Category: Blog

Entering retirement opens up free time to pick up new hobbies that enrich your days. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding fun new pastimes suited to your interests and abilities. Here at Westminster Suncoast, we encourage residents to explore their passions. Learning new skills and sharing activities with others fosters a vibrant lifestyle.

Consider picking up these engaging hobbies to fill your calendar with joy in your retirement years:

1. Gardening

From planting flowers to pruning trees, gardening provides light activity and contact with nature. Utilizing raised garden beds can be perfect for growing vegetables, herbs and ornamentals without bending down. Joining in gardening groups at any experience level is a great opportunity to share tips and enjoy the outdoors together. Adaptive tools can make gardening possible even if you have mobility limitations. It can be wonderful to see the outdoor beauty you’ve nurtured flourish while getting your hands in the soil.

2. Arts & Crafts

Tap into your creative side by taking up arts and crafts. Options include painting, pottery, sewing, knitting, stamping, jewelry making and more. Arts and crafts provide cognitive stimulation along with producing decorative and practical items. You might even aim to showcase your creations at a community craft fair!

3. Music

Music has therapeutic effects that make it an ideal hobby. Listen to your favorite genres, learn a new instrument like piano or violin, join a choir or community band, or attend concerts for enjoyment. Singing improves mood and breathing while playing an instrument challenges your brain and coordination. You might consider sharing your musical gifts with others during open mic nights. 

4. Reading

Reading exercises your mind while transporting you to new worlds. Visit your local library, which is stocked with books including large print editions. Joining a book club can be an exciting way to discuss interesting reads with neighbors. Kindle and audiobooks make reading accessible whether at home or on excursions to the beach, park, or library. Writing your own poems, short stories or memoir lets you express yourself creatively.

5. Cooking

Cooking allows you to get creative in the kitchen and sample nourishing dishes you prepare. Whip up favorite recipes from your heritage or experiment with new cuisines from around the globe. Enjoy the fruits of your labor with friends and family – as you know, cooking is one way to demonstrate love through food.

6. Photography

Capture life’s beauty around you through the lens of a camera. Digital photography makes the hobby easy and instant. Learn new techniques like lighting, composition through classes, in-person or online. Go on photo-taking excursions to gardens, beaches and parks. Use your images to craft unique cards, calendars or photo books. Photography promotes mindfulness, visual expression and preserving memories.

7. Woodworking

Express your craftsmanship through woodworking projects. Woodworking can be an exciting way to build furniture, whittle sculptures, construct birdhouses or refinish antique pieces. Locating a skilled instructors can help you learn proper use of tools for all levels. Join a small group class and collaborate on larger pieces like benches. Take pride in handcrafted wood pieces.

8. Sports

Maintaining physical fitness through sports contributes to healthy aging. Enjoy low-impact activities like golf, tennis, bocce ball or pickleball on our courts and putting greens. Go for a swim, join a walking club or take exercise classes. Enter local senior games and competitions. Cheer on favorite professional teams. Being part of a team or fan club provides camaraderie. Adapting equipment and rules allows you to keep playing the sports you love.

The opportunities to learn new skills are endless. Our community offers the facilities, equipment and supportive environment ideal for pursuing hobbies that fulfill you. Sample new activities to add excitement to your days. Staying engaged and passionate about the things you enjoy most results in a retirement lived to the fullest.

Are you considering a move to a senior living community but worried about how you’ll keep in touch with family and friends? You’re not alone. Many future residents have the same concerns.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay connected and keep in touch with the people you care about. From FaceTime to card nights to private dining parties, residents have plenty of options to stay connected with their loved ones.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best ways to keep in touch with family and friends after moving to a senior living community.

Enjoy a video call to have a virtual visit with family or friends whenever you like

A virtual visit can help maintain ties even when residents and their friends are separated by thousands of miles. Modern technology for video calling like FaceTime makes visiting easier than ever. Video calls allow residents to enjoy a face-to-face conversation with family or friends anywhere in the world, from the comfort of their living room. No expensive travel required!

Residents can use FaceTime or video chat services like Skype, Google Hangouts and Zoom to stay in touch with those who matter most. Grandparents can share stories with grandchildren who live far away or have regular catch-ups with distant relatives. Video calling also makes it possible for to host a virtual event, like a game night or movie watch party.

Enjoy a card or board game night and mix the “old” and “new” friends

With many social connections in their current neighborhoods, the prospect of moving to a senior living community can be daunting for many older adults. Fortunately, there are plenty of in-person social opportunities at senior living communities — some of them more informal than others.
Many senior living communities have groups of residents who enjoy a night of card games or board games. Play poker, Clue, Settlers of Catan or whatever you prefer, and enjoy having social opportunities and good friends at your fingertips.

These social events offer a reason for residents to invite their friends and family members over for a night of fun and laughter. It also provides an informal setting for guests to meet other residents and engage in meaningful conversations.

For older adults who want to make sure they stay connected to their friends, one surefire way to make things more fun is to invite their “old” friends to meet the “new” at a game night. It can make for a memorable evening filled with laughter and good company — all while bonding deeper relationships with fellow residents at the same time.

Host a dinner party and let someone else do all the work

Dining is an important part of life at a senior living community. But a special event may call for having a few friends over for dinner, and who wants to do all the cooking and dishes?

That’s why many senior living communities offer residents a variety of catered dining options, to invite guests over for a special dinner party. A special menu developed with the Dining department makes it simple and convenient to plan an event. Enjoy a luxurious meal without lifting a finger!

Inviting friends and family over to experience their community is also great to help those who may be considering making the move themselves. Guests get an up-close look at the lifestyle offered at their friend’s new home. Private dining options allow potential new residents to get an idea of what life would be like for them.

From poker nights to private dinners, there are plenty of ways for residents of senior living communities to keep in touch with family and friends. To learn all about how additional socialization opportunities abound at a Westminster community, find the community that suits you today on our Web site!