Five rainy day activities to enjoy with elderly loved ones

The British summertime can be a great time to get out with elderly loved ones and create lasting memories. However, it is also the British summertime, so the chance of rain is still quite high.

That shouldn’t put you off spending time with your loved ones, however, whether they’re living alone, at home with you or in elderly care homes. It’s important to connect with them, reduce loneliness and create closer bonds.

There are a wealth of indoor activities that can be great for enjoying with parents, grandparents and other relatives that may be reaching their senior years, so if it’s raining today and you’re looking for something to do, here are five great options…

Indoor Picnic and Movie Marathon

A good option is bringing the cinema into your home, with a movie marathon. This can be combined with a picnic, so you can get comfy and watch some of your favourite films or TV shows.

There are a few ways you can go about this, you could watch something new or really ramp up the nostalgia levels with some classics that your loved one enjoys. It can be a great way to reminisce as well as completely relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Puzzle Time

Puzzles are great for stimulating the mind and are actually scienticially proven to boost cognitive function. You can really bond over a jigsaw puzzle, encouraging teamwork and communication.

The time really will fly by and, of course, when you get to the end of the puzzle you can share the sense of accomplishment together. Which is incredibly satisfying.

Arts and Crafts

Engage in creative arts and crafts projects together. Set up a crafting area with supplies such as coloured paper, paints, brushes, markers, or knitting materials. Choose simple and enjoyable projects like card making, painting, or knitting. Crafting promotes self-expression and creativity while providing a relaxing and enjoyable pastime. Encourage your loved one to create something special that they can keep or share with family and friends.

Baking or Cooking Together

Is there a better way to spend a rainy day than by doing some baking? If there’s a group of you you could even play Great British Bake Off, testing each other’s recipes and designating a winner. Just make sure granny wins!

Baking or cooking together can be a really rewarding activity and similarly to doing puzzles together provides a chance to work together as a team.

Indoor Gardening

Finally, while you might not be able to get out in the garden, if you’ve got a greenhouse or plenty of space inside you can bring the joy of gardening indoors.

It can provide a real sense of purpose and achievement and there’s something special about watching plants grow together over time. Opt for low-maintenance plants that are easy to care for, like succulents, herbs and return to them weekly together to see how they’re getting on. That way you’ve got an activity and hobby together that you can enjoy all summer long.