Program activities for seniors

Discussion between seniors and with the staff all provide interesting conversations sharing backgrounds and life experiences. National Senior Games Association - Many senior centers participate in the National Senior Games and compete locally with a chance to go on to compete in the State Games and then to the National Games. Some senior centers in an area or city have their own senior games such as where I live they have the North Fulton Golden Games. There is competion in track and field, Bocce, bowling, golf, ball room dancing, swimming, and much more.

Afterwards there is an award cermony. These type senior games Performances: Song, theater, cultural, music, band and dance performances by outside groups or performers. Wellness Seminars: everything from managing arthritis, preventing low back pain, nutrition to causes of balance problems and fall prevention. Many more - these are just examples. Wellness seminars are a favorite at many senior centers and can help improve your quality of life.

As you can see these activities can match or surpass those in many Active Adult Communities and will help to keep you healthy and enjoying life. Recreation for senior citizens is important and Senior Centers can be a great resource. Indian Cuisine Indian cuisine is a collection of regional and traditional foods. Spices and curries add a new dimension to proteins and vegetables. Fresh vegetables are also an important part of many Italian meals.

Japanese Cuisine Traditional Japanese meals are nutritionally complete and low in fat. Sushi, tempura, and soba noodles are popular Japanese meal components. Mediterranean Cuisine Many Mediterranean meals contain a bounty of fresh vegetables, with meat almost as an afterthought.

Instead, a typical Mediterranean diet incorporates lots of fresh seafood. Mexican Cuisine Mexican cuisine varies by region, with meat dishes commanding attention throughout the country. Beans, corn, and chili peppers are longstanding Mexican menu staples. Southern Cuisine Traditional Southern meals are hearty, and the portions are generous. Local field-grown vegetables, delectable desserts, and sweet tea are Southern staples.

Thai Cuisine Thai foods are aromatic and spicy, with mouthwatering flavors that leave quite a kick. Rice is also an important meal component, with every meal containing some form of this popular starch. Crafts Collage This no-rules art form can incorporate diverse materials, such as photographs, cloth, paper, and magazine pictures. The artist carefully glues the materials to a flat surface, creating a striking picture. Cross-Stitch This counted thread embroidery form is easy to learn, and thousands of patterns are available.

Using hoops and frames to provide structure, the cross-stitcher follows instructions to create a finished piece. Drawing Drawing is a versatile art form in which the artist creates pictures with pens, pencils, or other media. Flower Arranging Colorful faux flowers lend themselves to many creative designs. Jewelry Making Handcrafted brooches, necklaces, and bracelets enable residents to personalize their jewelry accessories.

Budget guidelines dictate the materials, but the creative process follows similar guidelines. Knitting and Crocheting Once learned, these timeless crafts make an ideal background activity. Origami This Japanese paper-folding art transforms a single square of paper into an intricate sculpture.

Although origami animals are very popular, themed origami books contain many other designs. Pottery Learning to shape, decorate, and fire a clay pot brings a sense of accomplishment. Once familiar with the basic techniques, senior living residents can experiment with other designs. Pressed flowers can then be turned into striking cards or framed for hanging. Several pressing methods are available, and no special-purpose tools are needed. Wind Chimes Handcrafted wind chimes provide a striking outdoor accent piece.

Using various materials, the senior living resident can create a colorful hanging sculpture that tinkles in a steady breeze. Woodturning With a woodturning lathe, a resident can transform an ordinary block of wood into a piece of art. As they learn new techniques, they can create more complex projects. Woodworking Woodworking takes many forms, and it can involve both power and hand tools.

Dance Ballroom Dance This collection of well-choreographed partner dances offers lots of drama and showmanship. Line Dance In this easy-to-learn dance form, dancers form rows and perform simple, repetitive movements to music. Line dancers never come into physical contact, but instead face each other or are oriented in the same direction. Square Dance In this classic four-couple dance, dancers make up a square on the dance floor.

Discussion Groups Book Club A lively book club provides its members with opportunities to discuss a recently read book of interest. Clubs often rotate genres and authors, giving members exposure to various literary offerings. Other Discussion Groups Two or more people can start a discussion group on virtually any subject. Lively sharing of ideas often helps participants to broaden their horizons.

Choral Groups College or community choral groups enjoy giving concerts at assisted living facilities. Karaoke Karaoke sessions can be standalone events or part of another scheduled get-together. Sometimes, participants with surprisingly good voices put on engaging performances.

Movie Nights Watching classic movies or family favorites is a fun way to spend an evening. Popcorn and other tasty refreshments add an authentic touch to the experience. Musicians and Musical Groups Up-and-coming musicians and musical groups take every opportunity to gain exposure. These talented people often deliver performances worthy of national acclaim to senior living residents.

There may even be a surprising hidden talent or two in the community. Stand-Up Comedians Stand-up comedians are always looking for venues in which to fine-tune their routines. They always appreciate a responsive and enthusiastic audience. Theater Companies A local theater company may welcome the opportunity to deliver an onsite performance.

These surprisingly accomplished thespians pull out all the stops to bring their characters to life. Or, a benefit event might spotlight current fashions from a trendy new clothing shop.

Themed Parties Themed parties can celebrate an era, a fashion style, an event, or an out-of-the-box idea. Getting all the details right creates a truly authentic occasion. Exercise Low-Impact Aerobics This carefully designed class provides lots of cardio and muscle conditioning. Tai Chi This ancient Chinese art involves smooth, flowing movements and beneficial exercise. If practiced regularly, tai chi helps to enhance mind and body health. Yoga This integrated form of exercise incorporates physical poses, breathing techniques, and relaxation or meditation.

Participants are encouraged to proceed at their own pace. Zumba This Latin dance fitness workout combines infectious music and choreographed moves. Friendly Animal Visits Adoptable Animals Adoption agencies may put on adoption events for assisted living residents. Residents shower shelter animals with lots of attention, and they may even adopt one. Therapy Animals Spending time with a mellow therapy animal is a very special experience. Each talk is no longer than 18 minutes, and some talks might be even shorter.

Virtual Lectures Many colleges and universities offer free virtual lectures on diverse subjects. Recognized experts also make their online lectures available, often without a charge. The player can easily build on basic skills and begin playing songs almost from the start.

With regular practice, students can provide a few tunes for community get-togethers. Participants can choose from Wii Fit baseball, bowling, golf, or tennis. Skills Development Computer Classes Computer class instruction includes everything from basic operations to coding and special-purpose programs. Digital Photography Classes Learning to operate a digital camera opens the door to the fascinating world of photography.

With just basic knowledge, senior living residents can capture memorable images. Foreign Language Classes Studying Spanish, French, German, or another language provides a window into another culture. Learning a second language also provides good mental stimulation. Special-Interest Webinars These video-based workshops can showcase a craft or demonstrate a product or technique.

A well-planned webinar can also bring worldwide community members together in an online forum. So don't shy away from attending other people's parties or joining clubs. Also, consider planning some of your own events. You can plan parties around all kinds of themes such as:. Board games and card games provide great ways to socialize and benefit from the joyful challenges of friendly competition. And puzzles can help sharpen your mind and give you a sense of progress and accomplishment. Just like people, animals want and need to have fun.

So playing with them can be mutually beneficial. Besides, it's often easy to find animals to interact with even if you don't have any pets. For example, many animal shelters welcome seniors who want to give dogs , cats, or other critters some quality attention.

As long as the weather is decent, being outside can do wonders for your mood. People enjoy recreational swimming for its physical benefits, as it provides a full-body workout that can help improve muscle tone, weight loss, and more. Swimming is also an exercise-based activity that even those with limited mobility can enjoy.

The water provides support and less resistance to movement while also keeping exercisers cool in warm weather. Some swim classes focus on lap swimming for fitness, while other recreational swimming groups focus on aerobic movements while staying stationary in the water. Dance classes are offered at many local rec centers and seniors centers, and many senior citizens enjoy taking dance lessons! Dancing can not only provide a social outlet to meet and chat with new people, but it also provides physical exercise as well as mental stimulation as individuals work to remember various moves and motions.

Various types of dancing can require different levels of physical ability. Line dancing, gentle swing, and jazzercise are all great places to start. More advanced seniors might consider ballroom dancing, salsa, or tap dancing. Some studies have even shown that people who regularly engage in social dancing tend to exhibit lower levels of depression!

Yoga is a wonderful, gentle sport that can help a senior improve balance, coordination, and foster a sense of relaxation and inner calm through its breathing components.

However, there are many different types of yoga, from Bikram aka hot yoga to vinyasa yoga. Look for slow, meditative-focused yoga and avoid yoga that is fast-paced and exercise-focused, as this may be too challenging for elderly participants. Many yoga centers even have special yoga classes specially geared for seniors with more gentle, slower movements.

Juggling is a fun activity that mobile seniors can enjoy while promoting hand-eye coordination and balance skills. Beginner jugglers can start off practicing with juggling scarves, made of light and soft material that billows down slowly, giving the participant more time to move their hands and grab the scarves!

Older adults who are physically able to walk can find that participating in a charity walk or run is both fun and fulfilling. Charity walks can be more leisurely paced, while 5k runs may get seniors moving and breathing hard. Plus, participants usually receive t-shirts and other promotional materials for free, which can be a fun bonus!

Seniors who are physically able to ride a bike should consider taking advantage of all the fun of cycling! Cycling is a great exercise for cardiovascular health while remaining low-impact, making it a fantastic choice for seniors.

After that, you can cycle around the neighborhood or hook the bike to a can or SUV through a bike rack and bring the bike to forested trails or larger parks to bike safely off busy roads. Seniors may also want to consider cycling at a slower pace with fewer hills to avoid any joint pain.

Still, cycling is an easy recreational activity for seniors and offers fresh air and great exercise! Bocce ball is a simple senior-friendly outdoor game that may be played on the beach or in a park, but many recreational organizations often build special courts for bocce ball enthusiasts to enjoy. However, seniors will have to be careful about what kinds of dogs they opt to walk. Only walk dogs who can walk calmly and politely on leash. Some elderly seniors may also only feel comfortable walking smaller dogs over larger ones.

Dog walking is a great way to get outside, meet people, enjoy fresh air, and reap the therapeutic benefits of time spent with a canine companion! Fishing is a relaxing activity that gets elderly individuals in touch with nature and out on open water! Seniors can get into tennis by first finding a local clinic that offers free or low-cost lessons from experienced tennis coaches. From there, players can join local teams to reap social benefits too! We hope this list of great recreational activities for seniors has provided inspiration for older individuals looking to take up new hobbies!

Are there any other activities or hobbies you think are well-suited towards elderly seniors that we overlooked? Let us know in the comments! About Us. Skip to content. If the activity is a sport, is it low impact? What kind of physical mobility would the individual need for this activity? Does it build mental skills? While certainly not required, it might be a good idea to look for activities that build on specific mental skills a senior wants to maintain. Which muscle groups will it work?

For some seniors interested in exercise or sports, it can be helpful to reflect on which muscle groups the activity will work. Are these areas of the body that will benefit from the activity?

Or do these regions of the body suffer from injury or pain that might make the activity too challenging or dangerous? What social benefits are provided? Does this activity provide some kind of social benefit of group comradery for the senior?

Seeking out social-oriented recreational activities is an especially good idea for more lonely seniors who are looking for companionship. Does the activity need some kind of senior-friendly modification? Scrapbooking Scrapbooking is a great craft activity for seniors because it combines creative flair and nostalgia. Painting Painting is an enjoyable artistic activity for any senior who has always loved or enjoyed art but never got around to taking a class!

Pottery Pottery is another great artistic activity that many seniors greatly enjoy. Mosaic Art Crafting mosaics is another art form that allows seniors to exercise their artistic side. Woodworking Woodworking is a recreational activity that offers many practical benefits, from keeping hobbyists busy to producing useful goods they can use and show off at home!

Craft Fairs Seniors who enjoy crafting can find it rewarding to sell their creations at local craft fairs! Quilting Quilting is a fun crafting activity that seniors can engage in themselves or with friends and family members.

Plus, the end result will be something soft and cozy you can clutch in the winter. Sewing Similarily, many seniors also enjoy sewing, which can be employed to make everything from clothes to clutches. Flower Arranging Flower arranging is another low-key recreational activity well-suited for elderly seniors that involves composing and styling an arrangement out of flowers. Paint Nite For those who like to spend their free time getting creative, but need a bit more guidance, a paint night is just the thing!

Jewelry Making Jewelry making is often an enjoyable craft activity for seniors as it combines a number of skills into one hobby, involving creativity, fine motor skills, artistry, and even some math! Photography Photography is a fantastic hobby that allows seniors to document the world around them or get creative. Cooking Class If you love to cook but feel like your skills could use a refresher course, some recreational centers or adult education programs offer cooking courses to help seniors learn all kinds of fun foreign meals, from dumplings to homemade pasta.

Learn an Instrument For seniors who are physically able to play, picking up a new musical instrument or brushing up on an old one can be fun and rewarding.

Homebrewing Many seniors who like to entertain guests might enjoy home brewing as an at-home hobby.