Winter can be very hard on us all, but particularly on our elderly relatives and loved ones who may find it hard to leave the house at this time of year.
The weather can pose all sorts of risks, making slips, trips and falls more likely, so it’s often advisable for people to stay inside until conditions improve – but this can take its toll on mental and emotional health and wellbeing, making social connections harder to maintain and increasing the likelihood of isolation and loneliness.
With at least six weeks of winter left, finding ways to keep your friends and family entertained and well looked after is essential.
Here are a few suggestions of senior winter activities that would be well suited for people with limited mobility.
1. Arts and crafts
Starting a craft project is a brilliant way to pass the time during winter – and it’s something that can be done both with company and as a solo endeavour.
The act of making something can do wonders for a person’s mental health, promoting mindfulness and reducing stress and anxiety, offering meditative distractions and providing a sense of progress.
Thanks to the internet, it’s also possible for craft projects to provide an opportunity for socialisation. Knit-alongs, for example, are something that anyone can join in with, where people make the same item and share their progress with others.
2. Indoor gardening
Being stuck inside and not being able to get any fresh air can quickly take its toll on general wellbeing and one of the hardest parts about it is missing out on the connection to the natural world.
But you could consider bringing the outdoors in and finding lots of interesting new plants for your loved one to tend and grow.
Choosing easy varieties and a few more challenging ones is a great way to make it more interesting and keep them engaged. A terrarium project would also be a good one to consider, with all sorts of different designs and styles to create.
3. Jigsaw puzzles
Not only are jigsaws perfect winter entertainment, they’re also a great option for older people’s mental cognition, helping to improve focus, memory and hand/eye coordination.
Studies show that such activities can protect against cognitive ageing, as well as potentially helping improve the symptoms of those already experiencing mild cognitive impairment… and, of course, jigsaw puzzles are a lot of fun, as well!
4. Seated yoga for seniors
As we all know, exercise is excellent for our mental health but it can be hard to keep moving during winter, with fewer opportunities to get out and about outside.
You can encourage older people to move more and get a bit more exercise with practices like seated yoga, which can be tailored to suit different abilities and ranges of motion.
What’s particularly good about all these ideas is that they can be done solo, with a friend or relative, or with a companionship care provider… and it’ll be spring before you know it!
