5 Activities to Keep Independent Seniors Engaged

Helping the older adults in your life stay active and engaged is vital for their wellbeing, and it’s also a great way to strengthen your relationship and special bond with them. You can discover new interests together, engage in new hobbies that will help them maintain key critical thinking and motor skills, and establish more independence that will have them feeling empowered and accomplished at the end of each day.

Gardening is an excellent activity for older adults because it can be done indoors or outdoors, doesn’t require excessive space, and it’s low impact. Additionally, many people find taking care of plants to be very emotionally satisfying. As we enjoy the cooler September weather, it’s a great time to get started on a garden and you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labor in no time!
Baking and cooking. If your senior loved one has never experimented in the kitchen, now could be the perfect time. Trying new recipes, meal planning, and making food for people you love is hugely rewarding, and it’s something you can enjoy together. Create a short list of baked goods and meals your loved one wants to make, and start from there.
Daily walks. Older adults who aren’t limited by mobility issues can benefit greatly from daily walks. Walking helps maintain healthy circulation, stimulates various muscle groups, and gets those ‘feel-good’ endorphins flowing. Joining your loved one on a daily walk is a great opportunity to deepen your relationship as you discuss the news of the day and more.
Volunteering. Once seniors retire, they often look for activities to fill their free time. Volunteering for causes they care about is a great way for older adults to give back to their community while doing something personally rewarding. Ask the seniors in your life if they’d be interested in volunteering at any of your local organizations, and perhaps help them with the application process.
Continued education. Higher learning has no age limit. We often see people of all ages graduating from high school and college, as it’s never too late to learn more about your passions and interests. Many institutions of higher learning have a huge range of online courses available. If your loved one would prefer an in-person environment, check with your local library and community senior center and see what courses are offered.

Vibrant assisted living in Pitman NJ

We know that having the assisted living conversation with aging parents can be difficult. Unfortunately, due to outdated stereotypes and persistent cultural cliches, many seniors view assisted living communities as places where they’ll lose their independence and be made to follow strict schedules every day. At UMC at Pitman, our premier assisted living community in Gloucester County, you’ll find our neighborhood to be more like an enhanced apartment complex than anything else.

We believe in resident-directed living, which means our residents are in total control of their own time and daily schedules. We also encourage them to pursue new hobbies and interests with a full social calendar available. Residents are free to lead their own lives while also living in a secure neighborhood with around-the-clock access to any care they might need, including medication assistance.

For more information about UMC at Pitman, or if you have any questions about our assisted living services, please contact our team today.