Encourage your parent to try a new activity.
Aging doesn't have to mean boredom and idleness. Senior citizens can participate in numerous activities that are physically, socially and psychologically beneficial. Even if your parent or loved one suffers from declining health, encourage him to try a new activity. He may discover that finding a new passion is the best medicine for health.
Painting
Painting improves hand-eye coordination.
Painting allows senior citizens to strengthen hand-eye coordination and stimulate the brain. Many people find the act of painting to be relaxing and pleasurable, due to the impulses sent to areas of the brain that control emotion. Painting is an ongoing process and seniors can visually see the progress of their efforts. There are many different kinds of paint that artists can use, including water colors, acrylic and oil paints. There are also a number of techniques, including one-stroke painting which can be an easy form of painting to learn for beginners. Aside from painting, seniors can enjoy other arts and crafts, such as pottery, beading and photography.
Gardening
Gardening gives senior citizens a chance to be outdoors and nurture plants and flowers. Gardening can help seniors take care of themselves too. The Center for Disease Control recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day. Seniors can benefit from the exercise of gardening, including lifting, walking and digging. Gardening increases muscle strength and cardiovascular health. Seniors can see the fruits of their labor and continue gardening through the spring and summer seasons. They may enjoy giving a flower or plant from their garden to a friend or loved one.
Scrap-booking
Scrap-booking gives seniors a creative outlet for their photos. Creating scrapbook pages stimulates the brain, including areas associated with memory. This activity also works on hand-eye coordination. Encourage senior citizens to scrapbook together or with friends and relatives to increase their social interaction. Looking at photos of loved ones is a good reminder of the social support that the senior possesses, a protective measure against mental disorders such as depression. Motivate your parent with lots of scrap-booking accessories such as beads, ribbon and stickers to get them crafting.
Walking
Find a friend to make walking a social activity.
As simple as it is, senior citizens can reap enormous health benefits just by walking every day. Walking doesn't place as much stress on joints as running, lifting or team sports but seniors who walk at a quick pace (raising the heart rate) can add years to their life and improve cardiovascular functioning. Walking also helps maintain a healthy body weight, contributes to better sleep and improves brain functioning. According to a study conducted by the University of Illinois, walking increases the growth of the hippocampus, one part of the brain responsible for memory.
Tags: senior citizens, hand-eye coordination, your parent