Caregiver Tips – Summer Hobbies for Seniors

If you are the caregiver for an aging parent, you might be looking for a way to get them up and active during these summer months. The weather is nice and the days are longer, so you want them to get out into the sunshine, or at least out of bed.

Luckily, there are plenty of summer hobbies one can try out. There are hobbies that can be adapted to any level of physical or mental capacity, so there is really some activity for everyone! You just have to work together with your parent to find out which is the best hobby for them, and what they are most interested in.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Gardening – Gardening is a great, peaceful, relaxing way to spend a summer day. Preparing the soil and planting seeds, flowers, or even vegetables can be very rewarding when the plants come into bloom later in the season! If you are worried about the accessibility of gardening for seniors, don’t be. There are many tools you can buy to make gardening easier and more comfortable for people with conditions like arthritis or mobility problems, and there are many easy modifications you can make to make working in the yard less strenuous for your loved one.
• Arts and crafts – This is a hobby one can do indoors or out. Things like paper mache, sewing, making collages, painting, making pottery, and anything else you can think of are great ways to keep the mind active during the lazy months of summer. Both you and your parent can work together to make things to share with the family, or your parent can work alone to make whatever his or her heart desires.
• Walking – Walking is a great way to help your parent stay active. You can go for walks around the block, or even walk at the local park! The latter is especially fun, because you get to get out into nature and experience all the great sights and sounds of summer, like kids playing on the swings, birds singing in the trees, and the big, leafy trees casting shade over everything.
• Swimming – If your loved one is healthy enough to swim, this could be another great way for them to stay in shape. If you have a pool in the backyard, they can go for a swim every day to cool off from the hot summer weather. Alternatively, they can swim at a local pool, or sign up for swimming classes at the local YMCA, where they can also make some new friends!

This is just a small sampling of all the possible hobbies your parent can do this summer. You probably have some ideas of your own, and I’m sure your mom or dad does too! Work together to find something interesting and entertaining for them to do, and you’ll soon see that the summer will pass by much more quickly. Plus, an active mind makes for a better mood and a healthier body, so the more time your loved one spends on the hobbies they love, the better!

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional caregiver in Lafayette Hill, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860 .