Activity ideas for homebound adults

In a St. Louis summer with temperatures that have been uncharacteristically pleasant, many families have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather and enjoying outdoor activities such as trips to the local parks and gardens. These excursions can be great outings for older adults and their caregivers. But, for older adults with limited mobility, such trips outdoors may not be possible when taking into consideration their ability to leave the house safely and easily.  Fortunately, there are a number of stimulating and fun activities that caregivers can enjoy with their older adult loved ones in the comfort of their own home.

Creating a Scrapbook/Photo album:  Taking a walk down memory lane is an important aspect of growing older.  Use this time to reminisce and share memories of your loved one’s childhood or your favorite times together as a family.  Older adults with some level of memory impairment may still be able to recall significant pieces of their history and pass on memories to their loved ones, while at the same time creating a wonderful keepsake for the family to share over time. 

Board games/Card games: This is another activity that can involve the entire family, regardless of age.  Choose something that is appropriate so you can include everyone, whether it be a game of Old Maid or Checkers, or something more mentally stimulating such as Trivial Pursuit.

Cooking: This may sound like a chore to many of us, but ask your loved one if they have any favorite recipes they can teach you, or create a new favorite together.  Making meals to share is a wonderful way to create memories, and can help your family pass down recipes to future generations who may enjoy that experience as well. 

Video Games: Interactive games such as the Nintendo Wii or Sony Playstation are enabling those with mobility impairment to participate in games such as bowling and golf again, when these may be activities they long thought they would have to give up.  There are hundreds of game options, and this is an activity that every generation can easily learn to play and will love.

Musical Activities:  Playing musical games such as Name that Tune using music from your loved ones past may spark a lot of memories.  Or, simply find a selection of their favorites and enjoy that time spent together. 

Reading: Older adults may develop some difficulty reading by themselves but fortunately today you can find a wide selection of books in every genre as an Audiobook.  The wonderful thing about this is that reading can now become a shared activity rather than a solitary one.  Search for books that you can enjoy together and make this a part of your visits. 

Ann Bannes is Vice President of Senior Solutions, a service of St. Andrew’s and St. Luke’s Hospital. Senior Solutions offers a wealth of services designed to help caregivers cope with the challenges of caring for an aging family member, friend or loved one. To learn more, visit www.seniorsolutions-stl.com or call 314-726-5766.