Hobby for a pensioner. Where can older people spend their leisure time?

From this article you will learn:

• Why do you need a hobby club for an elderly person?
• What clubs are there for older people in Russia, and where are they located?
• What activities does the club program for seniors consist of?
• Where else can an elderly person find friends with similar interests?

According to psychologists and doctors, pensioners who do not communicate with other people are susceptible to depression and mental disorders much more than those who try to live an active life. It is for this reason that clubs for older people were created.

Why do we need an interest club for older people?

An elderly person stops being active professionally, his social circle narrows, and a feeling of physical weakness appears. Such psychological, value, and motivational changes determine a new rhythm of life. However, this feeling of emptiness can be overcome if the pensioner acquires new interests, hobbies, and hobbies. Social clubs for older people make the lives of older people active and fulfilling.

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Why do you need a club for older people? To answer this question, consider two main features of the lifestyle of retirees.

The first feature is that an elderly person leads a life unsaturated with events and activities. And minor incidents become something especially important for an elderly person. As a rule, a pensioner prepares for a doctor’s appointment in advance, and this event can occupy his thoughts and time for the whole day. Going shopping also becomes an important event for which you need to prepare. To visit a friend, you also need to gather your thoughts. In other words, the pensioner “stretches out” events. A young man perceives this as an insignificant episode, but an older man views it as something especially important. In addition, the lives of retirees are often filled with worries about one of the spheres of life. Let's consider what types of people stand out, depending on which area of ​​life they pay more attention to.

1. Family type. A pensioner pays attention to his family and is focused on its well-being.
2. Lonely guy. An elderly person fills his life with memories of the past.
3. Creative type. The elderly person is engaged in creativity, which can be realized in the form of fine arts, singing, etc.
4. Social type. The pensioner is interested exclusively in socio-political affairs.
5. Political type. An elderly person participates in political life.
6. Religious type. The aged person devotes himself to the study of the sacred scriptures, etc.
7. Fading type. The pensioner failed to make his life active and rich. And a club for older people can help him with this.
8. Sick guy. Such an elderly person is fixated on how his illness is progressing.

Of course, the proposed typology is not complete and can be expanded.

The second feature of older people is that they perceive the passage of time in a unique way. A pensioner often lives with memories of the past, and even more often with fears about the future. In this regard, older people become very careful, thrifty, thrifty.

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What advice can you give to a pensioner to make his life more active?

• Firstly , you shouldn’t be alone all the time. Grandparents should not sit in the apartment and withdraw into themselves. Encourage your elderly relative to communicate more with people. Loneliness is not something that the people around us create, it is something that we choose for ourselves.
• Secondly , there is no point in being subject to apathy. It is because of this that older people become less active and more anxious. Alas, many lonely pensioners are immersed in a string of their own thoughts. But loneliness and apathy are the most dangerous enemies of an elderly person.
• Thirdly , you can’t feel sorry for yourself. If a pensioner constantly feels sorry for himself, then we can recommend that he take care of other people and help those who now need support.
• Fourthly , you cannot despair. Thinking that “old age has arrived”, “there is only death ahead”, “life will soon end” is unproductive. Such thoughts will cause a feeling of one’s own uselessness, complete despair, and emptiness. Many people believe that old age is socially useful, because pensioners have a wealth of experience, the ability to think broadly, and transform facts and ideas into a series of life rules.
• Fifthly , it’s worth trying to start communicating with others. Visiting a club for an elderly person is the best way not to withdraw into yourself.

Of course, facing your old age is not easy. And it’s better to prepare for this in advance.

Where should an older person spend their time? Senior clubs are the best answer to this question. Such establishments appeared in Europe back in the 19th century, and, fortunately, they are becoming increasingly popular in our country. The creation of clubs for older people in Russia helps improve the quality of life of the elderly.

Pensioner and the Internet

Television is no longer relevant in the 21st century. Pensioners have been consumed by the Internet. Where, if not on the Internet, can you find like-minded people in any field of knowledge and skills? You don’t even need to leave home to apply for a group or club that interests you. The Internet provides an incredible number of options for the interests of retirees.

Do you want to learn computer? Computer courses will help you gain knowledge about the computer itself and what you can do on the Internet. After all, a virtual network is a huge library of knowledge. For many, the Internet will become a new interesting hobby that does not allow their souls to grow old. And for your household, especially the younger generation, you will significantly increase your rating by owning a computer as a confident user.

You can use your computer to spend your leisure time to your advantage. New opportunities will open up for you to maintain your accounting not on paper, but in spreadsheets. You will use Photoshop to create family photo albums and process photos. Finally, you can make money online by opening your own store, or shopping without leaving your home. Thanks to the World Wide Web, you can start selling your crafts, if you have any.

What clubs for older people are there in Russia?

Elderly people stop their professional activities and retire. The circle of friends gradually narrows, and the pensioner finds himself isolated. In order for an elderly person to feel like a full-fledged member of society, he should attend club events for elderly people.

In every city there are organizations, each of which is engaged in one of the areas of work with the elderly. For example, there are councils of labor veterans, war veterans, etc.

The club for older people operates in the following areas:

1. Social help;
2. Medical and social support;
3. Educational work;
4. Working with war veterans;
5. Organization of leisure time.

The work of interest clubs for older people is aimed at providing retirees with the opportunity to have a good time, awakening new interests in them, creating conditions for communication, and satisfying cultural and educational needs. The club for older people is engaged in providing certain services to pensioners, assistance, advice, organizing their recreation and entertainment.

In addition, the Senior Citizens' Club caters to the various spiritual needs of seniors.

There are two types of clubs for older people: at the place of work (at a plant, factory, etc.) and at the place of residence. The first type of establishment was created for retirees who are former employees of the enterprise. This club allows people who have known each other for a long time to meet. The establishment creates a special atmosphere that gives retirees the feeling that they are still part of the team. This reduces the stress associated with retirement.

The territorial club for older people is located next to the place where pensioners live. They can regularly attend club classes. Often such a club is organized in a local cultural center. Thanks to this, older people have the opportunity to participate in interesting activities. Clubs in libraries for the elderly, in cafes, and social service centers are also popular.

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Interesting hobbies for retired women

In our minds, the image of a grandmother is invariably associated with pies, homemade jam and socks knitted with her own hands on long winter evenings. However, grandmothers of the 21st century are far from this idea: they engage in fitness, visit beauty salons, travel a lot, communicate on the Internet with friends of their youth - in general, they lead approximately the same lifestyle as younger women. And, of course, they engage in various hobbies. Here are the most popular types of leisure time for women who have freed themselves from work duties and become pensioners.

Creating home comfort

Many retired women are happy to improve their own homes and create comfort in it. Some grow flowers, herbs and entire fruit trees in pots, others make designer tablecloths, potholders or homemade paintings. There are many hobbies available to retirees aimed at making home a more comfortable and beautiful place.

Cooking

This business is considered traditionally female, but actively working women, building a career and raising children, cannot spend much time on cooking. But pensioners have plenty of free time. If it is accompanied by an interest in cooking and cuisines of different countries of the world, then cooking from a routine boring task turns into an exciting hobby and a real creative process.

Traditional and new types of needlework

Traditional types of needlework - embroidery, beading, macrame, knitting, etc. - always remain relevant. Nowadays, engaging in such hobbies has become easier than before: in stores and on the Internet you can find not only the necessary materials and tools, but also ready-made patterns for embroidery or knitting.

If you want some variety, you can try making toys that will delight your grandchildren. For example, making rag dolls or knitted animals.

A more complex technology is wool felting. It requires certain skills and abilities. The fruits of creativity of lovers of this hobby do not leave anyone indifferent. In skillful hands, wool turns into masterpieces, bright and pleasant to the touch - dresses, hats, soft toys, jewelry.

Another common variety of handicraft hobbies for retirees is kanzashi, or creating flowers from ribbons, which can then be used for finishing clothes, interior design, and assembling jewelry. It requires perseverance and accuracy.

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How does an interest club for older people work?

The effective implementation of club functions is determined by many factors. It depends on how the room is equipped, who manages it, what forms of work are used, etc.

It is advisable that an elderly people's club be created near the place of residence of its members. If the club is located in a building surrounded by territory that is suitable for cultivation, then it should be used for gardening work. Retired gardening enthusiasts will enjoy the opportunity to use their abilities and skills. It is advisable to install benches and tables near the club.

A senior citizens' club is usually limited by the number of its members. Usually the club is not very large, otherwise the atmosphere of comfort and intimacy will be disrupted.

Club members meet quite often. Typically, a seniors' club organizes events once a week, but some establishments allow seniors to see each other much more often. The duration and frequency of meetings of club members depends on the wishes of older people, as well as the availability of the premises.

A good seniors' club makes connections with other community organizations. This is done to ensure that the club does not turn into a place of isolation for pensioners. Elderly people are encouraged to perform social tasks and collaborate with members of other organizations and clubs.

The intervention program plays a vital role in providing quality services to the older population. It must be carefully planned and tailored to the needs of retirees.

The Senior Citizens' Club organizes educational events. Pensioners attend lectures, courses, and classes devoted to various areas of knowledge.

Organizing clubs for the elderly is a manifestation of concern for the older generation.

Sobyanin's program for Moscow pensioners

Sobyanin’s program for pensioners caused a great stir among both pensioners and the younger generation. The fact is that many Russians of working age are concerned that their parents are forced to remain alone for a long time while their adult children work and take care of their families. Pensioners still full of strength do not know where to apply their strength, how to realize unfulfilled desires, with whom to communicate? The “Active Longevity” project was created to give the older generation the opportunity to live a full life, find new friends, and fill their leisure time with useful activities and hobbies.

The project involves different areas of activity, so every pensioner will be able to find something special that suits him. For example, the most popular were language clubs, computer classes, singing, dancing, and drawing clubs.

The project is called a pilot because it is just developing. It is planned to assess the desire of pensioners to attend clubs, actively communicate and participate in the project. After this, the most popular destinations will be selected, and those that are not in demand will cease to exist. Therefore, right now we need to be active and show that this project is really needed.

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What activities does the club program for seniors consist of?

The club's program for older people involves organizing interest groups:

1. Art section (painting, drawing, sculpture);
2. Drama club (theater);
3. Vocal and musical group (choir, instrumental ensemble). Pensioners take part in ceremonial club events and contribute to the popularization of song traditions.

The Senior Citizens' Club invites pensioners to take part in health excursions, games, entertainment, dancing, and engage in therapeutic and preventive gymnastics.

Pensioners enjoy activities that involve relaxation and entertainment. They love to do crossword puzzles, listen to the radio, read magazines, books, and participate in friendly conversations. And board games are one of the most favorite activities for retirees. Thanks to these types of activities, individuals unite into a team, forget about their loneliness, communicating with each other. If an elderly person’s club organizes public catering, the climate in the team becomes especially favorable.

The Senior Citizens' Club offers pensioners the opportunity to engage in manual work and crafts. We are talking about modeling, carpentry, weaving, metal-plastic, cutting and sewing, knitting, embroidery, photography, gardening, basket weaving, collecting herbs, etc. Pensioners participate in competitions, exhibitions, and sales of their work. And the proceeds go to replenish the club’s budget.

The Senior Citizens' Club organizes special events dedicated to holidays and birthdays of pensioners.

Typically, a senior citizens' club focuses on providing assistance to its members. For this purpose, a social support section is being created, which is engaged in identifying pensioners in need of help. Employees help the elderly, establish guardianship over them if necessary, and provide consultations.

It is important that club employees have the appropriate qualifications, are able to engage in social and educational work, and have knowledge of psychology, sociology and pedagogy. In addition, they must navigate social, medical, and legal issues.

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Directions of activities

As practice shows, the most popular activities for retirees are computer courses, gadget school, English and various types of physical education, especially in the fresh air. At the Orekhovo shopping center, older people are provided with a large selection of activities in different areas: yoga, Nordic walking, qigong, dancing, English, gymnastics, physical education and sports, information technology, arts and crafts, singing, theater studio, basic photography, chess and checkers.

Traditional board games - checkers, chess and dominoes are still relevant for the male half of humanity. They serve as a kind of ritual, combining the competitive process with the opportunity to discuss pressing problems. In addition, in old age men show creative inclinations - they begin to draw, compose stories, and write poetry. Some older men enjoy participating in organized dance or singing activities.

The most common and accessible leisure option for older women is needlework. The center offers a wide selection of activities for such pastime: knitting, embroidery, beading, modeling, etc. In addition to the obvious satisfaction, such types of creative leisure contribute to the training of fine motor skills of the hands, which, in turn, has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain.

By engaging in artistic creativity and literary activities, older people can play not only the role of participants and spectators, they can take part in organizing events. Advanced age is not an obstacle to learning foreign languages. According to the latest research, people's ability to learn does not disappear with age. Leisure based on cognitive activities slows down the aging process of the brain.

Properly organized leisure gives older people confidence in their abilities, improves their mood, well-being, and quality of life, which is the key to a happy longevity!

Where else can an elderly person find friends with similar interests other than clubs?

The nursing home offers its residents high-quality medical care and care. In addition, the establishment ensures that the interests of pensioners are met and organizes entertainment events for them.

Nursing home staff do not allow their clients to become bored and discouraged. A variety of leisure activities are held for them, and interest classes are organized. In fact, a nursing home is the same as an elderly person’s club, only the pensioner stays there all the time, and he is not only entertained, but also provided with care and medical care.

Of course, such an establishment cannot do without medical procedures. But the daily routine involves more than just that. Pensioners take walks every day, spend time on the veranda, and play board games in the fresh air.

The living rooms, lounge and dining room are equipped with TVs. Pensioners can watch TV shows, discuss the latest news among themselves, etc.

Of course, pensioners, who are accustomed to working hard in their youth, strive to actively spend their old age, despite the presence of illnesses and problems. For this reason, the following activities are offered :

• Breathing exercises;
• Physiotherapy.

Grandmothers knit, embroider, and do handicrafts. In other words, a nursing home offers retirees quality leisure time, just like a club for an elderly person. Grandfathers play chess, checkers, and dominoes. Guests are given the opportunity to learn computer literacy. In the library, every pensioner can choose a book or magazine to suit their taste.

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So that grandparents do not lose heart, gala evenings are organized for them, where they sing, dance, and communicate with each other. Local groups are invited to the nursing home to perform for the pensioners. In addition, the boarding house organizes amateur concerts, in which not only the institution’s employees participate, but also the pensioners themselves. Friends and relatives of the elderly are invited to such events.

Of course, older people get special pleasure from communicating with their peers. Living in a high-rise building, from which it is difficult for an elderly person to leave due to weakness, he loses the opportunity to fully communicate with others. Unfortunately, grandparents find themselves isolated from society. Fortunately, once at the boarding house, they again find a social circle and the opportunity for heart-to-heart conversations. Elderly people walk, talk, complain about the morals of young people, about the arbitrariness of the government, and get great pleasure from it.

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Games with pets

Interacting with animals is very beneficial for older adults. This doesn't mean you need to get a cat or dog. You can arrange a visit to the shelter or go to a special cafe where they organize meetings with animals. Or invite a retiree to your home if you have your own pet.

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In retirement, many older people are no longer able to support a cat or dog on their own. But they should still organize meetings with pets. Playing with animals helps combat depression and stress, and also relieves feelings of loneliness.