Set Appropriate Goals

Setting appropriate goals is important for managing expectations and meeting goals in a safe manner. Family members might set a goal of walking with their elderly loved ones at least twice a week to offer emotional support and to help them stay active.

Senior citizens might set their own goal of standing for a certain amount of time every day, or for walking a certain distance. By setting goals that are aligned with the primary physician’s guidelines, individual preferences, and family considerations, senior citizens are more likely to succeed in staying active.

Check in Regularly and Schedule Time Together

Seniors are at a higher risk of experiencing loneliness which can lead to depression and cognitive decline. It’s important to check in regularly with elderly people in your life to prevent them from feeling this way as well.

Although calls and texts are a great medium for providing and receiving updates from loved ones, it’s also important to schedule quality time together. Many elderly people are used to connecting in-person and are likely to appreciate physical activities more than digital ones. If you’re not certain what they prefer, you can always ask them to leave no room for doubt.

Connect over a Coffee or Meal

Grabbing a drink or a bite to eat out in town is a great way to help seniors maintain social relationships, get fresh air, and receive the quality time that they deserve with the people they love.

Play Games

Playing board games is a fun and easy way for senior citizens to stay active. Board games require strategy and planning which helps maintain cognitive capabilities and is much healthier than watching television or reading the news.

Find a Senior Activity Group

Many communities have groups that are dedicated to senior activities. This can range from bingo night to senior dance lessons. Even though seniors may not enjoy all groups available for joining in their area, it’s important that they are encouraged to try as many as possible so that they can find one they resonate with.

Get Active Together

It can be easy for young people, and seniors alike, to get anxious about joining a new group or learning a new activity. One of the best ways to make sure that seniors in your life are staying active is to get active with them. If they stop being active, you’ll know right away!

Activities that you can engage in with senior citizens range from walking and swimming to gardening, volunteering, and exercising at home.

Create Art

Undertaking creative endeavors such as knitting, painting, and creating other art is a great way for elderly people to stay active. Many seniors also get personal satisfaction in creating and gifting artwork to family and friends. A few seniors in Henderson have even become known for their crafts that they sell at farmer’s markets and other gatherings, which goes to show that not only is art good for staying active and social, but it can also prove to be lucrative.

Shop Together

Shopping can often feel like a chore, especially when time is running out before an up-coming holiday or birthday. Bringing your elderly loved ones on a shopping trip is a good way for them to stay active and to get engaged in family activities.

Many stores and shopping malls have a controlled environment where it is easy to walk, get on an elevator, or get on an escalator as best fit for each individual.

Visit Parks

Walking to a local park or pond is a fun and easy way to get some exercise. For elderly people that have grandkids, it’s also a great opportunity to play with them.

Risk Management

No matter what activity you undertake with your loved ones, it’s important to always be considerate of the fragile nature of aging. To make sure that senior citizens are safely engaging in activities, it’s important to stretch and warm up, as well as cool-down every time that they exercise.

Senior citizens that have not exercised in a long time, or that have just recovered from an illness, should have a professional evaluation completed to assess their readiness to partake in a specific activity.

Drinking plenty of water, wearing the appropriate shoes and clothing, and being mindful of posture is also important for senior citizens that are staying active.