Today, active ageing and the creation of policies for social participation and health protection for the elderly are among the central themes in the debates on ageing.

As part of this , different activities have been developed for older people which, far from being a series of exercises specifically for the elderly, are activities that are already known but adapted to the needs of this life cycle.

Continuing with this, we will see below some of the activities that can be done with older adults, as well as the objectives that each one pursues.

Activities for older people and promotion of active ageing

According to the World Health Organization (2002), active aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security, which aims to improve the quality of life of people as they age . It aims to enhance physical, social and mental well-being throughout the life cycle, while promoting participation in the community in accordance with personal needs, wishes and capabilities.

In this sense, the socio-educational process related to active ageing can only be carried out if it is based on the collaboration, participation and detection of the needs of the elderly themselves. That is, considering their baggage of experiences, their concerns, life stories and personal biography .

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This can be promoted by two main groups of activities, such as the following (Bermejo, 2010):

  • Activities of a transversal nature, that promote active ageing and favour autonomy ; it may include cultural and scientific and intergenerational programmes.
  • Activities of an instrumental nature, which includes the manipulation of information and communication technologies , as well as different technological products.

Such activities can be carried out in many places and institutions, as long as they meet the minimum requirements, such as space, furniture, tools and materials needed for each activity, and human resources trained to manage them.

Thus, activities for the elderly can be carried out in civic or cultural centres , health centres, associations, universities, public squares, etc.

How to plan its realization?

The planning of each activity can be done through practical guides, cards or tables, where the following elements are explained: the justification of the activity, the objectives, the contents , the strategies or particular activities, the necessary materials, the organizational aspects, the evaluation and the bibliographic resources.

This type of planning allows each activity to be adapted to the specific needs of the older adult or group they are targeting. In this sense, it is important that the activities consider the preferences of the participants and the context where they take place. Finally identify and enhance the resources present .

From there the general objectives of the activities for older adults can be the following:

  • Provide significant information for the well-being of the person and/or the group
  • To favour processes of reflection and analysis on what can best accompany their ageing.
  • Live experiences that help prevent dependency .

Types of activities and examples

As we said before, there are no specific activities for older people, rather it is a question of adapting already existing activities to the needs of the older adult or the group of older adults, so that they can favour the previous objectives.

Thus, any activity already known is valid and can be adapted favourably if priority is given to detecting the motivations and needs of the older person . In line with this, activities can be planned in accordance with the three main objectives linked to active aging: to favour physical well-being, to strengthen cognitive and emotional well-being, and to promote social-relational well-being.

1. Physical well-being

One of the important aspects is to strive for physical well-being. This can be promoted from two main areas: nutrition and physical exercise. In the case of physical exercise, the activities have the objective of favouring dynamic states of energy and vitality, which help the person to carry out the usual daily tasks, as well as to enjoy active leisure, to face excessive fatigue and finally to prevent the development of diseases related to sedentarism .

Activities can be developed to promote the following elements: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, flexibility and balance, motor coordination, body composition, among others. To work this there are many activities, for example:

  • Rhythmic gymnastics .
  • Relaxation techniques and stretching.
  • Sports like basketball or volleyball.
  • Rhythmic expressive activities such as dance.
  • Outdoor work such as aerobics or pilates
  • Swimming with joint mobility exercises.

2. Psychic-cognitive emotional well-being

This item includes a series of strategies to enhance brain plasticity and cognitive functions . This can be done precisely through cognitive training, which includes techniques for handling information such as the following:

  • Teaching relaxation .
  • Training of attention and concentration, by means of selection of relevant information (selective attention), or by performing more than one task simultaneously (divided attention) and finally activities that require long periods of concentration (sustained attention).
  • Exercises in abstract reasoning and verbal fluency.
  • Tasks of categorization, ordering and classification of the information
  • Activities for solving problems at different levels of difficulty.
  • Activities that encourage curiosity and creativity .

On the other hand, and in relation to the following point, we find emotional training, the strengthening of self-esteem and the development of skills necessary for assertive communication .

In the same vein, there is the prevention of depression and other ailments sometimes associated with old age. This can be worked on through direct accompaniment of the person in psychotherapy, but also in group sessions where experiences are exchanged. Likewise, it can be worked on by means of group or individual simulation of situations in which different emotions are triggered.

3. Socio-relational well-being

These activities are intended to foster cordial relationships, maintain social contact and increase interpersonal ties. They help to counteract feelings of loneliness and to prevent discomfort related to this life cycle. They can also strengthen social-adaptive skills.

Some examples of activities that can be carried out in this dimension are as follows:

  • To encourage the creation of membership groups according to common interests, and to carry out board games or other leisure and recreational activities .
  • Hands-on cooking workshops, including distribution of tasks for menu planning and shopping at nearby stores.
  • Group visits to shops or exhibitions .
  • Make cineforums, that is, watch and comment on films that deal with relevant topics according to your preferences and needs.
  • Talks where possible share practical information about the environment and the resources it offers.
  • Identify relevant content and initiatives to improve on the information that has been shared

Bibliographic references:

  • Bermejo, L. (2010). Active aging and socio-educational activities. Guide of good practices. Editorial Médica Panamericana: Madrid.
  • Fernández, F, Carral, J. M. and Pérez, V. (2001). The prescription of physical exercise for older people. Normative values of physical condition. International Journal of Medicine and Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport, 1(2): 136-154.
  • Limon, M.A (2011). Active aging and improvement of quality of life in older adults. Journal of Psychology and Education, 6: 225-238.
  • World Health Organization (2002). Active ageing: a policy framework. Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología, 37(2): 74-105.