As we get older, it’s common to forget to set time aside for things we enjoy. And as we settle into a routine, we stop challenging ourselves. In your senior years, you should take the time to relax with your favorite hobbies, challenge yourself with learning new things, and experience everything you can find around you!
You could go to the beach in the summer and try and find a new spot to relax, or try a haunted hayride near Halloween. Take a guided Christmas light tour in the winter, or try hosting a family potluck in the spring! There are events to experience year-round, and it’s never a bad time to try something new.
Whether you’re living on your own or in a personal care community, there are various options available. In most senior living communities, there are pre-scheduled services and experiences you can ask the team on-site about to see what’s happening near you!
So, what kind of things can you do throughout the year?
Senior Activities to Do During the Winter
It’s the coldest time of year, and most people would rather stay inside and avoid going out unless it’s necessary. What kind of things can you do to keep yourself interested and entertained when there’s so much snow outside?
- Try bringing a garden inside. Interior gardening can be a fun, challenging way to grow your own produce or plants
- Read a new genre
- Try a new fitness routine (if you’re in personal care, see if your community has a fitness facility on-site!)
- Join a local craft group or take up a new art form
- Christmas light show. Many neighborhoods have drive-through options to visit a neighborhood or local path that’s lit up with thousands of lights!
- Have a cozy movie night. Invite friends or family over for a winter movie with hot chocolate and snacks.
- Christmas baking
You can always take a look and see if any events are happening in your community. Since most cultures and towns have a holiday this time of year, you can find all kinds of beautiful decor around the neighborhood!
Senior Activities to Do During the Spring
When the snow melts, and the temperatures become milder, it can be a great idea to spend some time outside! Flowers are blooming, animals are coming out of hibernation, and there’s less of a risk of slipping and falling once snow has completely melted.
Now that the snow’s gone, it’s easier to go out and visit others, so why not invite a friend or family member over? You could:
- Decorate for Easter. Beautiful pastel colors, rabbits, eggs, whatever you’d like! It’s easy to crack a smile when you’re looking at holiday decorations.
- Spring clean. While it isn’t the most fun, there’s a reason the term exists! Spring is a great time to start purging unnecessary things and get the house in tip-top shape.
- Try hosting a book club. Many people are going to be itching to get out and about and visit others now that there’s no pesky ice or snow in the way. Ask if your friends or family want to read a new book with you!
- Have a family potluck. With Easter right around the corner, it’s a great time of year to brush up on your cooking skills. Invite people over, have everybody bring something unique, and enjoy the food!
And now that it’s warmer, you have all sorts of outside options.
- Take a walk around the neighborhood. It’s beautiful out there, birds are chirping, and the flowers are starting to bud. Enjoy the sights!
- Try starting a garden. A garden is a great way to cut down on the grocery bill, or even just have a nice flower bed, and it means you have a little something to work on every day. See how your green thumb is!
- If your living community allows pets and you want a furry companion, look into fostering or adoption programs. Having a four-legged companion means you’ll be more active playing with them, and they’re lovely company!
- Try setting up a bird feeder. There are many kits available online for building your own, or you can find one at most hardware or dollar stores. With all the birds coming back now that the winter winds are gone, you can see all kinds of beautiful creatures visiting!
Senior Activities to Do During the Summer
Summer. Sunlight, beaches, and the heat. While it isn’t for everyone, the options for summer are endless. You could try:
- Scheduling a family beach day. Sun and the water? Perfect combination.
- Stargazing. With a telescope or even just the naked eye, you can enjoy a beautiful sight on a clear night.
- Checking out the local farmer’s market. You can meet all sorts of new people and enjoy good food for a low price!
- Scheduling a picnic with your family and friends.
- Going to a festival. There are all kinds of festivals scheduled during the summer, encompassing everything from music to food.
- Photography. The animals are out and about, the days are longer, and the photographs you can take have endless possibilities.
- Going to a drive-in theater.
Senior Activities to Do During Fall
Fall is beautiful. With the leaves turning, cooler temperatures, and Halloween around the corner, there’s always a little something interesting going on. You could try:
- Decorating for Halloween.
- Taking a drive through the countryside. With the leaves changing, it’s a beautiful time to simply sightsee.
- Baking something new. It’s that time of year when the harvest is happening, so you can make anything from apple muffins to pumpkin pie!
- Apple picking. It’s a fun, relaxing way to stock up on fruit!
- Visiting a pumpkin patch.
- Haunted hay rides. You get a chance to sit and relax while still being outside and enjoying the Halloween spirit!
- Knitting sweaters or hats for your family and friends, even to donate.
- Visiting or renting a cabin. Winter’s coming soon, and now is a nice time to still get outside and enjoy nature.
- Seeing if your town has a fall festival of any kind. With the harvest and Halloween happening, there’s often some sort of fall-themed festival nearby!
Making the Most of Life
At the end of the day, the best activity for seniors is simply one that interests and brings them joy. Whether in assisted living, on their own, or with family, options for entertainment are everywhere. In senior years, it’s important to take the time to pursue joy. Keep an eye out for events or experiences offered in senior living communities—you never know what might catch your eye!
Here at Chestnut Ridge in Wallingford, we take pride in giving our residents access to all kinds of different events and programs nearby. Schedule a tour to see for yourself!
