Even though it can be common for older adults to lead a sedentary lifestyle, especially if they’re living with health complications, this should not be the case as inactiveness can pose a number of risks, such as poor mental health, a decline in motor skills, and many more. As such, we should always find opportunities to encourage and motivate our loved ones to socialize and get out of the house. In fact, many medical professionals have recommended older adults living with dementia to take part in mentally stimulating activities in order to improve their cognitive health. As such, here are some interesting yet effective activities for dementia.
Creative Classes
There’s a reason why many retirement communities like Discovery Village At Dominion provide creative classes for residents to join. Whether your loved ones are interested in pottery making, arts and crafts, or music classes, creative activities allow older adults to step out of their comfort zone and to think out of the box. This stimulates the mind and enhances brain function, which helps in preventing memory loss and boosting cognitive performance. What’s more, creative classes provide an opportunity for older adults to mingle around and form meaningful connections, since they will be surrounded by like-minded individuals.
Gardening
Even if your loved ones do not have a garden or backyard, they can always purchase indoor plants to place inside their living spaces. In general, plants bring about many positive effects on both our physical and mental health. This is why medical professionals have advocated the use of plants for self-care treatments. Aside from improving the air quality inside the apartment, being surrounded by plants has been found to reduce stress, calm the mind, and boost mood. However, if your loved ones do have the resources to engage in outdoor gardening, it will be better as gardening encourages them to do some physical activity and soak up vitamin D, all while doing something they enjoy.
Cooking and Baking
Cooking is arguably the most practical activity as it not only serves a functional purpose but it also stimulates the mind at the same time. As such, it’s highly popular among older adults in retirement communities. Regardless if your loved ones are foodies or not, taking part in cooking classes provides them the skills and knowledge to prepare nutritious meals by themselves, as well as encourages cognitive fitness in the form of remembering recipes, concoctions, and experimenting with flavors, to name a few.
Volunteering
Since most loved ones are retired and have ample free time, why not take this time to do some good for the society? Volunteering is and has always been a popular activity for older adults as it can help to reduce or overcome any feelings of hopelessness. Some older adults may tend to lose a sense of purpose in their lives, so volunteering and helping others can get rid of such feelings. There are many ways your loved ones can volunteer, such as preparing food for the homeless, donating toys to charity homes, fundraising for an important cause, and many more. As each state has different regulations and charitable organizations, we recommend researching the various volunteering opportunities available near your loved ones.
