars. If you get a bird watching book like this one, you’ll even be able to recognize and differentiate one from another
-or you can engage in photography, targeting those same birds, or anything else you may run into or find interesting to capture
-you might be fond of spending your leisure time with gardening, or want to learn how to do it
-join a bowling or a cricket club near you. Many are continuously welcoming new members, regardless of the age
-play golf-though you might want to replace your normal clubs with those specifically designed for seniors
-play badminton-it is easy to set up the playground, as you only need a few yards of lawn, which you may have in your own backyard. Even if you have to go somewhere to find a good place, the rackets and the shuttlecocks are lightweight, easy to carry
-go for a picnic to a park or the woods, in good company and enjoy connecting with nature in a comfortable, laid back way
-become a tourist, in your own country, or even in your own town, own surrounding. I bet there are so many things in your own town that are worth of visiting, and you haven’t seen them yet. A small church you are passing by sometimes-do you know it’s history? Research it and then go visit it. It is so much more fun when you know what to look at
-go for shorter or longer travels, depending on what you can afford. Don’t forget to take a ton of photos, so you can go through them and remember later
Indoor Fun Senior Activities
-Watching TV is the most common leisure activity. It can give someone a sense of being in company, having someone around, hearing other voices, especially people who live alone. And though it may provide an escape from everyday worries and boredom, if it is all you do in your free time, day in and day out, you are missing a lot, let alone your health may deteriorate with such a sedentary lifestyle
-play table tennis, if you prefer an indoor physical activity. You’ll need a table, however, and the net with rackets. And, when the balls are not good to play with any more, you can turn them into scary eyeballs for your grand children’s Halloween party, or into Christmas lights 😉
-consider snooker, even if you are a woman. Snooker is generally considered to be more men’s game, but there are many excellent women players, as well. It is good not only as an enjoyable physical activity, it requires a strategic approach, so it also trains your brain. When you win, it also gives you a feeling of accomplishment
-if you have a public pool in your town, make a habit of going for a swim once or twice a week. It is the lowest impact, yet effective aerobic exercise you can enjoy even at a very old age and with somewhat limited mobility, as well. If you have joint problems, this is an excellent way to exercise without putting additional pressure on your joints
-if you dance, find a local club where you can renew the joy of moving to rhythm. If you don’t, there’s a good opportunity to learn something new and certainly enjoyable. Many dance clubs will even provide a few free lessons, so you can decide whether it is the right occupation for you or not. Not to mention you’ll meet there others and maybe make some new friends
Creativity
-perhaps you are more inclined towards creative leisure activities, like drawing, painting, sculpting, creating scrap books or mosaics, origami, sewing or crocheting, woodcarving…Artistic activities give you fun, new discovery and delight, spark and fuel the imagination
-reading a book might be your ideal of leisure time. It can take you to exciting new worlds, a complete escape from your present thoughts and a great satisfaction
-even learning something from books is an excellent leisure time, provided you enjoy the subject you are learning about
Any Cons?
No, not really, but… There is a ton of reasons that you think can stop you from including leisure to your everyday life: lack of motivation or will, feeling of helplessness, not easy to organize transport (when someone stops driving), no company if being lonely, thinking you have no free time, health problems, little or no financial resources, and many, many more… While any of these can confine you as a senior to enjoy the leisure time, and you need to take them into consideration, you should never use it as an excuse not to fully enjoy your free time. Always try to use your resources the best you can to engage in something entertaining and relaxing for you.
Also, do not believe the stereotypes of some activities be out of reach, just because they are “not for older people”
Who is responsible for your time and your state of mind, health? You, only.
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing”- George Bernard Shaw
It’s never too late for you to have fun while staying fit. So shape up. Be the coolest elderly you can. Enjoy life and live well.
Final Thoughts
Use the list and keep adding to it, there’s so much more that you can fill your free time with. The key ingredient is your attitude. If you find leisure satisfying and uplifting, you’ll find or create opportunities for it. If you don’t, you won’t. It’s that simple.
I hope you will decide in favor of leisure and give your life another dimension-of pure fun.
I’d like to hear what else would you add to this list, or what do you do for fun, as leisure? Any suggestions?
And, as always, feel free to reach out should you have questions and I’ll be happy to answer to the best of my knowledge.
With Love,
Kerryanne
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Hi Kerry,
This is so true. Having a great list of things to do in leisure time for our elderly folks is important for both of their physical and mental well being.
I met a retired teacher from volunteering for an NGO that helps refugees to settle in Arizona. She introduced me to an international Folk Dancing group here in Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the members are retired. I am one of the youngest members there.
I can see how happy and healthy they are when they dance. Some of them are so good at quick and tough dancing moves from Bulgarian dancing, etc.
Besides folk dancing, that friend also loves walking in the park and visiting Botanical Garden. She lives alone in her house for years (never getting married) and yet she does not seem to look lonely and depressed. All because she is active and chooses to do things that she loves doing. Including going to the senior gym and taking writing and photography classes. She inspired me to be active and do meaningful stuff like her when I grow old later. 🙂
Hi Ferra, dancing is a great activity for everyone, younger or older. Everyone can do it in their own pace. It is relaxing, fulfilling, brings joy.
Your friend seems to have found a way to have a well balanced life, being active and having leisure time simultaneously. She really is a good example and can very well be a raw model to you.
Thank you very much for sharing it with us!
Kerryanne,
This is a wonderful article. I can truly resonate with everything you wrote because my sister and I have been talking care of our 87 year old mom who suffered a brain bleed in 2018. It very quickly pushed her into the dementia stage and we are trying to find activities for her to become involved in that might help her. Something on a daily basis for a few hours so she’s not sitting around the house and wasting away. She needs physical and mental stimulation.
This article is a wonderful help.
Best regards,
Barbara
Thank you very much Barbara, I’m glad you found it useful, but sorry for your Mom. Taking care of someone with dementia can be a very challenging task and it does need a lot of attention to brain and body training, indeed. As a matter of fact I think I’ll write soon a new post exactly about dementia and how to help your loved one who suffers from it. Thank you for the idea.
Hopefully, you’ll find even more ideas in that article. looking forward to your opinion on that.
All the best,
Kerryanne
Kerryanne,
As an older person, left the everyday workforce five years ago, I am always looking for ways to keep active. An injury to my foot tow years ago stopped a lot of activities that I enjoyed.
After looking at your list I think I can resume some of the previous things I liked to do. I like to walk and never thought of an audiobook while I walked.
Now that eating in restaurants is not in, we get takeout and find a park to eat at, this is a great way to get outside and see different areas.
John
Hi John, a grat idea the picnic with take out, in a park. You can even meet with others, as long as they are occupying the next bench, with a proper distance 😉
I love having an audiobook at my walks. The main reason is that in my mind, walking is still somehow spending time in vain, so I make that time useful, by “reading”. I always prepare in advance what I’m going to listen. I try to have a few different options, depending on whether I’m in a mood to learn, be entertained, or listen to a good crime story…That way I do not even notice when I complete my 10000 steps.
I am happy if my text prompted you to rethink all the activities you can return to 😉
All the best,
Kerryanne
I think this is a great article! Motivation is something that can easily get lost as we all age and i am glad to see others trying to give it a boost up for your health!
I know as I age, my body becomes more stiff the more time I do not do anything. So go out and enjoy you day, everyday!
Keep Being AMAZING!
Thank you Brendaliz! Exactly, we should enjoy our days, the best we can! Especially when we get older and the joys are not that frequent on their own.
All the best,
Kerryanne
A very extensive list, Kerryanne, wow. Apart from making collages and dreamboards, I combine 2 activities on a daily basis:
I try not to sit too much, so every half hour I walk through the house for 10 minutes while reading a book.
Socializing is really important and I used to go to several groups on a weekly basis. COVID will have more impact than the illness alone – my social life is quite poor at the moment. Sich a pity.
I do my long walks with an audiobook-never thought of combining actual reading with walking. It sounds as a very good technique Hannie, reading a book while walking. Provided you have a clear path and you don’t hit anything while walking ;). But the every half an hour walk is a very sound advice, thank you for adding it.
And, yes, our social lives as they used to be, seem like a very distant memory now and also a very distant goal in the future, unfortunately…
Although it’s not the same in no way, we are still lucky to have the internet…
Thank you so much for this article. I am sure many elderly will benefit from the advice here.
I will show this advice to my grandparents.
The problem nowadays is this pandemic. Elderly are spending less and less time with their family and friends and this does not help their mental health and well-being.
Let’s hope for better times soon.
You are very welcome, Yoana. I hope your grandparents will find it useful.
It does make you think it over, doesn’t it… We are shielding our elderly, as there’s a real danger for their physical health outside. In the same time, we are neglecting by it their mental health as they become more and more isolated and lonely-which will at the end reflect also on their physical health. We can’t be wise enough, can we?
Thank you for your comment and all the best,
Kerryanne
I like the quote fro Goerge Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.” I think this sums up life nicely.
Great list. I am trying to encourage my mum, who is 87, to try some new things. Although very active, she is a little bored sometimes, so I thought some new activities or adventures would keep her mentally and physically stimulated. I will send your post through to her and see if anything sparks her interest.
Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you Andrew, yes, it absolutely does! The moment you think playing is not for you any more, as you are too old for it, you really became old, whatever age you actually are. I do like being that child and I can still enjoy a cartoon or dressing up a doll with our 3 year old neighbour.
I hope your Mom will find something in this list, or at least will be inspired for some new ideas of her own, to try.
All the best,
Kerryanne
Thanks very much for sharing the ideas! There are tons of leisure activities one can be involved, both seniors and younger people. I personally like outdoor activities more than indoor ones, but no doubt, any sort of leisure activity is beneficial to ones mental and physical hearth. I got some great ideas from this post, so thanks again for sharing and keep up the good work!
Exactly Ivan, we could go on and on with this list almost endlessly. I hope these will spark some new ideas in the readers’ mind, though, as I hope they did in yours.
Thank you for your kind comment!
All the best,
Kerryanne
You know what Kerryanne? I think these should be listed for adults of all ages these days. People (including me) get cooked up inside, sitting in front of the computer and avoiding social situations way too easily these days.
No wonder that both mental and physical health in aduls is at an all time low. We were meant to socialize, do interesting physical activities and move in nature. But with the covid this has become only a bigger issues.
Thanks for the great activity ideas!
“Who is responsible for your time and your state of mind, health? You, only.” On that note, it’s time to close up the computer and head to the park with my dog!
Oh, you made my day! Glad my writing inspired you to do something different than just “get cooked up inside”. We are social being, indeed. It’s just we easily forget it amongst all the technology that seemingly brings us company (tv, internet…) The virus danger does not help, either, you are right. Still, we need to do what’s best for us and that’s certainly bring some real joy into our lives.
Thank you for your comment, Chuck!
All the best,
Kerryanne
What a sweet and well put together information in this post.
I am really glad that I can share this with my elders, this is something that they will really enjoy.
Is very good to come across this kind of posts, especially when some of the activities for our elders has been really disturbed by this year’s events, the list of indoor ones really comes in handy.
So good on you to put this together and to help the seniors find some things to do even in times of limitation.
Some may be luckier to be something outdoors (depending on each individual geographical status), some not so, but surely the list of leisure activities for elderly here has something for everyone.
Thank you, Pablo, that basically is the intention of this website-to help the elderly and their children deal with everyday issues that aging brings. It seems we are facing another wave of the pandemic, so we will indeed be very limited, and our elderly even more so.
I’m glad if you find this useful for your parents, as well.
All the best,
Kerryanne
Hi Kerryanne, great article. I agree that leisure activities are important at any age but perhaps more so as we age. Also in this COVID environment, most people are at higher risk of a sedentary lifestyle and the health risks associated with that. My husband(58)and I(55) are quickly approaching our senior years and we maintain an active lifestyle here in Canada. We love to sail, hike, rock climb, bicycle, and in winter we enjoy walking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. I read an article recently about a woman who began rock climbing in her 70’s and has climbed Everest in her 8-‘s, she didn’t summit but what an inspiring story. What are your favorite activities
Hi Deb, it looks like you are doing everything you can to really include an active leisure into your life and it is so nice to hear that. Incredible what a human is capable of with a right mindset and determination, isn’t it?
I never tried to rock climb, I must admit, but adore walking in nature or riding a bicycle. In The Netherlands, where our daughter is studying, there is a high hill, with a road for bicycles. It is a pretty steep one and presents a hell of an activity if one can ride up it. But, the view is fantastic, and still faster than by foot, so we do it each time we visit.
Hey,
I am so pleased I came across this article because I need to share this with my parents. They are retired and still fit and well, they just need to do more things and be more creative.
I am going to pass your list on to them and I am going to help them set up some of the things they want to do. I would love them to be more active and go on more adventures together.
Thank you for sharing and I will keep you updated on how my parents go.
Keep up the amazing work.
All the best,
Tom
Thank you Tom, I’m so glad you are. I really hope your parents enjoy these articles you are sending them and can find some good take away from them.
It is great to have you coming back and commenting, thank you.
All the best,
Kerryanne
This is a great article and a very important topic, especially in light of our current situation. My mom and dad have been very careful to practice social distancing because of their age but it has also meant that they have neglected to spend time doing the things that enjoy. So today, my mom mentioned that she and my dad got out to take their dog for a walk in the park. I was so happy that they took the time to do that again. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for your comment, Melissa. Your Mom and dad are making a wise choice by distancing, but it is also good to implement some sort of enjoyable activity, as we all need some uplifting feelings in these times.
All the best
Kerryanne