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Being active at any age would be beneficial for the body; it becomes even more important at an older age to remain active to maintain a naturally healthy life. Hobbies are the best way to keep seniors mentally active and physically fit; they regulate emotions and keep one in a happy mood. Hobbies for seniors help reduce stress, improve health conditions, and add hope to a life with dignity and happiness.
At Sahabhaav, we believe in encouraging seniors to fill their leisure time with hobbies they are interested in. This makes them feel confident, interests them, and helps them keep themselves engaged. It helps in recovering from their health conditions or distracting from their pain.
Hobbies are something we do in our leisure time; they can be mental exercise, physical activity, collecting, games, or nature. Hobbies improve our knowledge and reduce stress, which helps to keep us engaged and happier. For seniors, hobbies will help them stay active, improve their mental condition, and distract them from the pain they are suffering from inside.
Here are several factors that show the importance of Hobbies for Seniors:
Hobbies such as puzzles, reading, learning a language, or an instrument, or being creative with arts keep the mind engaged and happy. Research shows that engaging in hobbies that include mental workout, like puzzles, painting, or reading, helps in delaying the progression of dementia, especially if you start earlier with multiple interests. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 14% of adults aged 60 and over live with a mental disorder, and mental health conditions account for over 10% of total disability in this age group. Hobbies can be a great help for those seniors who are facing mental disorders or are being isolated without any social activity.
| FACT- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Social isolation is a major risk factor, affecting nearly one in four elders worldwide. |
Hobbies that involve physical activities like gardening, walking, yoga, or simple balancing support movement, cardiovascular health, bone strength, and fall prevention. Further, physical activity releases endorphins, which reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improving mood and mental well-being. Moreover, a recent study shows that walking 7000 steps a day can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer-related deaths by up to 47%, according to Anna Bawden, published in The Guardian.
| According to the World Health Organization (WHO), older adults are recommended to engage in 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, in addition to balance and strength exercises, at least 3 days a week. Click Here |
Hobbies release stress, improve mood, and provide satisfaction. Creative writing, like painting, crafting, journaling, or cooking, can increase self-confidence and offer immense satisfaction, with lower depression rates. According to many assisted living facilities, adults with hobbies have higher life satisfaction and fewer symptoms of depression.
Group hobbies like community clubs or yoga sessions, gardening or music groups, volunteer programs promote friendships and reduce loneliness. These social connections are powerful boosters against depression and isolation.
Post-retirement, many elders search for new meanings. Taking up seniors’ hobbies or volunteering restores structure, accountability, and a feeling of contribution– boosting overall well-being.
Ask yourself, when was the last time you did something for the first time?
Do try something new and different to grow new neural pathways in your brain!
Choosing hobbies that suit your interests, abilities, and energy levels can work magic on your body and soul. Usually in earlier times, aged people used to do a lot of work, especially getting groceries, gardening, playing with grandchildren, talking with old friends or neighbours. This is exactly what helped them to keep their mind and body active, and they felt heard, secure, and happy. Nowadays, people often live alone, with children staying far away or busy with their own lives. Thus, it makes all the difference; seniors become lonely and slowly become inactive mentally and physically. And seniors with chronic illness suffer a lot; being unheard and in pain leaves them in distress. Here comes the solution to get them back by helping them with their hobbies. Seniors with hobbies do a lot of physical and mental work every day, and that keeps them happy and engaged. Here are some hobbies listed that offer physical, mental, creative, social, and purposeful benefits.
Gardening helps seniors connect with nature, offering a form of therapy that can be found in the simple act of touching plants and soil. It helps to stabilize you mentally, and light physical activity helps you strengthen your bones. It improves mood, movements, and balance.
Painting alone is a therapy recommended by doctors for improving mental abilities, stabilizing emotions, and helping focus. Covering with colors lets your emotions flow and makes you express yourself, and this helps to free you from your trap. Knitting, woodworking, pottery, etc, are other crafts that help you coordinate and focus, and keep you happier and healthier.
Doctors recommend morning and evening walks and light exercises for their health benefits, as they help regulate blood vessels, maintain balance, and strengthen muscles.
Crosswords, chess, jigsaw puzzles, and Ludo are some of the common games that are played by seniors in India as their pastime. Most of these activities require a lot of their mental ability to coordinate, focus, and manage their emotions alive.
Some seniors like to engage themselves in all sorts of books as a part of their hobby. Some also choose writing as a way of expressing themselves. This is one of the best methods that can help them acknowledge their true worth, and these people live their lives smartly and relaxed.
Engaging with music is just like food for the soul. It is one of the best therapies that can evoke powerful emotions, support memory, and improve social skills. These are super beneficial for those with memory impairment.
Cooking is an art; learning new recipes and sharing time with others builds creativity, social interaction, and healthy nutrition. Preparing meals also offers sensory satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. This helps to do physical activities and opens up a fresh breath of air every day.
Mentoring, organizing events, and doing charity programs, adds a purpose to life and is a social engagement. There are a lot of physical and mental activities that need to be done that impact the overall psychology of the human body, which is essential for a healthy body.
These hobbies include time outdoors, gentle walking, visual focus, and appreciation of nature. This mental engagement brings emotional reward.
| FACT- An article in Time says researchers have found 30 minutes a day of light activity is linked to up to 12% lower risk of premature death in women aged 65 and older. |
Here are some tips that help to encourage seniors towards their hobbies and allow families or caregivers, or assisted living facilities, to let seniors engage themselves in hobbies of their choice for a healthy and happy life.
| CAUTION: Before working out with any hobby, it is advisable to consult a doctor. This will be beneficial for any health concerns and future problems. |
At Sahabhaav, we prioritize seniors’ health and put importance on every part that helps seniors to ease their pain and live a healthier and happier life. We understand the importance of hobbies for seniors, and it is the very foundation of holistic care. Our programs are planned out with leisure combined with mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
At Sahabhaav, we want seniors to live their lives full of dignity and happiness, and completely enjoying their present. Hobbies are the way out that creates positive impacts, including increased mobility, improved mood, stronger friendships, and renewed confidence.
Key Points to Remember:
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Finally, it’s the support of the families, caregivers, and assisted living facilities that encourages seniors to get started with their hobbies, with some consultation with doctors if any persisting health concerns. Engaging in hobbies will create a great difference in their physical and mental health. Let the seniors live a life that interests them and gives them a purpose to live.
At Sahabhaav, we support and encourage seniors’ leisure activities, understanding the importance of hobbies that hold the power to make ageing active, joyful, and inspiring.
Explore Sahabhaav, where we believe seniors deserve an active and fulfilling life. We understand the importance of hobbies and have planned activities to encourage seniors to pursue their hobbies, improving physical activities and mental well-being. Contact today!
Hobbies help seniors focus, improve mobility, emotional balance, and keep them socially connected. It is an important part of their life that can positively impact their health conditions.
Hobbies like gardening, painting, puzzles, singing, yoga, walking, and other group activities can help them stay active physically and mentally. Any activity that is new and challenging physically or mentally is recommended.
Yes, Sahabhaav offers various activities like painting, music, games, yoga, outings, and many more to keep seniors engaging and active.