Home and indoor activities

Staying active and engaged indoors throughout the year is essential, especially for older adults. While some days may call for relaxation, maintaining a stimulating routine can significantly enhance physical and mental well-being.

Common scenarios and concerns	Lifestyle and equipment options to help you
Boredom and social isolation: Lack of engaging activities can lead to feelings of isolation and reduced mental well-being. This can lead to decreased motivation, depression, and cognitive decline.	Social activities: Join local clubs, attend events, or connect with friends and family virtually. Creative pursuits: Explore hobbies like painting, writing, or music. Learning opportunities: Take online courses, attend lectures, or join book clubs.
Physical limitations: Difficulty participating in strenuous activities can hinder overall well-being. This can lead to reduced mobility and potential health concerns.	Low-impact exercises: Engage in gentle activities like chair yoga, walking indoors, or light gardening. Adaptive equipment: Utilise equipment like grab bars, balance balls, or weighted balls for modified exercises.
Cognitive decline: Maintaining mental stimulation can help support cognitive health. This can lead to memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and reduced independence.	Brain-training games: Utilise online or physical brain-training games designed to challenge memory and focus. Reading and puzzles: Regularly engage with stimulating reading materials or complete crossword puzzles.

Common scenarios and concerns

Lifestyle and equipment options to help you

Boredom and social isolation: Lack of engaging activities can lead to feelings of isolation and reduced mental well-being.

This can lead to decreased motivation, depression, and cognitive decline.

Social activities: Join local clubs, attend events, or connect with friends and family virtually.

Creative pursuits: Explore hobbies like painting, writing, or music.

Learning opportunities: Take online courses, attend lectures, or join book clubs.

Physical limitations: Difficulty participating in strenuous activities can hinder overall well-being.

This can lead to reduced mobility and potential health concerns.

Low-impact exercises: Engage in gentle activities like chair yoga, walking indoors, or light gardening.

Adaptive equipment: Utilise equipment like grab bars, balance balls, or weighted balls for modified exercises.

Cognitive decline: Maintaining mental stimulation can help support cognitive health.

This can lead to memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and reduced independence.

Brain-training games: Utilise online or physical brain-training games designed to challenge memory and focus.

Reading and puzzles: Regularly engage with stimulating reading materials or complete crossword puzzles.

Combating boredom and social isolation

As we age, social interactions and stimulating activities can decline, potentially leading to feelings of boredom and isolation. These feelings can negatively impact mental well-being and contribute to a decline in cognitive function.

Connect with others

Join social clubs or groups: Look for local clubs or groups catered towards older adults, focusing on shared interests like gardening, crafts, or book discussions.
Attend social events: Participate in community events like lectures, concerts, or movie nights at local libraries or community centres.
Stay virtually connected: Utilise video conferencing platforms to connect with friends and family who live far away.

Explore creative pursuits

Engage in hobbies: Rediscover or explore new hobbies like painting, writing, playing music, or learning a new language.
Take up crafting: Try knitting, crocheting, origami, or other creative crafts that stimulate the mind and keep your hands busy.
Start a blog or journal: Share your experiences, thoughts, or stories by writing a blog or keeping a personal journal.

Embrace learning opportunities

Enrol in online courses: Many online platforms offer courses on various topics, allowing you to learn new skills or revisit old interests.
Attend local lectures or talks: Libraries and community centres often host lectures on diverse topics, providing opportunities for learning and intellectual stimulation.
Join a book club: Discussing books with like-minded individuals fosters social interaction and keeps your mind active.

Staying physically active indoors

Maintaining physical activity is crucial for overall health and well-being, but strenuous exercises can become challenging with age or physical limitations. Here are some ideas for low-impact activities you can enjoy indoors:

Chair yoga or tai chi: These exercises offer gentle movements that improve flexibility, balance, and coordination.
Indoor walking: If weather permits, walk indoors at shopping malls or corridors, keeping your body moving.
Light gardening activities: Tending to indoor plants or light gardening tasks provides gentle exercise and a connection with nature.

Equipment and aids to help you with home activities

Grab bars: Installing strategically placed grab bars in your home can enhance balance and safety when moving around.
Balance balls: Utilise a balance ball for seated exercises or gentle stretches that improve core strength and stability.
Weighted balls: Light weighted balls can be used for simple exercises to maintain muscle strength and range of motion.

Maintaining cognitive health

Cognitive decline is a natural part of ageing, but engaging in stimulating activities can help support cognitive function. Here are some ways to keep your mind sharp:

Brain-training games: Play online or physical brain-training games designed to challenge memory, focus, and problem-solving skills.
Reading and puzzles: Regularly read challenging and stimulating books or magazines. Completing crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or other brain teasers also helps maintain cognitive function.
Learn a new skill: Learning a new skill, like playing a musical instrument or a new language, challenges your brain and helps form new neural connections.

Additional things to consider

Break up your day: Avoid prolonged periods of sitting. Set a timer to remind yourself to stand up, stretch, or move around every 30 minutes.
Maintain a healthy sleep routine: Adequate sleep is essential for cognitive function and overall well-being. Establish a regular sleep schedule and practice good sleep hygiene for a restful night's sleep.
Eat a balanced diet: A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein provides the nutrients your brain needs to function optimally.
Stay hydrated: Dehydration can contribute to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Seek professional guidance: If you're concerned about cognitive decline or experience memory issues, consult your doctor or a neuropsychologist. They can assess your cognitive health and recommend strategies to maintain or improve cognitive function.

Where to buy equipment to help you with home activities

Plymouth City Council, NHS Devon, and Livewell Southwest have jointly commissioned NRS Healthcare to deliver the Safe+Well service, and they have over 2,500 daily living aids that you can purchase by mail order, telephone, or online.

View the Plymouth Safe+Well website

NRS has a dedicated phone line with a trained team of specialists who can answer any questions you might have. Just call 0345 6461860.

Other places to buy equipment from:

Free assessment tool: Select the area of difficulty that is relevant to you. You will then be asked a few questions to guide you towards helpful daily living aids.
Free telephone advice line: Complete the online form, and we will contact you to arrange a convenient time to call.