Stay Warm When It’s Cold: Winter Activities for Seniors

The winter months in Minnesota often feel like they last longer than they should. But staying busy helps pass the time until the springtime thaw, when the temperature starts to creep up and the sun hangs higher in the sky. And living in a senior community, like any of our Southview locations, offers a variety of winter activities for seniors to stay warm when it’s cold outside.

Entertainment and Games

From cards and board games to interactive indoor competitions, games present a range of opportunities for social interaction and camaraderie. Whether playing with family, friends, or neighbors, game time cultivates connections and wards off isolation and feelings of loneliness. Puzzles are another option for building bonds, working together, sharing stories, and having fun.

Through concentration, strategizing, and problem-solving techniques, playing games and working on puzzles also keeps minds sharp. This is especially beneficial for maintaining independence and lowering risk of cognitive decline. And winning a game or completing a puzzle provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Additionally, our Southview communities come equipped with onsite movie theaters and community rooms for hosting movie nights and various presentations, respectively. Residents can get together with friends to spend an afternoon or evening with a favorite film on the big screen without having to venture out in the cold. And we often book live entertainment that ranges from educational or historical seminars to live music, magic shows, and other forms of entertainment.

Light Exercise

Walking, hiking, and gardening are great activities for seniors, providing gentle movement, fresh air, and sunshine. But when it’s too cold to spend time outdoors, light exercises indoors are a good alternative.

Simple activities like chair exercises or yoga encourage movement to build or maintain strength and balance in a supportive environment. These types of exercises also accommodate different fitness levels, so all abilities can participate. The hallways within our Southview Senior Communities are open, comfortable, and well lit, making them ideal spaces for taking an indoor walk in the winter.

No matter the exercise, movement is encouraged to, among other benefits, build and maintain strong bones and muscles, improve balance and coordination, and strengthen the heart for better overall circulation. Exercise is also shown to enhance sleep quality and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Get Creative

Creating art of any kind offers a host of benefits as well as a completed project to display or otherwise share with others. Winter is a great time to let those creative juices flow and immerse them in painting, coloring, assembling, stitching, scrapping, and other forms of creativity. From art groups to woodworking classes to knitting clubs and everything in between, our Southview communities offer a variety of regular crafting activities for all interests and abilities.

Many crafting activities involve tasks that enhance motor skills, refine coordination, and improve flexibility with repetitive motions and movements. Additionally, learning new skills and following outlines or patterns strengthens memory, focus, and decision-making abilities.

Relax and Enjoy the Quiet

While the winter months are often snowy and cold, they bring about a sense of quiet and peaceful stillness that should be embraced. With no hurry or obligation to go out, winter provides a chance to slow down, relax, and reflect. In doing so, you may find yourself less stressed and anxious, and you may experience reduced tension in muscles and joints. Relaxation boosts mood and lowers blood pressure, alleviating strain on the heart.

Activities such as meditation, journaling, and reading promote relaxation as well as cognitive stimulation. Deep breathing also clears the mind, and listening to favorite music has its own calming effects while improving mood and enhancing brain function.

Stay Warm This Winter at Southview

All of our Southview Senior Communities have activities calendars filled with all kinds of winter activities for seniors to stay warm when it’s cold outside. Our events offer something for every interest and ability and provide opportunities to develop new hobbies, make new friends, and have fun. Find out what we have to offer by scheduling a tour at the Southview location nearest you.