How to Keep Hobbies Alive When Moving to Assisted Living

Benefits of Hobbies for Older Adults

Why is it important to carry your hobbies with you as you downsize or make a care change in your life? Being engaged in hobbies has a number of benefits for adults, including:

• Improved mental health. Doing something you enjoy can reduce stress, cut down on anxiety and otherwise lead to better mental health outcomes.
• Better physical health. Hobbies that increase your movement lead to more exercise, which can have positive impacts on physical health.
• Enhanced cognitive function. Many hobbies require you to solve problems, do math or otherwise use your brain, which can help keep your cognitive muscles working better.
• The potential for more social connections. Shared interests open the door to social connections, making it easier to make new friends or offering a reason to get together with old ones.
• An outlet for creativity. Hobbies that involve making something allow you to use creativity, which can increase confidence and reduce stress.

Some Hobbies to Consider in Retirement

Many residents move into our assisted living communities with hobbies they already enjoy. However, if you’ve never had a hobby before or you’re looking to branch out into a new one, some options to consider include:

• Painting
• Knitting
• Scrapbooking
• Making pottery
• Playing a musical instrument
• Gardening — indoors or out
• Reading
• Starting a book club
• Doing jigsaw puzzles
• Sewing
• Woodworking
• Volunteering
• Taking photographs

Tips for Staying Active With Your Hobby After Moving Into Assisted Living

If you’re worried about maintaining an active hobby after moving into an assisted living community, consider this perspective: It might be easier to participate in your hobby once you make the change. When you don’t have to maintain your home and can rely on the community dining room for delicious, nutritious meals, you free up time to do what you want.

Here are some tips for making hobbies work in assisted living.

Use Community Spaces

Ask staff if you can use activity rooms, library spaces, outdoor gardens or the dining room to work on your hobby. Using larger community spaces to spread out your supplies or work on larger projects can be helpful when you’ve downsized into a smaller apartment. Hobbies that might work well in communal spaces are those that are fairly quiet and don’t involve any supplies that give off scents or fumes. Scrapbooking and quilting are ideal examples.

Organize and Downsize Your Hobby Supplies and Equipment

Consider how you can enjoy your hobby in a more portable fashion, with fewer supplies or smaller equipment. If you’re an avid reader, convert to a Kindle or other e-reader so you don’t need a lot of space for books. If you crochet, work on a single project at a time and avoid stocking up on yarn for future projects so you don’t have to store an entire stash.

When it makes sense to keep supplies on hand or you run into a great deal you can’t pass up, consider ways to organize and store items while reducing the space they take up. For instance, drawing and coloring supplies like markers, pencils and pens can be stored in stackable bins you can organize on shelves.

Ask Staff for Support Where Appropriate

Talk to assisted living staff about your hobbies. Consider asking for help if you need assistance setting up or moving equipment or supplies into your apartment. You might also ask for assistance facilitating group sessions so you can work on your hobby alongside others who enjoy similar pursuits.  

Take Part in Group Activities

When you move into an assisted living community, check out the activity calendar. Look for activities that align with your hobbies and interests. For example, if you enjoy scrapbooking, you might have fun at a card-making activity. Joining in on an activity you already enjoy is a great way to meet other residents and start making friends in your new home.

Be Open to New Hobbies

As you adjust to life in your new home, be flexible and open to new hobbies. The freedom assisted living affords can open your schedule a bit, making room for new interests, and you might have access to classes and activities where you can learn new skills. You can also meet friends who are excited to share their interests with you. By staying open-minded, you can quickly adapt to your new lifestyle and find numerous benefits — even beyond hobbies.