Help To Keep Involved With Hobbies (Caregiver Tip January 2020)
Contributed by: Marlene Hendricks, Life Enrichment Assistant Coordinator
For seniors in my care, I know it is important for them to be as physically and mentally active as possible. I “invite” residents to join me on a walk and encourage them to stand up and stretch. When music is playing, we just have to dance or sing. The more fun I make the process, the more they participate.
That’s why I inquire about hobbies, things a person enjoys doing. Often the elderly discontinue hobbies due to disabilities, or the loss of opportunities or partners. As a caregiver, I can help them make adjustments so they can once again participate in activities they really enjoy. For example:
- For those who like puzzles and games, but now have a sight impairment, I offer puzzle books in large print, jigsaw puzzles with large pieces, large size decks of playing cards and board games (like checkers and chess) with big pieces.
- For those who would wish they could still play sports, I introduce them to Wii (a motion-driven video game system) so they can once again engage in friendly competition despite their physical limitations.
- For those who like to read, but struggle to see the print, I turn them on to audio books.
- For those with arthritis who wish to be creative, we introduce them to adaptive art supplies that make it easier for them to hold brushes and pencils.
The focus in on doing things for the enjoyment and the sense of accomplishment. If needed, I modify game rules to lessen player frustration and keep things fun for them. To make things more fun for myself, the caregiver, I don’t expect perfection and I go with the flow.
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