With retirement comes free time. Free time for hobbies, among other things.
Hobbies and crafts can be a wonderful thing for older adults. Boomers with Elderly Parents notes some of the many benefits of these pursuits:
Many crafts, such as painting and playing music, help maintain eye and hand coordination and encourage stimulation of electrical impulses in the brain that offer pleasure to those engaging in pleasant and enjoyable activities. When a senior parent has nothing to do, psychological devastation can follow. Such individuals often feel worthless and bored, and soon lose self-esteem and confidence.
Crafts and hobbies help seniors stay engaged and interested in their life and environment. This can be true of anything from gardening to whittling.
The problem is that some seniors find their enjoyment of these activities curtailed by diminishing manual dexterity, the pains of arthritis, wandering attention, or other factors. Fortunately, there are some options to help offset the issues listed above. Here are a few.
Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking in particular is a hobby that has been shown to be great for stimulating memory while engaging on a variety of other mental and physical levels as well. Hand-eye coordination, imagination, and even a social element (after all, scrapbooks are meant to be shown to people) make it a brilliant pastime for seniors.
One thing that can make it easier is a well-crafted lap desk. Keeping the materials close at hand can ease the physical strain of having to reach for things. It also allows the freedom to work where you want.
Often, vision issues can impede the older hobbyist. Something as simple as a lighted full-page magnifier can make all the difference in the world. The one sold on firstSTREET is a floor lamp-style model that stands on its own and can be easily moved into position on its flexible neck.
Bird- and Wildlife-Watching
Many seniors take to gardening, and, if they are in the right areas, can often attract wildlife ranging from sparrows to deer. Bird- or animal-watching often goes hand in hand for many of the older set that are lucky enough to be in that situation. Of course, vision impairment can be a huge hindrance.
Noted camera company Vivitar has one solution, a pair of 10×50 binoculars that also has a directional microphone so that vision and hearing can be amplified at the same time. When you focus on a bird, the microphone does as well, bringing you the sound of its song along with the image.
Another great gift is the motion-activated wildlife camera. This weatherproof gadget uses a motion sensor to detect wildlife which it then photographs at a five mega-pixel resolution. An added bonus is that without a human photographer present, the wildlife will be more likely to appear. This is wonderful for the mobility-impaired as it can bring them a view from the outdoors.
Gardening
Watching the wildlife is one way to enjoy a garden, another is tending it and nurturing the plants. Many seniors find themselves working with limited space, which can make it hard to allocate a place for flowers. One solution is to make the planters more space-efficient, a job that the three-tiered patio garden does eminently well. The rolling stand allows it to be moved easily, be it into the light or out of the way. The tiered construction allows maximum use of space, and its planters each have a water reservoir for root watering.
Some wildlife is not exactly welcome in a nice garden, no matter what your age is. Mosquitoes come readily to mind. The mosquito eliminator trap captures them handily, along with a wide array of other flying pests. The process uses ultraviolet light, CO2, and Octenol, and is so safe you can use it indoors.
