Beyond Bingo and Golf: 5 Hobbies for Seniors
- swsualberta
- Mar 30, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 1, 2022
By: Aleena Arasseril
As an individual grows older and surpasses their youth, they are often made susceptible to a wide variety of misconceptions which could often cause others to view them through a stereotypical lens. The senior population is a huge victim of this stereotype and as an individual enters their sixties and seventies, they are often viewed as people who have lost interest in the outside world.
Many tend to view the elderly as people who are not interesting and as individuals who lead a sedentary life with no activities or hobbies, however, this isn’t the case at all. If anything, as a person ages, their need to be actively engaged in activities and hobbies increase and this could prevent them from going into major disorders like depression, which are commonly detected in this age group. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that once one begins to enter their older ages, for example, post-retirement, that these individuals do find something to keep them active, both mentally and physically. This would then serve as a driving force in their life and could ultimately give them the happiness and satisfaction that their prior work, hobbies, and activities gave them in the past. Overall, it is essential to understand the importance of being active, both physically and socially, and to encourage elders to find something that helps them to pass their time.
Personally, I believe the biggest flaw that we, as a society have when it comes to helping the elderly reach their full potential and to continue living their life like before is how we only associate them with two activities: bingo and golf. While I too had a time when I believed in this stereotype, I was able to see how this was not always the case when I did my clinical rotation at a long-term care facility.
Every Wednesday, the elderly gathered for bingo days, but after talking to the residents there, I was able to conclude that majority of them weren’t even that fond of bingo. Instead, the main hobbies amongst the seniors there included reading (especially Agatha Christie’s detective novels), attending the exercise classes that were offered, going out with their family and many others. From that, I was able to conclude that what these seniors needed was the encouragement to develop new hobbies and to work on their old ones, rather than having hobbies imposed upon them.
Following is a list of five hobbies that any senior can start, whether or not they have any previous knowledge regarding that certain hobby.
1. Exercise
The first one on the list is exercise. This is one that seniors tend to avoid due to pain or any other physical deficits that the individual might have (“Fun & Therapeutic Activities for Seniors”). However, this is because many people tend to view exercise as a very high-impact activity like running a 5K marathon, but this isn’t always the case. Exercise is a broad term that also includes low impact exercises that many seniors can employ such as swimming, yoga or fishing, just to name a few. Group fitness classes would also be one to consider because not only does this make the seniors get in the required physical activity, but also allows for a chance to socialize and make new friends.
2. Animal Therapy
The second one on my list is animal therapy. Owning a pet is a great way to help seniors find a purpose in their life. It has also been linked to fighting depression, decreased feelings of loneliness, lowered stress, and improved motor skills (“Fun & Therapeutic Activities for Seniors”).
3. Listening to Music
As for the third one on the list, listening to music can be a great hobby for seniors. This is because music has been known to stimulate cognitive function and thus, would help seniors with dementia and other cognitive impairments. Overall, music can also create a relaxing environment and can put the senior in a better mood. Under this category of music, you can also include the hobby of learning a new instrument or even having the senior go out and enjoy some live music. This would also help them to be socially involved.
4. Art Therapy
Art therapy is next on the list. Art therapy could include painting, drawing, photography etc. This one could benefit the seniors a lot, especially those suffering from the inability to express themselves. Through art, they can find a new way to express their emotions, and it is also a great way to pass time.
5. Video Games
Lastly on the list comes interactive video games. Although video games have been highly associated with the younger population, they are also excellent for seniors as well. Not only can this help the seniors to spend some bonding time with their grandchildren, but many video games are physical activity-based and can improve a senior’s overall mental balance and as well, physical coordination.
These are just a handful of hobbies and activities that seniors can enjoy, but there are many more out there. No hobby or activity comes with an age limit, and as long as the person has the right mindset and approach, anyone can develop new hobbies. It’s crucial that we never limit a person’s activity due to their age and instead, help them in developing and discovering more about themselves.
References
“11 Fun & Therapeutic Activities for Seniors.” Complete Care, 25 Feb. 2020, https://www.completecare.ca/blog/therapeutic-activities-seniors/#:~:text=Activity%20books%20like%20crossword%20puzzles,or%20even%20online%20computer%20games.
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