17 Great
Activities for Seniors
with
Limited Mobility

Did you know, there are an abundance of activities for seniors with limited mobility?

Yes. There are so many great activities left to do. We often have just forgotten about them. Or, sometimes, we never learned about them in the first place. So, we want to reintroduce you to 17 of the best.

Keep The Good Times
Rolling!

Just because there is a loss of mobility, it doesn’t mean the good times have come to an end. Far from it!

Sure, there are activities and hobbies that may now be too difficult, and can can no longer be enjoyed, because mobility became restricted.

But, that does NOT mean good times are over. No way.


Seniors with limited mobility can still:
 

• Enjoy Life
  
  
• Have fun
  
  
• Laugh
Lose Track of Time
  
  
• Forget All Our Problems for a While
  
  
• Feel Silly as a Kid
  
  
• Stay Engaged in Living
  
  
• Boost Our Mood
  
  
• Learn new things
  
  
• Experience new things….
  
  

......all without the need to move around too much.

There are so many wonderful, fun, enriching things you may not even realize are there for you to enjoy each day.

And, loads of these activities cost little or no money.

That’s why we made this list of:

17 Wonderful, Fun, and Exciting

Activities for Seniors with Limited Mobility

Here we go!

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#1)  New Hobbies

Hobbies are great activities for seniors with limited mobility.

Some wonderful activities that don’t require a lot of mobility our moving around include:

• Crafts
• Birdwatching
• Crochet
• Knitting
• Playing (or learning) a musical instrument
• Cooking and Baking
• Indoor Gardening
• Learning a New Language
• Painting
• Scrapbooking
• Wood Carving
• Mosaics
• Quilting and Needlepoint
• Book Clubs
• Writing Workshops
• Computer Classes
• Singing Karaoke (in your own home)

As seniors and retirees, we now have time for things we didn’t have time for before. Let’s savor that time with activities we have always wanted to do or do more of.

Even if we could live to be 200, leaning and creating new things will never let us get bored.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#2)  Exercise Each Day

How can you exercise with limited mobility?

Easy! Anything that is moving can be exercised. Did you know that any exercise increases circulation and well being? It’s the ultimate refreshment. So, don’t think having limited mobility means you can’t get great value and benefits from daily exercise.

Did you know there are loads of enjoyable exercises you can do while sitting in a chair?

Yes! That’s right! And, there are dozens and dozens of Videos that you can access for free on YouTube that you can exercise along with while you are seated.



Here is one of our favorites to help get you started:

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#3)  Artwork

• Painting
  
  
• Drawing
  
  
• Sculpture
  
  
• Coloring
  
  
• Scrapbooking
  
  
• Mosaics
  
  

....are all so highly creative and rewarding. Even if you are as terrible at all these things as I am. Let me tell you a little story:

Painting watercolors has always fascinated me. BUT, I paint with the skill a 4th grader. And, that’s a generous assessment.

It doesn’t matter. I recently decided to get a set of watercolors and a pad of watercolor paper. Again, I am terrible. When friends see my work they usually ask which grandchild painted it. But, it is just so much fun. And, I’ve even done a couple of pictures that are not too bad.

You know what else?

Creativity (even if your a terrible artist like myself) is proven to increase happiness and comes with a whole pile of other great benefits.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#4)  Reading

Can you remember all those days you wished you could just cozy up with a good book, but didn’t have the time?

I think one of the greatest gifts of older age and retirement is that we now have time for so many things we wished we had time for before. Am I right?

Only now, especially with limited mobility, we seniors often have too much time on our hands because we can’t do things we used to like doing, AND, we forgot about all kinds of other things we like or wanted to try.

And, for those of us who love to read and never had the time before, reading is at the top of a lot of our lists.

If you enjoy books, magazines, or an e-reader like Kindle, you can now immerse yourself in wonderful stories and adventures, fiction and non fiction. We can look at amazing photographs and art work. We can learn new things, study new subjects that we always wanted to, even learn a new language. Everything under the sun!

And, for those with vision limitations who can not read comfortably, there are books of all kinds on tape. Many are available for free!

Did you know that reading, or listening to books on tape come with a LOT of major benefits?

• Reading can improve our memories
  
  
• Improve our sleep
  
  
• Reduce stress
  
  
• Even reduce cognitive decline

Reading is a fun way to take adventures, learn new things, relax, have fun and keep our minds engaged. AND, now we have the time for it!

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#5)  Spend Some Time Outdoors
        Every Day

She’s not called Mother Nature for nothing.

She’ll take care of you. After all, she is our Mother.

Somehow, just getting outside, looking around, gazing up at the sky, breathing the fresh air, feeling the sun on our faces….. it’s rejuvenating. Don’t you always feel better after going outside for even a little while?

And, no matter what your mood, it will always improve if you just get outside in the fresh air for at least 20 minutes a day.

If mobility is very limited, even just sitting on the porch, or by an open window, and watching the world around us can renew our spirit and refresh us like nothing else can.

Make it a brand new habit to make sure you get at least 20 minutes of “Nature Time” each day. Set aside a certain time for it and keep to the schedule. We know you’re going to be pleasantly surprised at how different your mood becomes.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#6)  Picnics

You don’t have to go any further than your own porch or front walkway to enjoy a wonderful picnic!

If you are homebound, you can even put your chair by the window and bring a picnic lunch there.

Just having a meal with some nice fresh air, in a different place than usually, looking at the sunshine (or rain) and watching the world around you, is so invigorating to the soul.

If you can get outside, even in your own backyard, or outside common area in an apartment, and can sit on the ground, so much the better.

It’s just that wonderful change of pace. Being with Nature. Eating outside with the fresh air, watching the leaves blowing in the trees, feeling sunshine on your hands and face,…. Sublime!

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#7)  Get a Pet
        or, borrow one!

Dogs? Cats?

Man’s best friend? For sure!

If you are able to care for a pet, get one. You’ll never be alone again.

I am a dog person (there are "cat people" and "dog people"). So, I even have an entire article for you on "The Best Dogs for Elderly Seniors". These are the smaller gentle easy to take care of dogs that are ideal for seniors with limited mobility also.

If you can not own one for some reason, borrow some. What does that mean? It means have family and friends who have pets bring them over to your home for regular visits. Pet them. Talk to them. Play with them. Give them treats. It will put a smile on your face and make your whole day. Every time.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#8)  Invite Family Members Over
        (with the kids!)

Especially family and friends with children.

We used to call this “borrowing children” because we get to play with them for a while and then send them home and let their Mom and Dad do all the parenting stuff. We get all the fun. None of the fuss. So nice….

Almost everyone perks up when kids are around. Even babies. I’ve yet to see a grandmother, or great grandmother, who didn’t light up with a baby in her arms.


Children, of family or friends, can be the joy of our lives no matter how old we get. So, have their parents come over to visit. And, tell them to bring the kids. Put out some treats. Play computer games with the older ones. Have some great care free fun!

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#9)  Play Games!

Speaking of games, no one ever grows too old for games. There are always some that capture our sense of play and our competitive spirit. Games are an unlimited source of good times.

You can play alone, with a friend or family member, and now with computers, we can play games online with people we don’t even know yet. Real people from all over the world.

Online games are not just for kids either. Did you know that there are literally millions of seniors on line all around the world? And, a large number of them are “Gamers”.

The best source for unlimited games actually is online. That’s on  the internet on our computers.


Some of the games you’ll find online include:

• Bingo
• Uno
• Scrabble
• Checkers
• Chinese Checkers
• Monopoly
• Pictionary
• Yahtzee
• Dominoes
• Chess
• Backgammon
• Mahjong Cribbage
• Go Fish
• Poker
• Bridge
• Crazy Eights Canasta
• Rummy
• Solitaire
• Crossword Puzzles
• Jigsaw Puzzles
• Word Search Puzzles

Nice! Right?

There are so many to choose from that it’s almost mind boggling! So, we have written a special article just for seniors called: “The Top 14 Best Games for Seniors”. Give that link a click and take a look.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#10)  Jigsaw Puzzles

a Beautiful 640 piece online Jigsaw Puzzle

Jigsaw Puzzles are a great way to enjoy some quiet time. The concentration takes us away from the rest of the world and all of our cares and worries.

Jigsaw Puzzles can be as easy as 25 piece puzzles (for those with limited ability) to puzzles with 500, 1000, and 2,000+ pieces. Easy to very difficult. Whatever you like.

You can buy puzzles online and you can find many free Jigsaw Puzzles that you can put together on your computer screen.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#11)  Get a “Smart TV”

Have you discovered Smart TV yet?

Smart TV for seniors is a wonderful instrument. It’s nothing like the old B&W TVs we grew up with. These TVs are their older brothers with PhDs!

Besides watching TV shows, you can:

• Watch Movies (without commercials!)
• Have Music
• Enjoy Concerts
• Comedy Shows
• The Food Network
• The Travel Channels
• Check Your Emails and Social Media (like Facebook)
• Use the Internet on a BIG Screen

You can also control all kinds of devices like:

• Doorlocks
• Door Monitors (see who’s at your front door)
• Electric Sockets
• Light Bulbs
• Security Cameras
• Watering Systems (for your lawn and garden)

....and so much more.


There is also “Voice Recognition” on most models. That means you can control the TV with voice commands. You talk to it. And then, it does what you want. You don’t even need the remote control for a lot of functions. How cool is that? Especially for seniors who find the remote hard to read. Or, that left their glasses upstairs (as I too often do).

All these features makes Smart TV a wonderful center of activities for seniors with limited mobility. A lot can be enjoyed and controlled without moving around. A wonderful device to have.

Prices for a Smart TV are not as expensive as you may think either. They start around $400 for a good TV with a nice large 43” screen.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#12)  Have a Regular
         SPA DAY!

(Men need a SPA Day too!)

Don’t you feel better when you look real nice? We all do!

If you can get out, go to a beauty shop. Or, a manicurist. Get a massage. A facial…. Do some fun self pampering.

This applies to men too. Get a haircut. Treat yourself to a professional shave. Get a manicure and pedicure (I happen to love these. They soak your feet in hot water, massage them, cut your nails, etc…. Don’t worry, this is for men too. I’ve even seen some tough looking bikers in there. Ladies always appreciate a well groomed man….). Enjoy a professional massage.


If you’re homebound, or funds are very low, make it a dress up day. Wear your best clothes. Have some favorite foods. Enjoy a long hot bath. Have some wine if you are able to. Bake a cake and share it with a friend.

Once or twice a month will do it! More often and you’ll feel like a Super Star.

And, plan those days in advance. Put them on your calendar. Don’t cancel. These are important days for you. You deserve to be treated well. You’re entirely worth it!

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#13)  Have High Tea

At High Tea: You have a friend or a group of friends over. You make a pot of tea. Everyone bring little cakes and pastries. Or, you can just put out a plate of yummy cookies. You pour tea, eat yummy things, and chat! Mid day. What could be better?

This is my wife's #1 choice of activities for seniors with limited mobility.

Why?

Because it's fun, it's creative, and it's very social. All the girls get to get together every Thursday and chat. Even her friends who don't move around very well now. And: No men allowed!

High tea is an English custom that is super fun! My wife and her friends love them! I love hearing them laughing while I am elsewhere in the house.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#14)  Feed the Birds and the Squirrels

Do you ever feel like there is just nothing to do? Or, the things you might want to do require too much preparation?

Go outside with some new or old stale bread. Tear it up, and throw it to the birds. The squirrels love peanuts. In the shell are the best.

This wonderful experience never grows old. And, if you do this regularly in a regular spot, the birds and squirrels will remember and be waiting for you. Lots of them.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#15) Model Building

Model building is one of the most forgotten hobbies that all of us guys did when we were kids. Right?

We built model cars, airplanes, boats…. guy stuff.

Face it, guys love to build stuff. We like seeing things we make.

Model building is one of the favorite male activities for seniors with limited mobility. It is also a great stress reliever. We get so engrossed in our projects that all the day’s cares and worries disappear for a while.

AND, there is such a feeling of accomplishment!

Model building is also an ideal hobby to enjoy with the grandchildren. We get to make things with the kids. This strengthens our relationships.

Building models with our grandchildren also helps teach them the rewards and joys of teamwork. It helps them to develop patience, dexterity, and coordination as well.

For us? We get to enjoy the hobby again, and, more wonderfully, we get more time to enjoy and bond with our grandchildren while doing something they enjoy also.

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#16)  Water Exercise

We already talked about the importance of exercising. And, the fact that moving anything that moves is going to improve our feeling of well being.

We want to talk a little about water exercise in particular because it is as fun as playing in the pool when we were kids. Splashing around in the water never grows old.

The difference now is: Water exercise is extremely beneficial to us seniors because in the water all the pressure on our joints is reduced to a very low level.

This means we can move much more easily and give our muscles a great workout, without stressing or irritating our joints. For that reason, for many of us this is the best possible exercise there is.

Call your local YMCA or exercise club that has a pool and see if they offer water exercise classes for seniors. If you’re lucky to have these classes near you, don’t miss out on them. You’ll also meet a bunch of nice new senior friends.

Take a look at this short VIDEO and see what these seniors have to say:

activities for seniors with limited mobility

#17)  Helping Charities

Crocheting warm hats for charities

You’d be surprised how many charities could use your help. Even if you are homebound.

Helping others is a fantastic way to stay engaged with others and feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Your church, temple, or local hospital may have projects that you are just right for. Even things as simple as knitting hats or crocheting blankets can be a major asset for many of these organizations. And, you may just be the one who keeps some homeless soul warm on a cold night with the hat you knitted.

Let's Get Started!

There you have our list of 17 Wonderful Fun and Exciting activities for seniors with limited mobility.

Did you see anything you liked?

Of course you don’t have to do everything. Just pick a new one. One that you’ve never done, or, haven’t done in a long time and get going on it.

Then try another. And, another. Keep the ones you like. Drop the ones that you find you don’t enjoy. There are so many other wonderful ones to choose from.

There’s no reason to ever be bored or lose your sense of joyful living just because of limited mobility.

There is literally no end to the wonderful abundance of activities for seniors with limited mobility.



Great New Adventures are Waiting for YOU! ~ William, Fiona, and Charlotte

Readers COMMENTS

We want to thank all of you who sent us so many inspiring emails about your successes with our recommendations for Activities for Seniors with Limited Mobility.

And, if you are having success with any type of activities for seniors with limited mobility, that we have not mentioned, please contact us and let us know what you have discovered. We’re sure other seniors, who can’t move around as well as they used to, will enjoy them also. We’d love to share your activities with our readers. You may just bring some sunshine to some other seniors you don’t even know!


~ William




Denise W.  June 7, 2021

Thank you William Fiona and Charlotte for writing this wonderful article for those of us with limited mobility. I have been so sad with feelings of emptiness due to my fairly recent mobility issues. Reading your article was like getting fresh air. I was just not realizing how many things I still could do. Now my list is so long I can hardly wait to start each day. Chair dancing is my #1!

God Bless You, Denise



Barbara S.  May 21, 2021

Hello William Fiona and Charlotte!

You are a Godsend!

Wowee. I feel like I have been a rather poor caregiver for my 82 year old Mom. I try my best, but I often just didn’t know how to cheer her up. But now I have so many fun things we can do at home that Mom smiles when I walk into the room. She knows something fun is coming. I am having fun too. You should let people know these things aren’t just activities for seniors with limited mobility. They are fun for me and my friends as well. And I am learning also sorts of new games to play. Mom loves the picnics on the porch best. Thank you William Fiona and Charlotte from the bottom of my heart.

Barbara

Jose C.  May 2, 2021

Dear William,

This stuff is fun. My wife can no longer do many of the things we used to likes to shares together. Now, we have lots to do. All the times. She is much more happier now. Thank you.

Jose C.

Marilyn D.  April 30, 2021

Great stuff!! Wow. I had no idea. We forget about all these things. And the new computer games are keeping us up some nights. We don’t get to walk much anymore. That was our after dinner activity most nights in the good weather. Since that stopped we were just like potatoes on the couch watching TV all night. Not having much fun. Now we make cookies or popcorn and sometimes bake a cake then play games most nights. We were worried there would be nothing to do and now there is always something. And a lot of new stuff too. I’ve started reading your whole website and it’s great. Is there a list you can put us on for when you have new articles?

Sincerely, Marilyn D.

Mardi R.  April14, 2021

Hi William, Fiona, and Charlotte,

My name is Mardi. I have been taking care of our mother here at home for almost two years now. It’s hard for her to get around. Your SPA idea sounded so wonderful. But we don’t have a lot of extra money so I started giving Momma foot massages. She loves them. And she feels so good after that she likes to stay up and tell the kids stories before bed. They are fascinated to learn about her life as a girl. They still can’t understand why there were no computers.

Sincerely, Mardi

Cynthia, C.  April 3, 2021

Coloring books. For my mama. Every day she is happy! Thank you!

Sincerely, Cynthia C





Tom, B.  March 21, 2021

Whenever I read one of your articles I feel so much stronger. This one made my life so much easier. Thank you so much.

Best Wishes to you, Tom B

Ron T.  March 3, 2021

My wife and I are in our 80s. 86 and 82. We copied your list of activities for seniors with limited mobility and it has been a game changer for us. Try this one: People watching. We love to go sit by the ocean and watch the people passing by on the walk.  Then we go have a frozen yogurt and go home. We always look forward to the next day. You guys are tops.

Ron

Belinda, F.  February 27, 2021

Dear William - My 93 year old mother has a lot going for her except her attitude was so piss poor. We tried a lot of the ideas you showed us and now she is a lot happier and she stopped complaining about everything. Thank the Lord! Like one of the other comments said, you are saints! Thank you and God Bless you.

Belinda F




Frank K.  February 19, 2021

William,

Thanks for the great article. I just wanted to tell you that not all shut ins and elderly. And, they don’t all have someone to take care of them. My wife left me in bed for 3 days once without food or water and didn’t check on me. I found your article and started playing games that you showed to take my mind off of everything. You saved me. Everything is OK now.

Frank

Karen M.  February 10, 2021

My mother in law is 95 and a total pain in the ass. Her memory is good, but she is normally just mean. All she does is walk from the couch to her bed and complain complain complain. All day long. So we started playing some games with her just to shut her up for a few minuted. Then, you know what? She started really liking the online games and other activities for seniors with limited mobility that you show on your website. It’s like she had some kind of major epiphany. Or found jesus or something. She’s fun now. We have fun now. Unbelievable. Whatever happened, thank you all. Tell us more please.

Karen M

Burt T.  February 2, 2021

Thank you for showing us some places we could take mother. She is so much easier to be with now.

Burt T

Clara S.  January 8, 2021

Dear William,

My Mom is in a really good mood lately with all the things you showed us we could do. And we have only done 5 or 6 of them. She really can’t go very far on her own but we have picnics in the yard and play scrabble and crochet at night. Her mood is far better. I sleep better. So does she. Thank you so much for all the great ideas.

Clara

Margret D.  December 26, 2020

Dear William and weloveourgranny.com people,

We simply started “grooming” Mom daily. We do her hair, her nails, rub her feet with cream and then read to her. She’s like a precious little puppy now. She can’t reason well, but she feels pretty now. At 89. You saved us.

Thank you all 1000 times, Margret D

Alma, B. December 25, 2020

Dear William and company,

It was getting very hard to take care of our mother. She is 88, can’t move around a lot and she forgets a lot. But, she’s still our mother and I just didn’t know what to do anymore. A senior friend of mine showed us your article on activities for seniors with limited mobility. I thought it would probably be useless because mother was so unhappy. Some of those things were so easy that I decided to try one or two. Then a couple more. I am forever grateful to you for this article. Mother and I now have 4 o’clock tea every day. We (I) bake some cookies or sometimes even a cake at 3. Then we have tea and eat them. After we usually put together a jigsaw puzzle or paint by numbers or color. Mother smiles again. She’s happy to see me each day. And I no longer feel stressed and depressed. You may use this email if you want.

Kindest Regards, Alma

Roger B. December 11,  2020

Dear William,

My wife and I were searching for things her Mom could do now that she doesn’t get around too well. About a year and a half ago she fell and that started all the difficulty.

We found your article on activities for seniors with limited mobility and suggested all kinds of games and crafts to her. She didn’t want to do any of them She just sat in front of the window and looked out or watched TV all day with a face that never seemed to move. She was losing interest in food too which used to be her favorite thing of the day. So, I bought her a Smart TV like you described in another of your articles. I didn’t want to spend a lot on something she may not even like that much so I got one of the economy ones you showed.

She loved it. Mostly because the 43 inch screen was the biggest she had ever seen. She said she felt like she was in a movie theater. She was excited about it from the very beginning. One thing at a time we showed her how to use a few of the features. And, now she watches the food channels all the time instead of the news. She even asked us to help her make some things in the kitchen which we now do regularly. She’s even moving better now.

My wife looks more like her former self too. Happy and not so tired anymore.

You really saved the day for all of us. Her mom wants to try crafts now.

Thank you for your wonderful article and may you have a very blessed day.

Roger, Marleen, and Irma B.

Donna F.  November 27, 2020

Remember Monopoly? Dad LOVES it! Who knew? We play every week now. We have beer and popcorn and soda for the kids. This is the first regular family event we have had in ages. We're going to try Clue next.

Donna F

Please Remember:

If you have any other great activities for seniors with limited mobility, please contact us so that we can share them here.

Thanks!  ~ William