We understand how stressful and unhealthy it is for the elderly to be stuck in a bed or have reduced mobility. In this article, we’d like to give you some tips on how to make your caregiver’s bed life more fun with engaging activities that you can incorporate into their daily routine.As caregivers, you and I both know that there is an opportunity for bedridden people to maintain an active life. The following is a list of fun activities and exercises for the elderly to promote to help them improve physical and mental health.
- Video chat with family and friends
- Participating in a book club
- Having fun building
- Exercise
- Listening to music
- Playing and doing puzzles
- Listening to audiobooks
- Watching movies and television programs
- Trying Pet Therapy
- Cooking with family
There are many activities that the elderly can do in bed to exercise their brains and bodies so that they can still feel happy and healthy. You might think they are stressful and tiring, but that’s not really the case. In this article you will discover 10 fun and engaging exercises that make caregiving easier.
Table of Contents:
Reasons why people get stuck in bed.
Leg injuries or fractures, osteoporosis, stroke, arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease are just some of the reasons why people, particularly in old age, become bedridden or have reduced mobility. Other reasons why they need bed rest for a period of time could be postoperative recovery or momentary physical injuries.
No one ever wants to get stuck or feel frustrated because they can’t do an easy daily task like going to the bathroom or eating breakfast by themselves, right? Therefore, you can be the person to help them still enjoy life regardless of their limitations.
The importance of having an active lifestyle
Having an active lifestyle is possible even for a bedridden person. Activities like the ones we will share below are crucial to keeping yourself happy and mentally healthy.
Carrying out these activities can even slow the progression of certain diseases in a patient. Maintaining healthy exercise, for example, helps reduce sleep problems.
10 fun and engaging activities for seniors
Listed below are exciting activities that work for most bedridden people, but before moving directly to them, here are some things for you as a caregiver to consider:
- Become aware of what they want and like to do. Ask his doctor, therapist, or family (or past friends) so he can choose activities that are safe and will excite him.
- In some cases, the choice of activities is really essential. For example, people with dementia, may feel overly burdened by large crowds or noise. So choose games and activities that are appropriate for their physical and mental condition.
- It may take time in finding the right activities for your caregiver. Continually encourage them to do exercises they feel comfortable with and find new ones to vary.
- Allow them to enjoy the process and not just focus on the outcome.
It is certainly true that caring for a bedridden elderly person is a very strenuous job, but this list aims to make improvements in daily life without special efforts. The exercises suggested for the elderly below, for example, do not cost a penny and the activities are very simple.
1: Videocall with friends and family
Not all elderly people live near family or friends. If they do, it is not always easy to arrange visits with each other. This can be even more difficult for the elderly who are bedridden because they do not have the opportunity to get up and go out to see their loved ones.
Take your time and organize videocalls with family and friends of the caregiver. It is a great opportunity for both parties to recuperate. Receiving warm and positive messages will definitely help lift the elderly person’s spirits thus contributing to the maintenance of good mental health.
2: Participate in a book club
If the person is a lover of reading, consider joining him/her in a virtual book club. If you cannot find one, you can start one online and invite other bedridden seniors who are interested in the subject. Keep it small so that it is easier to manage. Finally, invite each member’s family to join during the sessions to assist their loved one.
Reading books can help prevent serious brain damage. For example, an old book they read as children may bring back fond memories.
The following is a list of great Italian books suitable for elderly patients:
30 minutes a day to keep your mind in shape
This booklet is filled with exercises, games and activities that help stimulate and sharpen the mind. It is designed to be enjoyed at least 30 minutes a day for 30 days to improve cognitive skills such as Language, Memory, Motor Skills, Perception, Reasoning and Problem Solving. This book is also recommended for stroke patients of all ages.
An active mind. Cognitive stimulation pathways for the elderly.
This book is loved for its effectiveness as a stimulus. The activities are so engaging and flexible that they fully engage seniors. Exercises include drawing, filling in the blanks, explaining idioms, and others of various levels of difficulty. The texts are large enough to be read by people even over the age of 80.
Exercise: Games, activities and tricks to train the brain
This 96-page book is like a mini encyclopedia for young and old alike. It is full of interesting information that arouses curiosity. It is fun to do with your loved one to train their minds together.
Mental gymnastics. Mind gymnastics exercises for memory disorders and other mild-to-moderate cognitive deficits
If you are looking for something for a person with stroke, this book is a must. It has numerous exercises that help with cognitive problems. Activities such as recognizing shapes and spaces, identifying time and days are simple but challenging activities.
The notebook of lost love
This may intimidate some with its 310 pages, but readers will vouch for it because each page is like a magnet drawing you to move on to the next. It is the story of an elderly woman who lives in the memory of her past love. You can buy it as a paperback, e-book or audiobook, whichever format suits you best.
Image 1: Lying elderly woman reading a book
3: Having fun with handicrafts
Handicrafts are considered a visual art, and truly anyone can create artistic pieces. Most of the time, an older woman is able to sew. If the person you care for is, give them a simple sewing project that can be done in bed.
In addition to sewing, you can introduce any of the senior activities listed below:
Origami
Origami is the process of folding paper into decorative structures and shapes. This is an activity for seniors that allows them to exercise their hands and brains. It also improves concentration, motor skills and hand and eye coordination.
You can help your assisted to fold simple origami figures such as a flower, butterfly, bird or fish.
Crochet or knit
If the bedridden person does not suffer from arthritis or other painful limb conditions, crocheting could be a very useful and relaxing activity. Studies also show that it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50 percent. This may be because by learning different stitching techniques, memory is trained.
Building with clay
Working with clay offers a sensory experience that can feel therapeutic. Creating pots or simple structures can allow you to spend quality time together.
How about making necklaces or bracelets with clay beads together with the person you care for? Here’s how:
- Buy clay as a polymer or mix your own air dry clay (Homemade Air Dry Clay Recipe)
- Take the clay and shape it to create a kind of rubber ball.
- Using your fingers, press on both sides just to make indentations.
- While the clay is still wet, use a toothpick to make a hole from one side to the other.
- Paint the beads if you prefer and let them dry.
- Once dried, they can be strung on a thread or ribbon of your choice.
Stone painting
Painting, whether with brushes or fingers, can help improve motor skills. If the caregiver loves gardening, allow her to paint terracotta pots with the design of her choice.
Here is another fun project called Kindness Rocks:
You will need:
- smooth river stones (you can find some in your garden or buy a bag from a craft or DIY store)
- acrylic paints
- markers
- brushes
- outdoor sealant or mod podge
Steps:
- Make sure the stones are clean of any residue so that the paint and lettering will stick.
- Paint the stones with one coat of primer choosing a color of your choice and allow to dry.
- Write your own favorite quotes using markers.
- Now use outdoor sealant to make sure the message stays on the stones as long as possible.
- Allow to dry and apply a second coat of sealer.
Image 2: Elderly man in wheelchair painting
4: Doing physical exercises
Being bedridden obviously limits the amount of exercise the elderly can do, but it is still important to havephysical activity in their daily routine.
This is because it can help improve blood circulation, maintain and develop muscles, increase heart rate and flexibility. In any case, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor before having any form of exercise performed.
Exercises for the elderly at home
If the person does exercises such as those listed below, make sure they prioritize safety. Ideally, a family member or therapist should be present to monitor and help them if needed. This is to prevent them from injuring themselves or overexerting themselves.
Exercises for hands
Stretching of the palm of the hand:
- Open the palm of the hand
- Extend the fingers as far as possible, then count to 5 seconds.
- Press the thumb using each finger.
- Relaxation.
- Repeat with the other palm.
Wrist rotation:
- Extend your hands in front of the elder.
- Let it turn the wrists.
- Count to 8, then reverse the rotation.
Finger exercises:
- Allow the patient to fold his or her fingers into a fist.
- Then have the fingers open and extend. Repeat 8 times.
Arm exercises
- Raise the elderly person’s right arm as high as possible. The arm should be straight above the head.
- Have the arm slowly lowered.
- Repeat for 5 counts and do the same with the left arm.
- Then, extend the right arm forward.
- Put it down slowly.
- Repeat for 5 counts and do the same with the left arm.
- Finally, extend the right arm sideways.
- Slowly put it back down.
- Repeat for 5 counts and do the same with the left arm.
Leg lifting
- It helps the elderly person lie comfortably in bed.
- Hold one leg still and let it move the other to the side (or upward if it can).
- Repeat for 5 counts. Do the same with the other leg.
Image 3: Elderly people in wheelchairs doing exercises.
5: Listen to and/or play (if possible) music
Choose a selection of your favorite songs and those of the person you care for. Choose songs that bring back family memories or their youth and play them.
According to studies, classical music is perfect in certain environments because it brings peaceful, calming and relaxing effects. Spotify and other platforms have made it easier to find good playlists of the best hits from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
If your senior is in a wheelchair, move them to the beat of the music. You can also encourage as much movement as possible while they are sitting or lying down to help them connect with the music.
Here’s a great playlist from Spotify
6: Playing and doing puzzles
Another great way to stimulate the brain and slow the course of certain diseases is to play games and do puzzles. Board games and card games are not only a fun activity, but also an easy way to socialize. There are many board games available at the store, but feel free to choose what suits the interests and needs of the person you care for.
If seniors want to spend time with other adult relatives, friends or grandchildren, there are appropriate options for all ages. However, if they want some time to themselves or have no one to play with, puzzles are a great alternative.
Puzzles of various types allow older people to engage their brain cells and can also help them remember the past. One can try their hand not only at simple puzzles but also at crossword puzzles and word searches.
In addition to the above, bingo, monopoly, magnetic scrabble or sudoku are also perfect for the elderly. They help to stay busy and at the same time train the brain and prevent loneliness.
Infographic 2: 3 reasons why play is very important for the elderly
7: Listening to audiobooks
Audiobooks are a great way for the elderly to consume books, especially if they are visually impaired. This way they can enjoy an unlimited number of novels without having to put too much effort into reading.
Check out LibroParlato.org if you’re looking for audiobooks read by Italian professionals who want to help people with disabilities (e.g., bedridden, eye problems, etc.). It is a paid service, however, it could be a great gift idea if the person being helped is also a family member!
8: Watching movies and television programs
Spending long periods of time sitting or lying on the bed is definitely not an ideal situation, but it is a perfect environment for watching movies and television programs.
They can rewatch movies from the past or discover new ones. During colder days when being outdoors is not possible, they can enjoy a movie marathon or watch a TV series. A great idea is also to invite other family members or friends by creating a “social” event.
Here are some TV series that your bedraggled loved ones might like. How so. These series feature people advanced in age as protagonists. Many of these actors were also famous years ago, and the person you attend might recognize them.
1) Ageless Hearts
This is an emotional story of four women who lived together as roommates after divorcing or being widowed. It is a comic and dramatic show perfect for the bedridden person if they need entertainment and a good laugh.
2) Hot in Cleveland
This series is another great choice if you are looking for something fun to watch with your caregiver. It is the story of three over-40s and best friends who landed in Cleveland and found a place where they could feel valued as women.
3) Grace and Frankie
A play with a unique plot, watching it is a must. It is about two women who became friends after discovering that their husbands were romantically involved with each other. The lessons and realities of life were portrayed very well in this play.
4) The Kominsky method
This is a Netflix series in which two old gentlemen meet and share their life stories together. A former actor turned acting coach and his agent who lost his wife to cancer.
5) The awesome kids
The diversity of the cast in this play makes the story more interesting. It is a funny story of four elderly people who have met in a retirement center. They are trying to prove that they can still be as active as they were at a young age and want to change society’s perception of them.
9: Trying Pet Therapy
Benefits of pet therapy include improvements in mood, behavior (in people with dementia) and a calming feeling. Petting a cat or dog can be very relaxing and stimulating. Pets are also playful, which adds fun and lightheartedness to the older person. Of course, it is complicated for people who are bedridden to be able to handle an animal, so it will be up to the caregiver to take care of it.
Some senior care facilities have resident pets or offer pet therapy. Check with the facility where the person being cared for lives to see if there is this option. Another idea is to bring your pet to the facility if possible.
Image 4: Lying elderly person happy hugging a dog
10: Cooking with the family
If the person is bedridden or has limited mobility, it may be impossible for them to cook.
However, it is possible to involve them in other activities so that they feel useful and have fun together. For example, you could ask them for personal cooking tips or tricks, or assign small tasks such as fixing the table, picking or cutting some of the ingredients, decorating cookies, etc.
Improves the life of the person you assist
Certainly there are many ideas about activities you can do or present to your caregiver or family member who is bedridden, but it also depends a lot on the type of problem he or she is having. That’s why it’s important to consult your doctor or therapist, especially before having them do any activities that could be dangerous. In addition, there is nothing better than asking the person themselves what they prefer so that they feel involved and not coerced.
The last thing we would want for a loved one is for them not to feel happy, right? We understand that, so we really put a lot of effort into giving you valuable advice! Let us know what other activities and exercises have worked for the person you care for!