Everyone should have at least one hobby to fill up their free time, and seniors can especially benefit when they choose to get creative. Participating in creative and stimulating activities provides seniors with a sense of purpose and can even boost their overall health. Here are some activities to help your elderly loved one stay creative and remain physically, mentally, and emotionally well.
Making Scrapbooks & Collages
Making scrapbooks and collages offers emotional nourishment, enhances self-esteem, boosts feelings of accomplishment, and creates opportunities for bonding over old memories. The scrapbooks and collages can be made using old photos, theater programs, fabrics, and other items your loved one has packed away at home. When your loved one finishes a scrapbook or collage, he or she may feel more in control of life and rewarded at the same time, and these activities also reduce boredom. If your loved one is bored, he or she may have a higher risk of becoming restless, depressed, and physically unwell.
Playing Music
Music provides real-time stimulation to specific areas of the brain, keeping it sharp and enriching the areas associated with memory. Encouraging your loved one to learn new instruments may even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Playing music can also decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol, consequently boosting your loved one’s immunity.
Interacting with a home caregiver can also provide a great way for your parent to exercise his or her cognitive skills. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of home care service. Edmonton Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services.
Journaling & Writing Memoirs
Writing memoirs and keeping journals enhance cognition and behavioral functions while reducing the risk of depression. These activities provide opportunities for your loved one to reminisce about the past and family history, which can increase his or her self-esteem and feelings of independence, and it may even change his or her outlook on life.
Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Edmonton, Alberta, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver.
Painting & Drawing
Creating art provides many benefits for the elderly. Painting and drawing can help your loved one remain calm, and doing these art projects can keep him or her active and social, boosting his or her physical, mental, and emotional health.
Painting and drawing has been shown to:
- Reduce stress
- Enhance cognitive abilities
- Alleviate trauma
- Provide a sense of accomplishment
- Increase self-awareness
Engaging in these types of enjoyable activities can enhance your loved one’s overall wellbeing, and so can having the help of a compassionate caregiver. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional elderly home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life. For more information about our flexible, customizable home care plans, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (780) 490-7337.