Promoting Leisure-Time Activities
The senior generation didn’t just embrace the American work
ethic; they embodied it. Year after year, decade after decade, they
took great pride in giving an honest day’s work for an honest day’s
wages. Then they retired. Abruptly, that precious and rare commodity
known as free time filled their lives. What were they supposed to
do? Some took awhile to adjust to their new state of life. Others
acted like the proverbial kid set loose in the candy store.
Defining “leisure” isn’t easy. One person’s job is another’s
hobby. In general, leisure-time activities fall into several broad
categories:
--Temporary shutdown: this is being a couch potato, which just
about everyone enjoys from time to time, although obviously it’s not
good when it fills up an entire schedule
--Time alone: this might be reading or “people watching”
--Creative time alone: this would include activities such as
knitting or carpentry projects
--Service: this is simply volunteer work
--Socializing: this is spending time with friends, family, and
others for personal enjoyment
While a recent retiree may find a satisfying combination of the
four for a while, that initial burst of enthusiasm doesn’t always
last. Then, too, as the years go by, declining health may mean
adjustments have to be made.
Here are some recommendations for what you can do to encourage
your care-receiver to keep active:
--Understand why your loved one may be doing less. It
could be that an illness has become the focus of his attention for a
time, but as he begins to feel better, or to adjust to his new
circumstances, his old hobbies will start to appeal to him again. If
not, it’s important to know that a lack of interest in the things
that used to give him pleasure is one of the symptoms of clinical
depression.
--Keep in mind that sometimes a care-receiver may hesitate
to continue a favorite pastime because it’s not going to be the same
as it was before. Maybe she played cards with a group of friends
for years, and now she’s the only one who hasn’t moved away or died.
Playing with new people just isn’t the same for her. After all, it
wasn’t the card game that mattered; it was the companionship. And
even though your loved one may want to make new friends, she
hesitates. Won’t they also just move on or die? She may think, I’m
too old to make new friends.
--Ask what he or she wants to do. Help your loved one by
asking, “What is it you’ve always wanted to do?” Encourage him or
her to dream big.
--Help your care-receiver get whatever supplies, equipment,
or instructions he or she may need. Check out what resources are
available in the community. Some community colleges offer classes
for seniors at little or no cost. Senior centers provide classes,
activities, meals, and socials. Explore with your care-receiver what
type of volunteer work he or she might enjoy doing. The Retired
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), an organization that helps seniors
get involved in their communities.
--Be careful not to pack your loved one’s schedule from dawn
to dusk. Remember: the point is to encourage, not to dictate or
overwhelm.
Return to Topics
