Tag: water aerobics for seniors

Bingo is so overrated. After all, it’s completely sedentary, and keeps mental stimulation quite lax. Thankfully, there is an abundance of better activities for the seniors we know and love. Below are some of the superior alternatives that can offer lots of room for creativity or rigorous thinking.

Pottery classes

Although this one requires sitting often, the upper body can get quite a workout from it. If the seniors in your life love getting their creative juices flowing, pottery classes can be excellent opportunities for them to build masterpieces. Getting one’s hands dirty with slimy and sticky substances can also stimulate sensory skills, since tactile and olfactory skills are crucial here. Having others besides oneself doing the same activity can be great for socialization, as well as intellectual stimulation. Transforming a lump of clay into an ordered form takes planning, calculation, and aesthetic evaluation. What a wonderful thing pottery is!

Water aerobics

Osteoporosis is seriously excruciating, which is why water aerobics (also called waterobics) is a fantastic alternative to exercising on land. Regular aerobics is designed to strengthen the heart, and water aerobics accomplishes the same without putting unnecessary strain on ligaments and joints. Water aerobics is not only suitable for the elderly, but also for those who wish to exercise without blowing out one’s knees. Warm water, in particular, is great for those with arthritis. Overweight individuals too should be able to participate in the activity without being concerned about messing up their spine or hips. And the best part? All the laughter one gets to share with others doing the workout! Doing cardio doesn’t have to mean smashing one’s soles against the hard pavement; simply encourage your elders to oxygenate aquatically! (Better yet, do it together!)

Gardening/Landscaping

This third activity incorporates both creativity and movement. An art form that combines physical coordination and artistic coordination, gardening can be a marvelous outlet for the homemaker, the artisan, and the homebody. The wonderful thing about gardening is that the complex cultivation of various flora and management of the fauna is available for all skill levels. The superb flower arranger can find room to experiment, while the novice can help hose the beautiful mini forest and make it sparkle in sunlight. Watching the colors harmonize and the birds sing can make for great places at which grandparents can play with their grandchildren. (All the more reason to pick up that shovel and start planting!)

Conclusion

Climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator can be a great method for exercise, except for the monotonous aspect; and participating in a book club can be a valuable way to socialize and make friends, except for the sedentary aspect. Putting a slight variation to any number of activities can make them fantastic and creative. For more senior care ideas, simply reach out to Home Instead Senior Care!