Hobbies And Interests
Physical Activities
Seniors benefit from any amount of physical activity. Whether it's a stroll through a park or a strenuous hike, the cardiovascular rewards are significant. So depending on ability, a senior citizen group may find a weekly walking club appropriate. Walking clubs choose different routes each week to walk for exercise. This provides low impact aerobic activity, interesting locales and a chance to socialize. Senior groups may also take classes together, such as water aerobics or ballroom dancing. Incorporating a combination of resistance and weight training, water aerobics strengthens the heart, muscles and coordination. Improved coordination is also a benefit of dancing. Groups can attend a local dance class or learn steps from an instructional DVD or even a volunteer dance instructor. Learning new dances keeps the mind and body alert.
The Arts
Senior citizen groups can often obtain discounted tickets to a variety of entertainment. A senior group can check out the local theater scene by taking advantage of group and senior rates. Theaters sometimes offer special performances for groups, where the actors or other artists involved meet the group and answer questions after the show. Groups aren't limited to just being in the audience., though. One outgoing member of the group could produce an evening of skits or variety acts. This gives individual members the opportunity to explore personal interests, support each other and maybe even show off their talent.
Cooking
It's never too late to learn a new recipe or technique in the kitchen, and television cooking shows are not the only place to learn these skills. Culinary schools and community colleges often offer cooking classes ranging from cuisines of various cultures to breadmaking. Most cooking classes require working in pairs, providing an opportunity to socialize while engaging the mind through following directions and learning something new.
Games
Crossword puzzles and word search games can help reduce the risk of dementia. Games like chess and checkers allow seniors to play and compete with each other. Bingo allows for many seniors to play at one time. Take them to a bingo parlor or to a casino to play, allowing them to mix with other seniors outside their group. Video games have made strides to attract senior citizens with motion control, letting them use remotes or their full body to participate in games, which can be picked up and played with little instruction.