Last Updated: July 24, 2026
When the weather starts to warm up and springtime approaches, it becomes far more enticing to head outdoors and join in activities with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. The same is true for older people living in care, and for those carers who help them, to assess any popular and healthy hobbies or active pursuits, writes Dakota Murphey.
As we get older, we may find ourselves slowing down our pace of life to match our bodies and minds, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. But slowing down doesn’t mean stopping and it’s important that residents in care homes, or those with a live-in carer, can continue enjoying stimulating hobbies and activities.
It’s also important to remember that mental health is just as important as physical health so finding active classes to join, or engaging in new hobbies is a great way to maintain a creative spirit. Following Age UK’s ‘Fit for the future’ campaign, 50% of older participants said that their mental wellbeing had improved while 70% of the carers supporting them reported feeling more motivated and having better self-esteem. This successful initiative promoted the physical and mental benefits of accessing activities with an integrated service rolled out across 11 areas in the UK.
So, although there may be more obstacles as we get older, there is no such thing as impossible and carers can help make many common hobbies accessible to all.
The importance of social and meaningful activities
Naturally, personal care and health are prioritised in any care home setting, but carers must not neglect the social health and wellbeing of their residents. Some of the best ways for residents to enjoy an active social life and remain physically active are through a range of accessible activities provided by their carers.
These can help to improve the quality of life for someone in care while adding some structure and purpose to their days, weeks, months and years. Activities and hobbies are something to look forward to and can range from simple tasks like shared eating experiences to mindfulness activities such as gardening, making art and singing.
Benefits of regular meaningful activities include:
- Added structure to your day.
- An increased sense of belonging.
- Lower risk of heart disease, strokes and dementia.
- Improved sleep cycle.
- Reduced feelings of loneliness and boredom.
- Improved balance, co-ordination and muscle strength (depending on the activity).
How can care homes and carers encourage social activities?
For carers and care homes to encourage hobbies in a routine and accessible way, it firstly requires staff who value social activities and interacting with people. Staff should get to know the residents, adapting the activities and hobbies on offer to suit the preferences and needs of those in care.
But, while adaptability is important, care homes must also ensure residents are given the time to become familiar with the activities. That means if staff levels are low, work schedules should be adapted to enable social and meaningful activities to ensure residents continue to enjoy interacting with each other. Care homes must also allow staff to practise some of the activities they may feel unfamiliar with, such as singing and dancing, to provide a more fulfilling experience for residents.
Care social and activity guidelines
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) offers guidelines for care homes across the UK and it recommends that ‘staff are trained to offer spontaneous and planned opportunities for older people in care homes to participate in an activity that is meaningful to them and that promotes their health and mental wellbeing’.
The organisation also recommends that older people in care homes have opportunities during the day to engage in activities of their choice that help them to feel well and satisfied with life. This places importance on giving those in care a choice when it comes to the hobbies and activities they participate in and for those responsible for their care to learn what they are.
What types of hobbies are accessible to all?
The types of activities that people in care can enjoy range from spontaneous arts and crafts or social engagement to planned events that are arranged days, weeks or even months in advance. While these activities can vary, the most important thing is that they provide a sense of purpose to care home residents and care receivers.
Where some might enjoy a social game of cards, others may prefer a book club that opens up discussion. As such, it’s important that everyone’s preferences, needs and interests are catered for.
A change of scenery
One activity that can be beneficial to many, and is relatively universal, is to arrange for a visit away from the care home using a wheelchair-accessible transport service. Whether that be a relaxing trip to some nearby gardens, a day out in the countryside, local attractions or a trip to the theatre, all are smart choices.
Carers could consider combining interests, for instance encouraging residents to engage in mindfulness activities such as photography while embracing the local countryside or birdwatching. Nature photographer at MPB, Gess Puglielli, advises beginners, ‘If you’re taking photos and you don’t realise time is passing by, you’re in the moment and nothing else matters, then you’re doing it right.’
Access to leisure activities
Many leisure centres around the country have inclusive, safe and accessible facilities that enable elderly and disabled people to continue to enjoy sports. From swimming classes that get people in the water and moving without pressure on their joints to wheelchair and assistance dog access, most leisure facilities are available for all.
It’s important to encourage older adults to maintain physical activity, even if it’s just light activity. Carers can find inclusive gyms and leisure centres that support those with disabilities or who may not have a full range of movement to engage in light exercise classes, boosting physical health and social interaction.
With the mental and physical health benefits widely understood, remaining engaged and having access to the hobbies and activities older people enjoy can’t be underestimated. While it is important to acknowledge everyone’s personal challenges, any obstacles can be addressed by adapting environments with the right equipment or by establishing routines that enable people to participate in the hobbies and activities they enjoy. With flexibility, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness, carers can encourage and support elderly people to keep doing the activities they love in safe, appropriate and healthy settings.
About Dakota Murphey
Dakota Murphey is a freelance writer living and working in the UK. She enjoys writing engaging content across a range of topics, including: lifestyle, marketing, PR, entrepreneurial skills, education, company growth and personal relationships.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Dakota_Murphey
