We often talk about how outdoor activities like walking and gardening can benefit the elderly both mentally and physically. But when winter comes, bringing earlier sunsets and icy streets, it’s not always possible for seniors to do much outdoors.

Yet older people still need mental and social engagement and physical activity during wintertime. Being mobile, inspired and socially connected helps the elderly to stave off dementia. Plus, physical activity reduces muscle wasting, helping to protect seniors against dangerous falls.

So, what kinds of activities can older people do indoors to move about and stay stimulated and socially engaged during the winter? Read on to see our top suggestions.

1. Writing and writing groups

Creativity and inspiration are great for fighting both dementia and depression, which are major concerns in the elderly.

However, many kinds of art and creation require dexterity that elderly people may lack. Holding small implements like paintbrushes or knitting needles can be painful for some seniors with arthritis in their hands.

That’s exactly why writing is such a great creative outlet. It can be easier for older people with motor disabilities – and there are many accessibility features that can be super helpful for older people with difficulties seeing.

For example, it’s possible to use an app to dictate spoken words into writing. This can be handy for an elderly person who can’t type. Similarly, seniors can enlarge text on their screens to see more clearly.

And, unlike many other crafts, writing doesn’t require you to purchase expensive materials like paint or yarn.

All this being said, writing can be even better if it’s combined with a social activity. Writing groups can be great for this purpose, as they allow participants to cultivate their skills while bonding and discussing their ideas.

2. Film and book clubs

Simply sitting and watching a film can be intellectually stimulating, depending on the movie you’re watching. But a film club that involves discussing films demands even deeper thinking. Of course, a club of any kind also weaves in a social element, allowing an older person to feel connected and close with others.

Don’t have any film clubs in your area? Why not start one? Just invite some friends around, watch a movie on your TV, and have a discussion. If you can set a regular schedule for club meetings, that can also help give structure and meaning to the calendar.

If you’re not that into movies, consider a book club instead. It has many of the same benefits – you get the intellectual stimulation of the book and the social stimulation of discussing it.

And there’s no need to worry if you are an older person who can’t read books any more due to eyesight issues or other physical problems. Many books are now available in audiobook format, so you can listen along rather than reading.

3. Tai Chi (via YouTube or TV)

Tai chi or other gentle exercise is often recommended by doctors for older people – although everyone should check with their own GP to see what exercise is appropriate for them.

Luckily, today there are loads of elderly-focussed exercise videos available for free on YouTube. In fact, the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has uploaded a whole series of these types of videos on YouTube.

And if you can find an indoor class offering senior-friendly exercise, that’s even better! Check on the Age UK website to see what’s available near you.

4. Learning a new language

It’s been suggested that learning a new language can really make a difference in improving the cognitive function of the brain. In other words, language learning can amp up your brainpower in other areas of thinking – and possibly help fight dementia.

A language learning class or a language exchange can be a great way to weave some social bonding into the mix. For elderly people on limited budgets, a language exchange might be the way to go because it’s often free! Rather than paying, you’ll often simply teach your own language to your language partner. And a quick web search will turn up plenty of language exchange boards to start with.

You can also use free language apps like Duolingo to practice.

5. Transcribing

Volunteering and working in local historical preservation are both powerful ways to keep mentally active while doing good for your community. Another, similar approach is transcribing old documents from handwritten script into a typed copy.

For example, the University of Cambridge and Kew Gardens are just two of the many well-known institutions asking volunteers for help with digitising important old letters, notebooks and other documents. With this task, you’ll just look at the scanned version of the document and type up what you see.

Transcribing might not be suitable for seniors with seriously weakened eyesight, as the written text in these documents is often difficult to read.

At the same time, though, older people are sometimes especially well-suited to this task. That’s because the skill of reading and writing in script is being lost. Younger people may simply be unable to decipher old-fashioned handwriting, while many elderly people can.

6. Games and puzzle books

How about a game of bingo?

There’s a reason why games and puzzles of all kinds are often recommended for the elderly. They offer a great brain-teasing function that sparks thinking without being physically tiring.

And, as always, games that you can do with others are even better. An older person might want to start a family board game night to strengthen social connections.

Or take a look online to see free games like the daily Wordle available through newspaper sites.

7. Indoor gardening

Yes, it’s true that outdoor gardening may not be suitable for many older people who are at risk in colder weather.

But there’s still plenty of opportunity to grow things indoors.

Growing potted herbs like basil is always a classic of indoor gardening. But the winter months can also be a great opportunity to start growing plants that will be moved outdoors when they are more mature.

8. Volunteering

We’ve mentioned one type of volunteering already. But actually, volunteering is a great way to find many different activities for exercise and socialising.

How about leading tours within a local historical building? Or working in a local charity shop for a few hours each week?

Check out the Royal Voluntary Service for a list of opportunities in your area.

Staying safe during winter activities indoors

It’s true that staying indoors during especially icy days can be safer for older people – particularly those with breathing problems or blood pressure problems.

However, it’s still important to ensure there’s a backup plan for safety in case a crisis does occur. In particular, it’s essential for older people to have a way to call for help in case they fall.

That’s because a “long lie” – the experience of lying on the floor for an hour or more and being unable to get up – can have severe health effects. For example, in cold weather, hypothermia is a real concern if no blankets are within reach.

The answer to this problem is a personal alarm for the elderly. This device, worn as a pendant or on the wrist, allows an older person to call for help immediately with the press of just one button. You can also get alarms with fall detection, which means that they have sensors that assess whether the wearer has fallen. If the alarm judges that a fall has occurred, it calls for help all by itself – even if the person wearing the alarm is unconscious.

With SureSafe’s alarms, you also have the option to choose a family monitored alarm or one that contacts a dedicated response centre when it’s activated. It’s all about customising the alarm to your needs.

How SureSafe protects elderly people in the winter

At SureSafe, we’re experts in providing affordable and easy-to-use personal alarms for older people. Just take a look at our top-notch reviews to see how our alarms have changed the lives of older people across the UK. It’s easy to see why we’re one of the UK’s leading personal alarm providers.

If you’re keen to know more about how personal alarms work, our team of experts would be happy to chat with you. Just give us a call at 0808 189 1671, get in touch through live chat, or request a call back.