One of the big questions of life is how to spend your time in a productive but enjoyable way. So for a senior citizen, this question becomes even bigger as free time can now make up most of the time. It’s important as a caregiver or a loved one of a senior citizen to help them find hobbies, things to do to both grow as an individual and enjoy themselves while doing it.
Brainstorming Hobbies
The question of, “What hobby should I pick up?” can seem like a daunting one. If the one you choose doesn’t work out, it’s easy to think of the time and efforts wasted. But it really shouldn’t be such a hard question, as hobbies are meant to be about learning something new. So if one doesn’t work out, you learn, and then you move on to a new one.
There are some basic questions to ask your loved one upon starting the search for a hobby: What do you enjoy doing now? What have you always wanted to do, but never had the time or resources for? What’s something you think you’re good at that you would want to share with others? And any other questions to gauge their current interests and aspirations. From these answers, you branch out to think of what activities they could do or might be interested in trying. Don’t worry, we’ll give you a few examples below.
At this point, it’s also important to consider the resources and limitations of your loved one—whether it’s their physical abilities, financial resources, or available time. While we may want them to participate in everything they’ve ever dreamed of, it might just not be practical and feasible. If they’ve always wanted to travel, but may not have the physical means to do so, maybe see if they wo
uld try a foreign cooking class. The sky is the limit here.
Ideas and Examples of Hobbies
Just in case you still can’t think of anything, we’ve provided you with some examples and ideas of hobbies that many elderly and senior citizens are involved in:
Overall, simply make sure that they’re enjoying themselves and that they’re growing as a person. If you meet those two requirements, we’d say you’re doing a good job in finding the right hobby to pursue.
Angels Senior Home Solutions is a based-in-faith company that provides in-home healthcare and personal care services for seniors. Visit our website here or find us on Facebook or Twitter!