8 Great Activities for Seniors with Limited Mobility from V!VA Mississauga
Published on April 20, 2022
As seniors get older, limited mobility can hinder their ability to do the things they used to enjoy the most such as rigorous activities and exercises. But that doesn’t mean that they have to stop enjoyable activities altogether. Limited mobility caused by the natural aging process or illnesses just means that seniors must adjust their lifestyles according to their new circumstances. Certain activities for seniors with limited mobility might be a little too strenuous. By slowing things down a little, they can continue reaping the benefits of the activities they’re doing.
Here are a few great outdoor and indoor activities for seniors with limited mobility to make retirement living in Mississauga a little more enjoyable and mentally stimulating.
Reading to Maintain an Active Mind
Reading is an excellent and imaginative no impact pastime that helps keep the mind sharp as seniors get older. Aside from flipping the page every once in a while, no other type of movement is required. Seniors can immerse themselves for hours on end in fascinating fictitious or non-fiction reading material of their choosing. Furthermore, they have a number of reading options including physical paper books, e-readers, or audiobooks to fully engage in the material they’re consuming.
At V!VA Retirement Communities in Mississauga, we encourage our Community Members to form books clubs so they can engage in social interactions and indulge in a shared interest with like-minded individuals.
Music or Art Therapy
Music and visual art can have an extremely therapeutic effect on people of all ages, particularly seniors who are suffering from cognitive illnesses or disorders such as dementia. But creating music and art can also be extremely beneficial with limited mobility issues. Painting, drawing, sculpting, and making music are great mental and physical pastimes that stimulate the mind and keep the hands busy. And the end result is a wonderful piece of visual or musical art that seniors can be proud to share with their friends and loved ones or keep as a private meaningful memento.
Creative endeavours and projects have been proven to reduce negative emotions and energy in people who suffer from chronic illnesses that may limit their ability to move around as freely as they once did so they don’t feel trapped in their own bodies.
Making Stunning Flower Arrangements
Another form of art that brings joy is making beautiful and colourful flower arrangements. Arranging flowers is the perfect activity for older adults who have trouble moving around because it requires very little movement. It can also help improve manual dexterity in the hands and fingers. Plus, the act of focusing on creating a beautiful floral arrangement can help reduce stress, negative thoughts, and take their minds off of things that are bothering them. Instead, they can spend time concentrating on creating something truly beautiful.
Playing Challenging Board Games
Strategy-based skilled board games like chess, checkers, and puzzles also help exercise the mental muscles of seniors with limited mobility without forcing them to move too much or too quickly. Single and multi-player card and board games help stimulate the mind, increase cognitive functions, boost memory, and also present excellent opportunities to socialize with friends and family.
These games don’t have to be limited to physical accessories. If seniors don’t have board games or cards, they can also play the online or digital versions on their devices. Some online games may have paid downloadable content, but most of them also have completely free versions that seniors can spend hours playing. Seniors can play against computers or other individuals and adjust the difficulty settings based on their skill sets and preferences.
Engage in Low Impact Workouts
Even for seniors with limited mobility, exercising the body is just as important as exercising the mind. Seniors with limited mobility aren’t completely immobile. They’re still able to engage in some form of movement on their own and that should be highly encouraged.
Low impact workouts like daily walking, hatha yoga (in a chair or standing, tai chi, swimming, and stretching are all excellent and effective forms of exercise that can actually help improve muscle strength, dexterity, and mobility in older adults without putting excessive strain on their joints. These exercises can be modified as needed to match the mobility limitations of each individual person and encourage them to keep going at their own pace and capability.
Fun and Challenging Video Games to Relax
Video games are an excellent tool that seniors can use to unwind after a long day. They also happen to provide a great deal of mental stimulation while simultaneously improving dexterity in the fingers and hands. Using various controls and finger maneuvers helps strengthen muscle memory and movements. This allows seniors to improve their grip when holding objects such as cups and cutlery in their hands.
V!VA Retirement Communities has onsite video game consoles and some locations offer golf simulators.
Indoor Activities Like Darts or Bowling
Seniors with limited mobility can also indulge in fun indoor activities like throwing darts, bowling, or billiards. These are all skill- and strategy-based games that involve minimal yet well-planned movements to reduce muscle strain and increase mental concentration. Each move needs to be executed with absolute precision to hit the objective of the game. Plus, a healthy dose of competition amongst friends always makes it a little more enjoyable.
Fun Activities at V!VA Retirement Communities in Mississauga
V!VA Retirement Communities offers a wide range of activities for seniors of all mobility and skill levels. Whether you enjoy spending time outdoors or prefer to participate in indoor activities that are suited to your mobility capabilities, our Community Members and caregivers provide exceptional emotional and physical support. If you’re looking for an affordable, renowned, and well-rounded retirement home in Mississauga, it doesn’t get any better than this. Contact us today to learn about our independent, assisted, and respite care options or to book a trial stay!
