Fun Activities for Seniors and Caregivers To Do Together

Caregivers play an important role in enhancing the lives of older adults. While it’s easy to focus on the essential tasks someone coming into a home may provide, such as doing laundry, cleaning rooms and organizing medications, caregivers can also act as companions to those they’re assisting. One of the most natural ways older adults and care providers can build a connection is by participating in activities they can do together. Here are a few good places to start.

Board Games and Puzzles

There’s a reason most board games and puzzles have a minimum age requirement but not a maximum one: They’re fun no matter how old you are. And they’re even more fun when you have someone to share them with. Board games offer a bit of friendly competition while often helping to sharpen cognitive skills like reasoning and memory, and they can lead to a lot of laughter and smiles along the way. Games like chess, checkers, Scrabble and others are also easy to set up and take down, maximizing the amount of time you get to play without the need for lengthy cleanup when the game is finished. Puzzles are another engaging activity two or more people can do together, with some of the more advanced ones offering hours of entertainment as you strive to fit every piece into its proper place.

Music

Listening to a favorite song can bring back a string of happy memories, and there’s a special kind of joyfulness in sharing those feelings with another person. With so many genres and an immense depth of history to explore, older adults and caregivers can share in their love of music together. It’s an opportunity for seniors to enlighten those younger than them about the popular musicians of their youth, while caregivers can introduce new music to their clients. For those who play an instrument, there’s a unique opportunity to bring live songs into someone’s home and even play together under the right circumstances.

Go for a Walk

A pleasant stroll is a wonderful activity to do together, but it’s also something older adults may be reluctant to do on their own if they struggle with mobility. The added security of a companion to walk with can encourage a more active lifestyle, and it’s beneficial for caretakers, too. After all, getting up and moving is healthy for everyone regardless of age. Walking together and experiencing a change of scenery can also spark conversation and offer a chance for older adults to build a connection with caregivers and friendly neighbors they meet along the way.

Gardening

Getting out into the garden has numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of dementia for older adults. The act of planting a seed and caring for it as it blossoms into a fully grown plant is almost magical, and working the soil with a friend close by makes the experience all the more enriching. It can also make gardens more productive, with an extra set of helping hands at the ready to get more seeds in the ground and, ultimately, a greater harvest later.

Cooking and Baking

Everyone needs to eat, and turning cooking into an activity can change it from a necessary task to an enjoyable experience. Cooking and baking together also opens up the possibility of trying recipes older adults may find intimidating on their own because of certain techniques and instructions that are involved. Caregivers can assist with more labor-intensive tasks, such as kneading particularly tough dough or lifting heavy pots and pans. As an added bonus, two people cleaning up a kitchen reduces the time it takes and the hassle that usually comes after the cooking is finished.

Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts provide hours of entertainment, and like so many other parts of life, they’re best enjoyed with others. Every person has their own style, interpretation and view on art, and that opens a wealth of possibilities for exciting projects. Whether a joint creation or two people attempting to make the same one with unique interpretations, the process of creating is a worthwhile endeavor all by itself. Plus, it’s an opportunity to practice a new skill and improve it over time for both caregivers and their clients, meaning it’s an activity you can come back to again and again.

Conclusion

Caregivers and clients can bond in any number of ways, but taking part in joint activities is a natural, enjoyable way to foster friendship. It’s also an opportunity for people to learn from one another and make their time spent together as worthwhile as possible. The caregivers at Visiting Angels San Luis Obispo know exactly how to build bonds to make life for their clients as enriching as possible. Get in touch with us to learn more today by calling 805-546-2080.