Hobbies have no age requirements. A teenager can take up knitting just as well as a senior can get into video games. Why not introduce a more modern hobby to your senior loved one?
Boredom is one of the biggest issues for many retirees. Whether they are aging in place or staying in a senior living facility, your elderly loved one may quickly run out of things to do. To combat boredom and help them stay mentally active, here are some hobbies–apart from the usual embroidery or scrapbooking–that may interest them:
1. Video games
Video games, like many other things, have no age limit. There is also an abundance of games that can still be played even with limited finger dexterity, which is great for seniors. Introduce a few games to your elderly loved ones to see what they like. You may have to invest a lot of time teaching them the controls, but they can end up loving the game thanks to you. Who knows? Maybe your seventy-year-old grandpa will be your next teammate on Call of Duty.
2. Vlogging
Vlogging is a great way to connect with other people in the world and share experiences and insights. For seniors, vlogging can be an opportunity to store memories for their children and grandchildren–like an online journal, but in video form. More importantly, your elderly loved one can make a vlog even with just a mobile phone, and you can edit the video for them to post online or share with family and friends.
3. Blogging
If your senior loved one is still adept at typing, encourage them to set up a personal blog. Here, they can share their experiences, insights, ideas, and creative works for the world to see. Apart from giving them an outlet for their thoughts and feelings, blogging can help stimulate their mind effectively.
4. Digital art
Does your elderly family member love to draw, paint, or sketch? If so, then they may appreciate the wonders of digital art. Similar to videogames, it may take a lot of time to get them used to the software you choose, so be patient. If they love traditional art, they may learn to love digital art as well, especially when you show them what they can do with it.
5. Photography
Photography is not new, but there are more technological advancements today than there were back then. Cameras are smaller and more advanced, but many are still easy to use and are relatively affordable. Alternatively, your senior loved one can practice photography on their smartphone alone. This hobby can help them create more memories, spend more time outside, and stimulate their creativity, among other benefits.
6. Digital music production
With a simple app, seniors can spin out their own tune in a few hours, which is another great way to improve mental health. Even if they are not necessarily musicians, this hobby is a fun and productive way to pass the time.
7. Fantasy sports
Playing fantasy sports is about strategy, statistics, and math, making it a great hobby for everyone, regardless of age. If your elderly loved one was a sports fan back then, they may appreciate this hobby more.
Who said that techie hobbies are just for the younger crowd? Even if seniors are not technologically inclined, they can still catch up and enjoy the hobbies that we, their children and grandchildren, grew up with.