Art generatorCreate an image based on words you provide at Magic Studio, like "Zebras in a field of daisies". There are a number of AI art generators, with varying complexity and cost.
Art journalingCreating art, whether in an art journal sketchbook, by coloring mandalas, or when doodling to be a fun and therapeutic. There are books, apps, and online images than can be printed for coloring mandalas. There are thousands of medical journal articles about the benefits of art therapy to one's health and happiness.
At home or outdoorsBirdwatching can be enjoyed by people of almost all activity levels. According to the Institute on Aging, birdwatching is one of the most popular and fastest growing hobbies in North America. See their article Birdwatching Helps Older Adults Reconnect with Nature and Their Health.
Facebook bird groupsFacebook has a number of local and international bird groups, with amazing photographs. Check out the search terms: facebook bird groups
VolunteerYou can volunteer at many wildlife sanctuaries for birds, including national wildlife refuges, bird rescue organizations, and wildlife sanctuaries that specialize in birds of prey. * Audubon Rockies: Volunteers can help protect birds and their habitats * The Birds of Prey Foundation: Volunteers can help with bird of prey conservation efforts * Foster Parrots, Rhode Island: Volunteers can help care for parrots, including making toys, cleaning cages, and providing enrichment * International Bird Rescue: Volunteers can help care for injured and oiled wildlife * Local bird sanctuaries * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Volunteers at the migratory bird program * Volunteer Peru Amazon Wildlife Sanctuary: Volunteers can help care for birds, monkeys, sloths, and other animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade * Wild Bird Fund: Volunteers can help with bird conservation efforts * World Bird Sanctuary: Volunteers can help care for sick or injured birds, work with animal husbandry staff, and educate the public
Brain Games
Cooking
ChessIt is one of the best board games for brain health due to the creative and strategic thinking found in chess. It can be played online or with a group of people at a senior center or chess club.
Jigsaw puzzlesDifferent functions of the brain are required to develop a strategy for completing a puzzle and identifying where a specific piece should be placed. Online games, like thejigsawpuzzles.com offer choices of images and the number of pieces per puzzle.
Read a bookYour brain is stimulated when reading a book, slowing cognitive decline. Join a community or online book club to share your interest in reading. AARP recommends seven online book clubs.
SudokuSudoku games are often printed in newspapers and some magazines. You can also play in sudoku books or online games.
Switch it upYou can create new neural pathways in your brain by using your non-dominant hand to complete everyday tasks.
For conventional yoga, check out Yoga for Seniors by Yoga With Adriene on YouTube.
CyclingRegular cycling has the same benefits as chair yoga and also improves cardiovascular health. Also low-impact, it is good for joint issues and arthritis. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression and improves one's well-being.
For those starting to cycle, it's good to start with routes that are flat and short. Then, gradually increase the distance and intensity.
Use a recumbent or stationary bike for extra back support or an electric bike as needed. This article from Brown University outlines the benefits of cycling. Read about how bikes and routes are designed for safer, more comfortable rides for seniors.
Check out Facebook, Meetup.com, and local bike shops for cycling groups near you. You can also google with the search terms: cycling groups for seniors near me. Adventure biking tours for seniors are organized across the United States and Europe for fitter men and women. Google the search terms: cycling tours for seniors.
PilatesAnother low-impact exercise, Pilates involves mats, pilates balls, and other inflated accessories to help build core strength. It also increases balance and flexibility in seniors. See this Chair Pilates video for seniors.
Strength trainingAccording to Senior Lifestyle, "strength training is highly beneficial for seniors, as it helps maintain muscle mass, improve bone density, and enhance overall physical functionality." Having better muscle mass and stronger bones reduces the likelihood of falls and injury, improves joint health, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. See five strength training exercises recommended by Silver Sneakers.
Swimming and water aerobicsWorking out in the water - whether swimming or performing water aerobics - provides a good workout with minimal stress to your joints and your body. It improves cardiovascular health. Water aerobics improves balance, strength, and flexibility. The warm water of a pool can soothe muscles and joints. See Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program or Google search terms: public "heated" pools near me
Tai ChiThe Chinese martial art, Tai chi, is an excellent mind, body, and spirit form of exercise. It strengthens muscles and improves balance and flexibility. The mindfulness of the exercise reduces anxiety and stress and promotes well-being and inner peace.
Like water workouts, tai chi is good for joint health. It also reduces the risk of falls and improves mobility and posture.
WalkingWalking is a good low-impact form of exercise that strenthens muscles and reduces the risk of stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and colon cancer.
An optimal goal is 10,000 steps per day, but less for people with joint or other health problems.
Benefits of Gardening for SeniorsBenefits of gardening for seniors (article) Gardening is the perfect pastime for seniors as it offers several benefits and can be easily tailored to everyone’s needs and abilities.
The Ins and Outs of Gardening for SeniorsAging Care states in their article, "Gardening is one of the best activities we can do outdoors. It stimulates all the senses, strengthens our connection with nature, and can reward us with beautiful surroundings, fresh flowers and even nutritious food." Gardening strengthens the body and improves well-being. Being in the sunshine, it boosts your Vitamin D levels.
Getting started* Build a family tree with you at the root, then add your parents, grandparents and any other known ancestors. FamilySearch has free family tree templates. * Look for records: Search for birth, marriage, and death records, as well as state, county, and federal records. * Interview family members: Record audio or video interviews with living relatives. * Save photos and stories: Create a digital collection of photos and stories about your ancestors. * Make a time capsule: Include photos, recipes, newspaper clippings, and other items. * Use an online tool: Try an online family tree maker to help you organize your research.
TipDue to misunderstandings and incorrect connections of people, the quality of people's family trees can vary wildly.
It is best to use published sources, like public records, newspapers, directories, association records, yearbooks, etc. Otherwise, you could be using incorrect data for your family member.
Citizen ScientistVolunteer as a Citizen Scientist to monitor air quality, observe nature, participate in studies, monitor the weather, or other activities. Check out the Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Catalog.
Join a clubJoin a club that interests you in your local community or online, like on Facebook or Meetup. Perhaps you are interested in someone to practice music with, learn something, create art or crafts, explore photography, go out to eat, or see a movie or a show.
Make your own greeting cardsHandmade cards are more likely to be kept and cherished than one from a store and are more meaningful with a message that you write yourself.
Cards can be simple creations of drawings and your message... or artistic creations using a number of tools and supplies. A good starter kit is Card Making Kits For Adults And Kids- 24 Blank Greeting Cards And Envelopes With Supplies And Stamp Set for multiple occasions
There are many greeting card making apps, like Adobe, Canva, and Sendwishonline. See Top 10 best online greeting card creation websites. There are also Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated greeting card sites.
Most word processing programs have options for creating greeting cards, often with greeting card templates to get started.
ModelAs Baby Boomers become an increasingly larger percentage of the population, there is a demand for senior models.
Perform music, comedy routines, or by sharing stories or poetryGet on stage. Open mic nights allow you to share your poetry or stories, polish your comedy skills, or perform music. Look for openings by searching the internet on: open mic night near me
Signing up Check in with the venue to see if they require advance sign-up or operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rules Venues may have rules about how long each performer can go and what is and is not allowed.
Take a class or twoTake classes locally or online in a topic that interests you. Check out the article Top 5 Online Learning Sites for Older Adults, Growing Bolder. Also see the Learn section below.
Take up a sportTake up a sport like cycling, pickleball, hiking, or paddleboarding.
Spend time in natureImmerse yourself in the outdoors to experience calmness and rejuvenation. Options include taking walks, scenic drives, or sitting outside in the sun.
Learn to adapt and be resilientAccept that challenges are part of life and develop healthy coping mechanisms to overcome setbacks.
In "Language learning for people living with dementia and their caregivers: Feasibility and the quality of experience", Researchers at Edinburgh University found that seniors who learn a new language improve their brain function and delay the onset of dementia symptoms. Check out the free Duolingo app to get started.
Play a musical instrumentPlay a musical instrument. If you are looking for inspiration, piano, ukele, and harmonica are the easist to learn how to play.
According to the Making Music and Wellness Project, playing music decreases stress, anxiety, and depression. Eighty seniors participated in the five-year study. They found that the human growth hormone (HGH) -- which decreases as we age -- rose 90% for the senior musical students.
Online Learning for Seniors (article)Online Learning for Seniors, including technology use, benefits, and types of learning programs, StoryPoint
PubMed articles regarding learning for seniors- How Seniors Learn, Issue Brief, Center for Medicare Education, via PubMed - Also check out similar articles
Music
Online Communities
Learn to play an instrumentPlay a musical instrument. If you are looking for inspiration, piano, ukele, and harmonica are the easist to learn how to play.
According to the Making Music and Wellness Project, playing music decreases stress, anxiety, and depression. Eighty seniors participated in the five-year study. They found that the human growth hormone (HGH) -- which decreases as we age -- rose 90% for the senior musical students.
Attend music eventsSearch for music events in your browser with the words: upcoming music events near me
Sing or dance to musicSinging can help improve attention and memory. Dancing can help improve balance and flexibility, and promote physical activity and coordination.
Attend online eventsAttend online music events, such as those on - eventbrite - Meetup - Songkick
Engage in individual or group music therapyIt can improve attention and memory. Group music therapy can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, and promote social interaction, communication, and a sense of community. Here is one of many videos introducing Music Therapy.
If medically necessary, music therapy may be covered by Medicare in rehabilitation centers and hospital-based outpatient programs.
Accomodating music players for the elderly- One Button Easy to Use Radio for Elderly. It is a simple MP3 player with a radio that's easy to operate for both the caregiver and the recipient - For people with dementia, memory loss, or vision impairment, check out the iGuerburn Dementia Music Player. It is a simple MP3 box with USB. - Simple Music Player for those with memory loss or physical impairment
Common subtopic searches include: - dementia music - effect music - effects music - music brain - music pain - music therapy - music therapy alzheimer - music therapy dementia - music therapy depression - music therapy pain
There are groups representing a wide range of interests on FaceBook and Meetup.
Travel
Day tripsOne approach for a one-day trip is to have a scenic drive, eat a healthy and tasty lunch, and visit an amazing outdoor site. Perhaps a park, geological feature, or a botanical garden. There you can take in fresh air, enjoy the amazing view, feel connected with nature, and clear your head. Other destinations could include a museum, a performance, a zoo, or a local favorite spot.
For day trips near you, try searching the internet on: day trips near me (with or without seniors)
Travel tours for seniors- Brendan Vacations: Offers hand-crafted guided tours and independent travel options - Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT): Offers immersive experiences and cultural interactions for people aged 50 and older - Road Scholar: Offers small group tours with activities like guided walks, workshops, and guest lectures - TourRadar: Offers river cruises, which are a popular choice for senior travelers - Travelstride: Offers a variety of trips, including budget, luxury, private guided, and group tours
PubMed articles about travelPubMed articles about travel can be filtered by the following search words: - active travel - air travel - international travel - travel medicine - travel mobility (includes articles based upon medical conditions)
