10 Creative Indoor Activities for Seniors

• Watch British royalty and drama movies like “The Queen,” “The King’s Speech,” “Downton Abbey,” or “Elizabeth” while enjoying tea with scones, cucumber sandwiches, and shortbread cookies.
• Enjoy seasonal favorites, depending upon the season, such as “Holiday Inn,” “White Christmas,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” or “Meet Me in St. Louis” while eating gingerbread cookies with hot cocoa or apple cider. For Valentine’s Day, choose classic romance movies like “Grumpy Old Men,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “An Affair to Remember,” or “Singing in the Rain.”
• Have a Western roundup watching “The Searchers,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “High Noon,” or “True Grit” while eating chili and corn muffins and drinking beer – or root beer – in mugs.

Or, watch alone – you can pick your favorite theme and movie!

2. Create a memory jar

Fill a jar with handwritten notes of cherished memories or things you’re grateful for. This uplifting project brings joy all year. Organise My House presents detailed instructions and free printables that can be used to jazz up your jar.

3. Explore the world from your couch

Use virtual reality or online tours to “visit” famous landmarks, museums, or exotic locations from the comfort of your home. Here are a few examples: 

• Visit The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and explore their famous art collections, including the Mona Lisa, online. 
• Experience the beauty of Yellowstone National Park and see a 360-degree view of Old Faithful. 
• Walk along The Great Wall of China and view panoramic views on a virtual tour. 

These virtual experiences provide a captivating way to explore the world without the need for travel!

4. Organize a book club

Gather a group of friends virtually or in person to discuss books, share recommendations, and connect over shared interests. Before first meeting, have each friend suggest books (anonymously, if you’d like). You can create a list of suggestions to have at the first meeting, then come to a consensus on the chosen book. You may want to consider availability of books for members who want to check books out of the library or “read” the audio version, as well as length. The books that aren’t chosen may be added to a list of books to consider next. 

5. Try chair yoga or tai chi

These indoor activities for seniors support both peace and physical health. Gentle indoor exercises like chair yoga or tai chi promote relaxation and flexibility and are perfect for any fitness level. YouTube offers a myriad of channels that will offer instruction in both. 

For chair yoga, check out:

• Yoga with Adriene: Offers gentle chair yoga sessions focusing on flexibility and relaxation for seniors.
• Breathe and Flow: A channel with beginner-friendly chair yoga practices.
• Sarah Starr’s Chair Yoga: Specifically designed for seniors, featuring calming and accessible routines in nature’s settings. 

For tai chi, try:

• Dr. Paul Lam – Tai Chi for Health: Features free beginner tai chi lessons, with an emphasis on health benefits.
• Silver Sneakers: Their YouTube channel includes tai chi and other fitness routines for older adults to help build balance and reduce falls for older adults. 

6. Get creative with adult coloring books

Coloring is a relaxing, meditative activity that also sparks creativity. Look for books with intricate designs or calming themes based on your comfort level. Choose from many adult coloring book options online to have them delivered directly to your home. Before you check out, decide on a medium – crayons, colored pencils, gel pens, pastel pencils, or markers – and choose one that works best for your level of hand dexterity. If you want to dive deeper into the world of adult coloring, check out this guide for product reviews, basic instructions, and more. 

Related: Introduce more creativity to your loved one’s life

7. Attend online classes or workshops

From cooking demonstrations to art tutorials, online classes are a wonderful way to learn something new without leaving home.

• Cooking: Check out the Allrecipes YouTube Channel for easy-to-follow tutorials. 
• Arts and crafts: Learn through these interactive courses by the Museum of Modern Art. 
• Singing: Singing offers many benefits, including improving respiratory health and cognitive function! Check out the free singing classes and warm-up exercises offered at Sing Up. 

8. Play brain-boosting games

Games as indoor activities for seniors provide amusement and mental stimulation. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or jigsaw puzzles keep your mind sharp and provide hours of entertainment. 

If you have used up all of your crossword puzzle and Sudoku books, check online for a myriad of apps that are compatible with your smart phone, tablet, or laptop for a steady supply of new games. 

You could even choose to host a game gathering for friends, with board games, cards, and even video games. That can help fulfill your social needs, too.

Related: Free online games for seniors 

9. Learn a new craft

Try knitting, crocheting, painting, or jewelry making. Premade craft kits make it easy to get started with minimal supplies.

Knitting and crochet promote relaxation, and improves hand dexterity, while making beautiful handmade items like scarves or blankets. Try the Lion Brand Yarn Kits and We Are Knitters kit to get started. 

Painting or watercolor allow you to get creative while improving focus and fine motor skills. Beginners can follow tutorials in kits like Canvas By Numbers or Masterpiece by Numbers to create stunning landscapes or abstract art.

If you like to wear your art, try Artbeads to express your creativity. 

10. Cook or bake something new

Experiment with a new recipe or bake a batch of cookies. Cooking can be both therapeutic and rewarding.

Search the internet for “easy baking recipes” like these, and scroll the pages for inspiration. Not able to go to the store? Check out a service like InstaCart for grocery delivery to your front door. 

Whether you are alone or with others, these indoor activities for seniors provide a blend of relaxation, learning, and creativity, ensuring that staying indoors is stimulating and fun.