There are plenty of senior living activities you can enjoy regardless of your strength and mobility. And at Tutera, we focus on offering adaptive activities for everyone. Here, we’ll provide some ideas for activities everyone can enjoy, including those with limited mobility.
While older adults may have limited mobility as they age, that does not mean they need to have limited engagement. Staying active and social as one ages is vital not just for feeling satisfied with life but also for supporting one’s brain health.
Ideas for Physical Activities
You can enjoy many fun physical activities despite having limited mobility. What’s great about physical activities is that you can make them social by exercising or taking a fitness class with friends. These are some of our favorite physical activity ideas for seniors with limited mobility.
Chair Yoga & Chair Stretches
Yoga is a fun activity for seniors, and its exercises can be easily adapted so you can accomplish the same goals while sitting in a chair. In fact, chair yoga for seniors is one of our most popular activities because it’s versatile and entertaining.
Resistance Band Exercises
Resistance band exercises are ideal for stretching your muscles and ligaments while sitting or lying down. You can improve your mobility using resistance bands. If used over time, they can gradually increase your strength and flexibility.
Seated Tai Chi
Tai Chi is another fun activity for seniors, and you can easily adapt these exercises for those who need to sit or use a chair. Many residents enjoy this activity because it helps them find peace and mental clarity while providing a decent workout.
Range of Motion Exercises
These types of exercises help those with limited mobility improve flexibility and strength. No matter which part of your body is affected by your mobility issues, performing these exercises regularly can help you build more confidence in your physical abilities over time. These can include:
- Ankle bends
- Shoulder circles
- Seated knee extensions
Ideas for Mental Activities
Mental activities are ideal for supporting focus, memory and overall cognitive function. At our Tutera communities, such as Eiler Senior Living, we offer a variety of senior living activities to improve and support cognitive health, as this has a significant impact on the senior living experience. Here are some mental activity ideas for seniors that anyone can enjoy.
Puzzles, Word Games & Trivia
Puzzles and brain teaser games are great for improving cognitive health. Some games, like trivia, can even be played with others, making them social activities you can enjoy with friends, neighbors and family.
Reading Groups or Audiobooks
Whether you prefer listening to audiobooks or participating in a reading group or book club, reading is an accessible and enjoyable activity for seniors of all mobility levels. A 14-year study shows that reading regularly benefits cognitive health, while also supporting social connection and mental engagement without requiring physical exertion.
Technology-Based Games
Technology can be beneficial, and tech-savvy seniors can use technology-based brain games to improve their cognitive health. Even if you struggle with steady hand movements, there are ergonomic mice and other computer and phone adaptations that allow for a user-friendly experience at a variety of mobility levels.
Reminiscence & Storytelling
Revisiting memories with loved ones or telling stories is an engaging activity for seniors with limited mobility. Since storytelling often happens in a group while sitting comfortably, this activity is easy to enjoy with friends, family or fellow residents.
Ideas for Creative Activities
Many of our senior living activities encourage creativity because research shows that engaging in the arts supports healthy aging. Not only does it improve cognitive function and memory, but it also enhances self-esteem and well-being and reduces the risk of developing illnesses like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Here are some creative activity ideas for seniors to enjoy, regardless of mobility level.
Adapted Crafts
Crafts can be difficult when you have limited mobility in your hands, but thankfully, there are ways to adapt crafts so everyone can enjoy them. Our teams, like the one at Rolling Meadows, choose senior living activities that anyone can enjoy, regardless of their mobility. As an assisted living community, they accommodate a large community with a variety of mobility needs and do so wonderfully.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that uses music to improve mental health and wellness. Music is incredibly beneficial to our cognitive health and well-being, since it activates nearly every part of our brain, helping improve our mental and emotional health. Whether you are performing or listening, there are musical activities that everyone can enjoy.
Painting & Drawing
Painting and drawing are gentle, low-impact art activities that require minimal movement, with many mobility aids available to assist with holding brushes and pencils. Crafts are also a great way to strengthen hand movement.
Sensory Activities
Sensory activities are ideal for many who have mobility issues. This is because they focus on individual enjoyment rather than performance. You can simply sit and enjoy creating things with clay, Play-Doh or kinetic sand, which can help those with limited hand mobility.
Ideas for Social Activities
Being limited in your mobility doesn’t mean you have to limit your social life. Staying social will make a tremendous difference in your senior living experience, as it will help you quickly find your place in the community and make friends. Here are some senior living activities for those with limited mobility to support social engagement.
Small Group Games
Many games we play in senior living require little movement or strength, so engaging in small group games allows you to get to know new people and have fun. While we host group games in our communities, like at Wesley Court, residents can easily start up their own with friends and neighbors.
One-on-One Visits
Whether it’s with friends or family, one of the best and most popular social activity ideas for seniors with limited mobility is simply sitting down to have a meaningful conversation, especially with someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
Virtual Visits
If you cannot visit family members or friends and they cannot visit you, virtual visits or video chats are ideal for staying connected. Our teams are more than happy to help residents with technological difficulties so they can still enjoy talking with loved ones virtually.
Faith-Based or Discussion Groups
There are plenty of social groups for older adults in senior living, whether they discuss shared beliefs or a common interest, such as a walking club, a gardening club or even a bridge club. It’s a great way to stay social and find a community of like-minded individuals.
Understanding Limited Mobility
Having limited mobility can be daunting, and there are many reasons someone of any age may have limited mobility, including:
- Injuries
- Chronic conditions (arthritis, stroke, MS, Parkinson’s)
- Neurological disorders
- Birth defects
- Lifestyle factors (lack of exercise, obesity)
Our team works with residents to improve mobility and support independent movement because we understand that confidence in movement is vital to residents living as independently as possible. Meanwhile, we offer a wide variety of senior living activities that anyone can take part in, regardless of mobility.
Tips for Adapting Activities
Not all activities are designed with limited mobility in mind, but here are some tips on how to alter different activities so they can be more inclusive:
- Find multiple ways to participate. There are plenty of ways to engage in an activity, whether it be a support role, an active engagement role or a tracking role (like a tally keeper).
- Convert standing exercises into chair-based movements. Exercises are a great way to improve mobility, and many can be performed from a seated position as well.
- Focus on the experience. Celebrate and prioritize engagement rather than performance. This will not only make adapting activities easier but also help people feel more confident about their participation.
- Support autonomy and independence. You can encourage others to join, but you should respect when others don’t want to take part or simply want to watch. However, you can remind them that they are always welcome to join in whenever they want.
Stay Active & Engaged
Staying engaged with friends, family and your community doesn’t have to be difficult when you have limited mobility. At Tutera, we offer plenty of senior living activities that are inclusive of everyone. Our goal is to ensure everyone can live life their way, and by providing activities for seniors with limited mobility, we continue to do so.
If you think Tutera is the right place for you, we encourage you to reach out to our team. We can help answer any questions you might have about senior living, provide additional information and resources and schedule a tour.
