Therapeutic and Uplifting Activities for Elderly People
Without question, staying active is one of the best ways to enjoy better health and well-being as you get older. Some elderly people are able to have a fully active lifestyle, while others might have limited physical mobility that influences the types of activities they can do.
But as nursing home programs and research shows, there are many therapeutic and uplifting activities elderly people can do regardless of their physical or mental status. Here’s a look at several you can do with your loved ones.
Nature Walks or Rides
The healing powers of nature have long been widely accepted by people across the globe. And there’s scientific evidence to prove it. Several studies have confirmed that hanging out in greenspaces such as parks, trails, and gardens can increase physical activity, reduce stress, improve attention, and minimize depression and anxiety.
Done as a group, nature walks or rides also provide seniors with a much-needed social network and support. As such, it reduces isolation, which has consequences such as impaired immune system, depression, cognitive decline and suicidal thoughts.
Wii
Think gaming is just for teens? Think again. In a study published in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, researchers looked at the effects using a Wii video console would have on older adults. After just eight weeks, the seniors’ frailty levels and risk of falling were lower. They also gained a boost in static (or standing) balance and walking speed.
Improving balance and reducing the risk of falls is a particularly powerful result. As Alberta Health Services points out, falls are the No. 1 cause of injury and a major public health issue. Among seniors, they can lead to hip injury, chronic pain, increased hospitalization and a significantly lower quality of life.
Tai Chi
This branch of traditional Chinese martial arts has been around for more than 3,000 years. It features a combination of gentle movements and high and low stances meant to bring the body and mind into harmony.
Seniors with different degrees of mobility can practice it (even sitting in a chair) to reap a host of benefits such as increased mental capacity and focus, leg strength, flexibility and balance. Tai chi has also been shown to reduce stress, arthritis pain, blood pressure and bone loss in menopausal women.
Dancing
It’s not surprising that dancing is one of the most widely recommended activities for elderly people. It’s a natural activity for us as soon as we can stand, and you don’t have to be good at it to have fun and feel a lot better afterward.
Studies show that it can significantly boost muscular endurance and strength, balance and flexibility in older adults. Also, it turns out that dancing can be beneficial for people with dementia, according to several studies.
One study published in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing found that social dancing was beneficial for both elderly people and their caregivers. They also indicated that it could be a nursing intervention to promote positive feelings, communication and behaviour in older patients.
Water Activities
Being in water can work wonders to improve the overall health and well-being of anyone, including elderly people. It could be swimming, aquacise, snorkelling, water polo, or lounging in a hot tub. The benefits are numerous and include greater strength and endurance, and lower blood pressure* and body fat.
But perhaps one of the benefits that we appreciate the most as we age and experience several health problems is water’s ability to speed healing and reduce pain. Seniors with conditions such as arthritis, sciatica and fibromyalgia, or those who have cancer should consider adding water activities or hydrotherapy to their routine.
(*Note: Speak to your doctor if you have hypertension or high blood pressure before using a hot tub.)
Singing
No matter what age you are, belting out a favorite tune is a long-cherished pastime for most of us — even if it’s just in the shower. But now, it appears it’s catching on in nursing homes too, with many of them showing off their choir performances on social media platforms like Instagram.
Singing boosts oxygen intake, circulation and deep breathing. It helps to lower stress and stimulates a surge of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.
Researchers at Baycrest Health Science Centre in Toronto conducted a 16-week study involving seniors who attended a weekly one-hour singing program. They found the sessions increased happiness and positive feelings and lowered anxiety.
In another study published in PLOS One involving 160 choir singers aged 60 and older, researchers found that they had better communication ability, general health and social integration than those who were not choir singers.
Music Lessons
It turns out that you are never too old to enjoy the benefits of learning a musical instrument. One study that looked at seniors ages 60 to 85 with no previous musical training shed some light on this phenomenon.
They found that seniors who did weekly, 30-minute piano lessons for just three months and three hours of practice each week had faster and sharper memories. Meanwhile, the control group did not experience these changes.
Learning a new instrument helps to create new connections in the brain, and also improves attention, self-confidence and self-image in elderly people. If done in person with a tutor, taking music lessons also increases social contact for elderly person, helping to reduce the risk of isolation.
How to Encourage an Elderly Person to Be More Active
While some seniors jump at the chance to be more active, others might be experiencing a loss of energy, motivation and physical strength.
As a caregiver, it’s important to keep your loved one’s health status, likes and interests top of mind when you are trying to encourage them to do any of these activities for elderly people. You will find encouraging them to be more active is less of an uphill battle and more enjoyable for you both.
SOURCES
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine: The Effectiveness of Dance Interventions to Improve Older Adults’ Health: A Systematic Literature Review
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Influence of the Use of Wii Games on Physical Frailty Components in Institutionalized Older Adults
PLOS ONE: Beneficial effects of choir singing on cognition and well-being of older adults: Evidence from a cross-sectional study
