Autumn Activities for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

The few months of fall are the last bits of reprieve before the incoming of winter's cold grasp in the northern states. Since temperatures tend to remain brisk instead of outright chilly, our list of autumn seasonal activities for seniors will include both outdoor and indoor options.

At such a colorful time of year, there's plenty to do, see, and create even for the more dexterity and mobility challenged. A few such pastimes include...

Leaf Viewing

• One of the most popular of activities during the fall season, enjoy the changing colors of the foliage with your elderly loved ones.
• Can be done by either walking (or pushing a wheelchair) through smoothly surfaced paths or roads or by driving along tree lined streets for those seniors with mobility issues.
  

Fall Decorating

• Decorate both the inside and the outside of your home with autumn and fall themed decor & crafts. (Particularly suitable if you'll soon be hosting a bevy of visitors for an upcoming Thanksgiving dinner)
  
• For an added bit of fun, use decorations that have been created by the seniors themselves as seen in our Autumn Crafts for Seniors blog post.
  

Pressing Fall Flowers & Leaves

• Take a nature walk with seniors that doubles as a supply run for a future pressing & drying activity. Children and other helpers can be brought along for those who elderly loved ones may have dexterity issues with picking up the flowers & foliage. Otherwise, fresh leaves & flowers can be directly provided for the craft portion of this activity.
• Autumn flowers and leaves can be pressed by sandwiching them between paper and applying weight such as with heavy books or an iron.
• For more detailed instructions regarding pressing & drying plants, check out Pro Flowers or Morning Chores

Apple & Gourd Picking

• Another autumn classic revolves around harvesting fruit -- usually apples from orchards or pumpkins & other gourds from patches. Family members and other extra helpers should be brought along for those seniors with mobility or dexterity issues (especially if you know you're elderly loved one may have big eyes for big pumpkins or crates of apples)
• The gathered fruit can be used in future crafts or in baking activities with such recipes as apple cider (both hot & cold), dumplings, fruit pies, and various other recipes.
  

Football Related Activities

• The sport most connected to the autumn time of the year is football. There are many football related activities for those senior fans unable to indulge in a bit of football playing themselves. These include stadium trips, viewing parties at home, or competing in fantasy football games (which can be done online or printed out as an activity)
  

Visiting Autumn Bazaar & Festivals

• For those within easy traveling distance, a visit to the local fall festivals or bazaars that tend to crop up around this time of year can be a fun and mentally & physically invigorating experience for seniors.
• Check out the fall crafts, activities, as well as foods & drinks (some of which can be recreated by your seniors at home)

Learning to Knit or Crochet

• Fall is a good time to either learn to take-up or practice already developed skills with knitting or crocheting socks, scarves, and other warm clothes for the upcoming winter.
  
• Many seniors may already know the basics, if not, knitting or crocheting is a craft easily learned either through books or online and can be used as an exercise to help improve hand and finger dexterity.