When seniors are engaged in regular activities, both sides of the brain get actively involved. Whether they participate in outdoor community service, free house painting for seniors, or crafts, the mental and physical exercises provide comfort and involvement with the world.
The CDC recommends that seniors 65 years and older have at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity per week. Here are some fun ideas for seniors to try out.
1. Community Service Painting
Participating in community projects is an excellent way to give back to your community. It’s also an opportunity to learn a new skill, meet new people, and generally make a lasting impact on people. Activities like free house painting for seniors can encourage positive utilization of their creative skills and artistic talents.
Mural painting is fun and holds sentimental value in the community. Murals tell a story and celebrate a culture or history. Seniors will sharpen and retain their artistic and communication skills as they collaborate with others to finish the painting project.
According to Forbes Health, one in five senior citizens volunteer in their communities. Volunteering allows them to contribute and feel needed. A 2019 survey in the Journal of Psychology realized that personal fulfillment and quality of life increase when people participate in community activities that add value. Seniors passionate about sharing their art knowledge can volunteer at a local museum, community library, hospital, orphanage, or event. They can teach workshops, art classes, and camps for different ages. Ensure you provide them with liner patterns during their artwork projects.
The seniors with a collection of past works can serve the community by donating their original artwork to a local gallery, a fundraiser, or an auction. Keep the storage facility painter informed of upcoming art sales and donation events, so they can prepare and support the event as needed.
2. Finishing a Basement
Basements hold a lot of potential regarding their functionality, but in most homes, they’ve been relegated to dingy storage areas, rarely visited or attended to. So, with time, seniors can embark on a basement makeover project together. It shouldn’t have to be strenuous as they can work with professional basement remodeling contractors who will handle the bits that require specialized knowledge. Use free house painting for seniors programs if the service is available locally.
The seniors can participate in the conceptualization and ideation stages of the project, giving ideas about how best to improve functionality. Then they can come in to do light painting, hammering, and screwing things down. Later on, when everything is ready, they can participate in the styling and addition of decor items.
Ensure that the heating system is functioning seamlessly. Lastly, get a professional to check the boiler system treatment and advise on the required repairs.
3. Improving the Outdoors
Gardening is a popular pass time for seniors; many are very good at it because of years of practice. It’s not just about plants; gardening brightens moods and reduces stress and anxiety. Planting, nurturing, harvesting, and sharing cultivated produce can bring seniors joy and satisfaction. Building routines within gardening adds structure to their daily life and contributes to an overall improvement in mental well-being. Going on a fruit-picking exercise if they live in an agricultural area makes for mild exercise while taking in the fresh air outdoors.
Seniors can also work to maintain their concrete driveways by doing minor fixes and repairs. Ants and other insects burrow into the cracks, while weeds may sprout from gaps in the concrete, creating problems. Some light driveway caulking can sort that out.
4. Look Into Alternate Services
As people age, many things change; sometimes, that means losing some independence. Holding onto independence and maintaining control is a big deal for a senior’s mental and physical well-being. Being able to do things on their terms, even if it’s just a routine or a task, matters.
There are options to reside in an independent living community where the seniors can live in a studio unit, cottage, or apartment. The management of the communities keeps a 24-hour staff to care for the residents, but most aspects of their daily routine have some semblance of independent living.
Live-in services for seniors are no longer a rare option in caregiving. Search the internet for options that align with your needs, and book a consultation. Seek opinions and read the reviews to understand what this care option entails.
Live-in care allows the senior to move in with the caregiver for companionship and assistance. The caregiver is like a personal assistant who does the work the senior can’t or doesn’t want to do. They make doctor appointments drive the seniors around to run errands, and look out for opportunities and programs that may be of interest, such as free house painting for seniors.
Before looking into alternative services, people should make home modifications to help seniors live independently for longer. Some helpful modifications include installing monitors that can alert others in case of safety issues in the home and making bathrooms and showers accessible and safe.</>
A contact sheet with essential services like plumbers, heating oil companies, ambulances, and pharmacies should be within reach in a senior’s home so that they feel empowered to solve any issues while they are alone.
5. Lower the Energy Bills
Everyone, age notwithstanding, should be involved in the climate crisis discussion and invited to participate in being part of the solution. Seniors have the power to shape the future for generations to come if they make a few simple eco-friendly lifestyle changes that promote sustainability. The U.S. Census Bureau says there are 52 million Americans who are 65 and older right now, and that number will shoot up to a whopping 95 million by 2060.
Seniors can be helped to reduce waste, conserve energy, and adopt a more mindful lifestyle in their homes. As such a big and growing group of experienced individuals, seniors can lead toward a more sustainable and greener future. Small steps matter; seniors can get a home energy monitor connected to all electric appliances and devices. It will measure electric consumption for each device when turned on, monitor how long they run and how much electricity each uses, and then send the data to a smartphone.
The senior homeowner can analyze the data to predict future expenses and decide on appliance upgrades and usage adjustments to lower energy bills. If the data is inconsistent with what would be considered normal, it may indicate that some of the appliances are malfunctioning.
Get the air conditioning repair expert to check the HVAC system and give their recommendations. They may advise installing a new system or doing an AC repair service on the existing one. If their assessment shows nothing wrong with your HVAC, get someone to check your wiring, home insulation, and window seals. They may be what’s causing the spikes.
6. Fix Up Properties
Seniors participating in fixing up properties is a way to stay active, connect with the community, and leave a lasting mark. One way they can do this is by volunteering with organizations that renovate and rebuild homes and neighborhoods where extreme weather conditions, fire accidents, or other unfortunate events have torn down.
Their painting, carpentry, or DIY project skills can be incredibly valuable to these organizations. They can also look into local property management companies and home repair programs that assist low-income homeowners, older people, or people with disabilities. These programs often welcome volunteers who can help with minor repairs, free house painting for seniors, and yard work. A senior’s experience and expertise can make a real difference in transforming spaces and creating safer, more beautiful environments.
The seniors may also work on improving their homes. Since they’d be working alone or with a handful of friends, they should consult with professionals who can be on standby if the work gets overwhelming.
7. Interior and Exterior Services
What people appreciate about homes evolves as people age. What seniors value differs from the preferences of younger individuals. Retire Guide places comfort and accessibility first. Accessibility includes single-level layouts, rooms with wide doors, and easily navigable spaces. These become increasingly essential as mobility considerations become inevitable for older people. Safety and security are also paramount, and seniors appreciate features like well-lit entrances and advanced security systems.
Seniors often lean towards homes requiring lower maintenance, proximity to essential services like medical facilities and grocery stores, and living in communities that allow consistent social connections and engagement. On the other hand, younger individuals might prioritize homes closer to workplaces, entertainment, and educational institutions, while also seeking spaces that can accommodate their evolving lifestyles and family needs.
A senior homeowner could decide to get some interior and exterior work done to bring their house closer to what’s required for utmost comfort, maintenance, and accessibility. It begins with fixing what’s broken and then remodeling plans where applicable. Having a reliable list of repairers like a plumber, landscaper, roofing contractor, and interior design expert comes in handy in such a situation.
Sometimes it’s not feasible to change things in the house the senior lives in currently, and moving is inevitable. After a successful house hunt, the senior can use a mobile storage container to haul things to their next home.
8. De-cluttering
De-cluttering home projects can benefit senior citizens in many ways. In the practical sense, de-cluttering contributes to enhanced safety within the living space. Seniors often prioritize environmental safety, and removing unnecessary items from the house reduces the risk of tripping. De-cluttering also improves accessibility, an important consideration for seniors with mobility concerns. Clearing out excess items like furniture, plant pots, and old appliances creates widened pathways, making it significantly easier to move around with mobility aids like walkers and wheelchairs.
Beyond the physical advantages, decluttering brings about positive psychological effects. Everyday Health writes that decluttering is a proven mood enhancer, lessens anxiety attacks, and boosts overall productivity. A clutter-free environment has a calming effect that promotes mental well-being. Seniors can experience reduced stress and anxiety when their living spaces are organized and clutter-free.
De-cluttering allows seniors to engage in a meaningful and purposeful activity. Sorting belongings triggers memories and stories seniors can reminisce and share with loved ones. This specific aspect of de-cluttering is excellent for enhancing deeper connections with family members and creating moments of shared joy and laughter.
Seniors can experiment with different layouts and design concepts while organizing and rearranging items and creating space for home remodels. The space left by de-cluttering can encourage them to participate in programs like free house painting for seniors to complement their de-cluttered space with new paint.
9. Bird Watching Project
For seniors, bird watching is a captivating and enriching activity. The Seniors Lifestyle Magazine writes that birdwatching allows older people to uniquely connect with nature and learn to find joy in simple moments. It’s a low-impact activity that seniors can do from their homes. They can bird watch looking out of a window, sitting on a porch, or strolling through a garden. It’s not uncommon to hear seniors say that observing the vibrant world of birds has brought them a sense of wonder and tranquility.
Birdwatching is appropriate for all kinds of senior homes, not just the ones with a yard full of trees. A senior wanting to begin birdwatching must strategically craft and mount their bird feeders. Preparing bird feeders is a rewarding, non-strenuous DIY project. Bird feeders come in different styles; hanging, platform, or suet feeders. Once the senior has settled on the style that resonates with them, it’s time to gather materials like weather-resistant wood, screws, and wire mesh. Then go on to build. If the people who do free house painting for seniors are available, they can paint the feeders in attractive artistic colors for better esthetics.
The feeders should then be placed within 10–15 feet of trees, shrubs, or bushes, allowing the birds to escape quickly from potential predators like cats. Unless, of course, the feeder is on a balcony. Bird feeders shouldn’t be too close to windows so that the birds don’t collide with the windows and get injuries. The senior should fill the feeders with enticing treats to attract a diverse range of birds. After that meticulous preparation, it’s time to bring binoculars and a rocking chair.
Participating in enjoyable activities in and around the home offers seniors many benefits like much-needed mental engagement, social connections, and physical well-being. Seniors are always seeking ways to enhance their quality of life, and programs like free house painting for seniors, light remodels, and DIY projects go a long way in meeting their needs. If you have some senior loved ones you are responsible for, help them stay mentally and physically engaged with fun home projects that enhance their overall well-being.