Top 5 Healthy Hobbies That Caregivers Can Participate In

It is very important that seniors are involved in healthy hobbies as they age. These should be hobbies that they enjoy and ones that are beneficial for them. Having a caregiver participate with them in these hobbies can also be very helpful, and allows them to do hobbies that they otherwise wouldn't be able to do on their own.

Here are some great healthy hobbies that caregivers can participate in when needed. 

Gardening Is One of the Healthy Hobbies

A fun and healthy hobby for a senior and caregiver to participate in together, in Cook County, IL, is gardening. The caregiver and senior can work together to plan what they would like to plant in the garden, and can then go and purchase the seeds and small plants. When it comes time to prepare and plant the garden, the caregiver can take over whatever tasks the senior is not capable of. The two can then work together to water and care for the garden for the rest of the season. This gives the seniors something to be in charge of and get excited about, and it also helps them stay active while caring for the garden.

Water Aerobics 

It is important that seniors keep moving, but that they do so in a way that is safe for them. A great way for a senior to exercise and move their body is through water aerobics. The movement in the water helps them to strengthen their muscles and bones, move their joints, and work their cardiovascular system, all while doing so in a safe, low-impact environment.  This is also excellent for caregivers because they can easily join them in the water, and work with them during the water aerobics class. 

Creative Writing 

Another healthy hobby for a senior to participate in is creative writing. This helps them to use their brain in ways that they otherwise would not and helps them to work on writing at the same time. It is also helpful for memory retention and memory recall. The caregiver can give the senior a writing prompt, or they can be left to write on whatever they'd like. In either case, this is a fun activity for them that allows them to use their imagination and create something new. When the creative writing is done, the senior can share it with their caregiver, and they can discuss it further. 

Cooking Meals

A healthy hobby that can be very beneficial and fun for a senior, and can easily involve their caretaker, is cooking meals. The seniors can find recipes that they would like to make, and the caretaker can help them to get all that they need in order to make the recipe. This will involve a trip to the store to get all the necessary groceries, as well as time spent preparing the meal, cooking the meal, and then finally enjoying the meal together. Cooking helps the senior to remain more independent, and reading and following recipes help with memory and other cognitive skills. 

Play A Musical Instrument

It is great for a senior to either continue to play a musical instrument that they have in the past or learn to play a new instrument altogether. The caregiver can play right along with them and can also learn a new instrument with the senior as well. This is a great bonding experience for the two of them and can help the senior to keep a sharp mind, and it creates a strong mind-body connection while playing. 

There are several healthy hobbies that seniors can enjoy in Chicago, IL, and getting their caregiver involved, will just make these activities even more enjoyable for the two of them. To get more help with senior activities, or caregiver responsibilities, visit us today at Senior Helpers Chicago/Evanston.