hobbies for elderly

Hobbies For The Elderly

Hobbies are great for making life more interesting, and learning something new in later life helps to keep the brain healthy.

There are lots of things that elderly ladies and mature gentlemen can discover in their local area.

The top 15 hobbies for the elderly

  1. Gardening
  2. Walking or rambling
  3. Home brewing
  4. Card making
  5. Tai-Chi
  6. Tracing your family tree
  7. Cooking
  8. Baking
  9. Fishing
  10. Join a choir
  11. Arts and crafts
  12. Learn a language
  13. Volunteering
  14. Brain teasers
  15. Book clubs
  16. Online play

You can read more about these below.

Here is also a video with 21 hobbies and activities a senior or elderly person can enjoy to improve their health and wellbeing.

1. Gardening

Gardening is a popular hobby for elderly men and women as they have more time to dedicate to this interest. To make gardening more challenging, why not consider taking an allotment? Allotments are shared by other like-minded people who are happy to learn from one another.

Members exchange seeds, cuttings and produce and they look out for one another as friendships are made. You could aim to be self-sufficient by growing lots of fruit and veg, or plant enough to feed your extended family or neighbours.

Everyone likes home-grown produce so sharing your crop will make you very popular. You could even enter competitions, such as the biggest pumpkin, if your village or town has an annual event.

If you do use a garden don’t forget that you can use reclining garden chairs to sit and admire your garden in comfort.

2. Walking or rambling

Join a walking or rambling or hiking group near you if you like to get outdoors. Retired men and elderly woman get together with other people of all ages for organised walks of different lengths. These groups are usually free to join and it is a great opportunity to meet new people while taking part in some gentle exercise.

You might discover a new area near to home that you hadn’t visited before.

3. Home brewing

Home brewing or wine making is a fun hobby, especially if you enjoy a tipple yourself. There are kits available that can get you started, but once you have mastered the basics then there is no end to the delights you can produce.

Wine made from berries you have foraged tastes so much nicer than the mass-produced kind. You can read, research and share tips with others if you fully immerse yourself in this boozy pastime.

Here is a beginners guide to home brewing.

4. Card making

Card making is a crafty hobby that allows a creative side to shine. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and Christmas are all made more special with a hand-made card. There are online tutorials to help with ideas, and it is a hobby that an elderly woman can share with grandchildren.

There is no need to buy fancy equipment, just some blank cards, glue and decorations are all that is needed to get you going. The designs and wording are completely up to you after that.

5.Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a gentle form of movement that is beneficial for joint mobility and great for the mind and spirit. There are classes up and down the UK so finding one nearby should be easy. Take a look at the local leisure centre and see if they offer sessions there.

Here are some tai-chi exercises you can do sat in a chair.  Ideal for those with mobility problems,

6. Tracing your family tree

Tracing the family tree can be very interesting.

Looking up records and delving into family history is fascinating, but it can take hours and hours of research to do it thoroughly. It is perfect for an elderly woman or someone with plenty of free time on their hands to take up.

7. Cooking

Challenge yourself in the kitchen and cook up something tasty. If you have never really mastered cooking a curry from scratch or using a tagine, for example, then now is the time to learn. Take some lessons or use the internet to create some culinary delights and practice on visitors next time they come around.

8. Baking

Taking up baking or improving your skills as an elderly man is really satisfying. There are classes available, or you can practise using books borrowed from the library. Bread, cakes, pastries and tarts can be made and you can find your very own speciality.

It’s so nice to take something hand made with love to a lunch or picnic, or you could invite neighbours around for a cuppa and one of your cakes. Get some other bakers together and have a Bake Off competition just for fun.

9. Fishing

Take up the quiet hobby of fishing now you have the time in your later years. There is always someone who is willing to help you if you ask for advice, and being out in nature is good for the soul. Elderly ladies are just as welcome as elderly men for this sport.

Angling clubs are scattered around the country if you want to be part of an association.

10.Join a choir

Sing along with others by joining a choir. There are choirs that are part of the local church and there are others which come together just for the joy of singing. Learning new songs is good for the brain and it is a chance to meet other people of all ages.

Some choirs enter competitions and travel, but others simply meet up once a week for an hour or so.

11. Arts and crafts

Classes that teach arts and crafts for pleasure can usually be found in local colleges.

Glass fusion is the skill of melting glass together to create new objects and is something you can’t usually try at home. There are pottery classes too that will show you how to throw a pot or sculpt in clay. There are all kinds of other crafts to choose from so take a look at what’s on offer. You might find you are artier than you thought.

12. Learn a new language

If you want to learn something new but creativity isn’t for you, then how about learning a new language. There are conversationally sessions on offer where you will be taught the basics. Speak a few sentences in Spanish, French or even Mandarin and keep that brain ticking over.

This can be useful if you visit one particular country often, or you have a friend from overseas.

13. Volunteering

Volunteering is a hobby that helps others and usually doesn’t cost a penny. There are plenty of options for an elderly man or woman to help out, no matter what skills you have. Community gardening, beach cleanups, pet fostering and hospital helpers are just some of the ideas you can look into.

14. Brain teasers

Brain teasers such as Sudoku, crosswords and word searches can be quite addictive hobbies. There are online versions, magazines and clubs dedicated to these pastimes. Jigsaw puzzles are nice to do with others, including the grandchildren, and you can find them in charity shops to keep the costs down. Quiz nights at the pub or village hall are also fun to do, and if you form a good team, you could even win a few prizes.

15. Book Clubs

Book clubs pop up all over the place, some are organised through the library and others are at the pub or village group. The idea is that all members read the same book and discuss the characters, plots and endings. It is a great way to make new friends and it forces you to read books you might not normally read.

16. Online Play

Gambling can be considered a hobby for some individuals also, but it’s important to approach it responsibly and be aware of the potential risks associated with it. If someone enjoys gambling like online casino games as a form of entertainment, there are various activities and games they can explore.

Wherever you live in the UK, there are groups, organisations and associations that you can join as an elderly man or woman. Some of them require some financial investment in fees or equipment, but many of them are free of charge or cost very little to enjoy. There are things to do inside and outdoors, and if possible, it is a good idea to do a mixture of both.

Keep young and active in your twilight years and enjoy every minute.


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