If your elderly loved one is looking for a way to fill her days, you might consider suggesting she learn a new hobby. While many hobbies are started at a young age, once a person reaches adulthood and middle age, many find they don’t have the time to devote to a hobby. Now that your loved one is retired and has more free time on her hands, she may consider either restarting an old hobby or picking up a completely new one. Developing a new hobby doesn’t just entertain your loved one, it has several great health benefits as well. Companion care at home can help your senior discover those benefits.
Health Benefits of Hobbies for Seniors
Improved Cognitive Function
Learning something new sparks many parts of the brain, making them work together for your loved one to successfully learn something new. And while it may take your loved one longer to learn a new task than it did when she was younger, that constant stimulation will help keep her cognitive functioning in top shape.
Creativity Boosted
While some hobbies are more creativity-based than others, all hobbies will help your loved one dream up new creative thoughts and figure out how to implement them. It might be determining how something will look or how something is displayed.
Increased Feelings of Well-Being
It’s not only the final completed project that improves those inner emotions of well-being and self-worth but also the process. Seeing something improve or become more complete each day, reminds your loved one that she can accomplish things. Finally, focusing on one object or task as she’s working on it is a great way for her mind to disconnect from daily worries or anxieties, providing a bit of respite for an anxious mind.
Reduced Feelings of Isolation
Many hobbies are done in groups and even those that are done solo can have like-minded groups online or in the community to meet with and discuss. A collector of objects may collect all of her objects alone but find a great community of other collectors with whom to talk about the trade. This reduces feelings of isolation or loneliness in many seniors.
Starting a Hobby with Some Help
For many seniors, starting a new hobby can seem daunting and uncertain. They may be afraid of failing or not understanding part of the process. Your elderly loved one might enjoy having someone to tag along with as she starts her new hobby. If you are unable to join her, consider these options:
- A younger family member. Learning a new hobby with a grandchild can be a great way to connect.
- A neighbor. Building connections in her neighborhood is a great way to reduce loneliness.
- A companion care at home provider. Companion care at home providers come to the home and spend time with your loved one to reduce loneliness. Her companion care at home provider could help with transportation along with encouragement as she learns a new hobby.
- Senior Community Centers. These are great places to connect with larger groups all interested in learning something new
