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How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House
Exercise & Fitness

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

At Visiting Angels®, we know how important home is to elderly adults. After all, the very goal of senior home care is to help seniors extend their years spent in the comfort of home. But as recent research has found, spending too much time at home can significantly shorten the lifespan of seniors. How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House
According to results published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, seniors who rarely leave the house have higher rates of mortality than seniors who leave their homes regularly. Meanwhile, seniors who leave the house every day have the lower rates of mortality of all.
These results were true even when researchers adjust for a range of health conditions. This suggests that spending almost all of one’s time at home isn’t just a sign of poor health, but an active contributor to it. That leads to a simple conclusion: spending more time out of the house could increase the average lifespan of elderly adults.
So how can family, friends, and caregivers encourage seniors to spend more time out of the house? Here are a few strategies.

Out-of-the-House Activities for Seniors

  • Have a Cup of Coffee. One of the best ways to get older adults out of the house is to make a cup of coffee at a local café or a lunchtime visit to a favorite restaurant a part of their daily routine. This can be done with a group of friends, a family member, or a professional caregiver.
  • Run Errands Together. Many seniors stop running errands as they grow older, preferring to have family, friends, or caregivers do them on their behalf. An alternative is to do these errands together. That way, seniors have someone with them to lend a hand and take care of any difficult aspects to errands, but they still get to enjoy time out in the community.
  • Take a Short Walk. A short walk around the neighborhood or through a local park is a great way to not only get seniors out of the house, but also to get them active. Even a short, five to ten-minute walk offers cardiovascular health benefits for seniors, and it’s the perfect way to get fresh air in warm weather.
  • Sign Up for Weekly Activities. Local community centers, seniors’ centers, and religious institutions often host a range of weekly activities perfect for seniors. Card games, tai chi classes, and book clubs are just some examples of popular activities for elderly adults.
  • Take Advantage of Community Markets. Many communities have weekly farmers’ markets, many of which are senior-friendly spaces. These markets are a great way to spend time outside, while also picking up healthy fruits and vegetables for during the week. Depending on your loved one’s interests, you might also find success with flea markets or arts-and-crafts markets.
  • Get Fresh Air Close to Home. You don’t need to go far to get out of the house. Elderly adults — particularly those with mobility difficulties — can get daily fresh air by spending time on their porch or in their backyard. Consider adding a birdfeeder, buying outdoor plants, or changing the garden so that your loved one has a reason for spending time outside.

When encouraging seniors to spend time out of the house, there may be limitations or difficulties you need to plan around. Many seniors become housebound due to physical health concerns that make it difficult to leave the home, so family members and friends may need to find activities that are easier to access and enjoy.
Another common issue is who seniors perform these activities with. Socially isolated seniors may not have friends or family available to join them when they leave the home. If seniors don’t enjoy spending time outside alone, it can be difficult to motivate them to get out of the house. Hiring a senior home care service, like Visiting Angels, to accompany your loved one for out-of-the-home activities may be helpful if this is the case.
How Exercise Helps the Body and Brain

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

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Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring
Hobbies

Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson
There is no shortage of ways to release stress. For some of us, exercising is key; still, others turn to socializing with friends and family. In fact, having multiple ways to calm your body and your mind is best, and one of the newest ones involves some very old-fashioned tools. Coloring is quickly becoming a past-time embraced by all ages. Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring
Adult coloring books have exploded in popularity, and for good reason. They’re a relatively inexpensive way for grown-ups to be creative—to fill blank pages with texture and color and pattern. This is an easy hobby to share with all ages and it benefits your health, mind and heart. All that is required, really, is one of the hundreds of adult coloring books to fill the pages of bookstores, and the coloring tools. Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring
Many people turn to gel pens in order to color those pages. They’re useful for a lot of reasons, including vibrant color and the ability to combine pens to create unique patterns and colors. And gel pens can be used with other tools, too, such as erasers, paintbrushes, and even colored pencils for even more variety.
Want to get started coloring—and relieving that stress? Use the ideas in this graphic.

Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring

Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring

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Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care
Healthy Living

Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

In the world of senior care, the mental and emotional health of seniors is too often overshadowed by the physical challenges of aging. But in recent years, those in the senior care community have sought to broaden the focus of senior care to account for the overall well-being of seniors. One result of these efforts has been the rise of art therapy for seniors in care. For those of us who care for seniors and support the elderly in our communities, art therapy has become an indispensable tool in reducing stress, improving emotional well-being, and managing disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care
If you’re a senior (or someone who cares for one), here’s what you should know about art therapy for seniors:

What Is Art Therapy? Art Therapy for Seniors

Art therapy is a wide-ranging term the covers an array of therapeutic activities. Most often, art therapy harnesses the power of artistic expression to spark creativity, relieve tension and stress, and encourage cognitive function. Some popular forms of art therapy for seniors include: Art Therapy for Seniors

  • Dance
  • Painting and drawing
  • Sculpture
  • Needlework
  • Music therapy

Art therapy for seniors can be performed one-on-one, but is popularly performed as part of a larger group or class. Therapy sessions can be performed in the comfort of home, in a senior center, or even outdoors.

Benefits to Art Therapy

Art therapy first attracted attention in the senior care community as a therapy method for managing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Studies have shown that art therapy encourages cognitive function and slows memory decline in those suffering from dementia. More importantly, this form of therapy is effective in limiting stress, agitation, and aggression in those suffering from memory disorders. It’s also one of the few forms of therapy that remains effective even into the later stages of dementia. Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care
But with all of the added attention, art therapy has moved beyond the treatment of dementia and other memory disorders. Studies have shown that art therapy’s benefits extend to the majority of seniors, no matter their risk of dementia. As a result, senior centers, professional caregivers, and independent seniors have increasingly begun to rely on art therapy. Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care
Some of the benefits of different types of art therapy for seniors include: Art Therapy for Seniors

  • Helping seniors cope with stress, trauma, or depression
  • Improving seniors’ moods and mindfulness
  • Encouraging cognitive engagement and creative thought
  • Reduced inflammation and joint stiffness

Incorporating Art into Senior Care

If you think that you or a senior in your life could benefit from art therapy, it’s easy to look up art therapy opportunities in your area. Consider checking out local community centers and senior centers in your area, which often hold group art therapy sessions or classes that offer many of the same benefits as art therapy. You can also look up local art therapists through the American Art Therapy Association.
If you prefer to do things on your own, you can bring many of the benefits of art therapy into your home all by yourself. Whether you enjoy learning new dance moves, love listening to music, or have always wanted to try your hand at painting, bringing art into your life can be a great boost to your mental and emotional wellbeing.
At Visiting Angels, our home care providers can help you or a loved one make art a part of senior care. Contact your local office today to learn more. Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care

Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care

Art Therapy for Elders in Senior Care

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