Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Southeast Michigan Encourages You To Get A HobbyWhile we are past the age of someone telling us to “get a job,” it might be time to “get a hobby.” Whether or not you worked at something you also loved, now you can explore your passions or discover a new one by adopting a hobby. Hobbies can fill any one or more of your needs by offering relief from stress, a creative outlet, mental stimulation, physical activity, education, social interaction and more.

Opportunities for hobbies abound. Let’s look at the most popular categories of hobbies and also explore a couple that you may not have considered. Internet searches or your public library can provide more details on any about which you want to learn more.

Community gardening is a way to garden and socialize at the same time. The American Community Gardening Association (for more info go to www.communitygarden.org) says that “community gardening improves quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development; stimulating social interaction; encouraging self-reliance; beautifying neighborhoods; producing nutritious food; reducing family food budgets; conserving resources; and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education.”

Knitting and crocheting aren’t just for women – Rosey Grier, former professional football player, is well known for his needlepoint. Knitting requires two needles and a continuous strand of yarn. Circular knitting needles (long, flexible needles with a point on each end) are growing in popularity because they eliminate seams and the need to continually turn your knitting at the end of a row. Knitting is a favorite technique for making sweaters, but scarves are an easy first project.

To crochet, you only need a hook and yarn. It is a versatile and popular technique for making a variety of fashion and home decor accessories.

Model making does not necessarily mean buying a kit and constructing it. It can also include making scale models out of LEGOs or other media. Like many other hobbies, this can be a fun one to do with a grandchild or group of friends. And, just as yarn-related hobbies are not just for women, model making is not just for men, ladies.

Backgammon is a fun alternative to chess or checkers. Game pieces are moved around the board by roll of the dice and you must remove all of your game pieces from the board to win. The dice add a random element to the game, but decisions on moving the pieces around the board involve strategy for where to move and planning for counter-attacks from your opponent. Although it has transformed over the centuries, backgammon dates back to nearly 3000 B.C. In this century, you can even play backgammon online.

Bird watching no doubt offers more opportunities for viewing if you can get outdoors, but you might see some interesting specimens simply using binoculars while sitting on a patio or porch or in front of a large picture window. To attract birds to your house, build

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Southeast Michigan Encourages You To Get A Hobbyor buy a birdhouse or feeder and plant flowers that will draw them. All you really need for viewing are a good pair of binoculars, a notebook to track your specimens and a field guide. You could also take up butterfly watching.

Astronomy does not have to involve intensive training or an expensive telescope. Just some basic information and activities can help you to enjoy astronomy as a hobby from your own backyard. And astronomy is something that can grow with you as your interest grows. Primarily, astronomy involves observation, patience, and the ability to go outside, look up and observe the clear skies at night to see the changing phases of the moon, various star positions, constellations in the sky during different seasons of the year and several of the planets that are visible in the night sky. Make or buy an astrolabe to track objects in the sky using it to give you the angles and compass headings for different days and times of objects or download a star chart from www.skymaps.com.

Other hobby ideas are plentiful and include various sports and collecting. Wii™ video games offer plenty of indoor options from bowling to yoga. Collecting can involve anything from buttons to antiques. Find a free or low-cost class to try out some hobbies that might interest you before you make a commitment. Talk with friends or relatives about your interests to get their input and suggestions. These discussions might plant a good gift idea for your birthday, too, so maybe you will get those binoculars you want for birding or stargazing.

About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers provides many in-home, caregiving services for the elderly in Southeast Michigan. We offer extensive in-home care services for seniors who embrace their independence and the personal dignity that goes with it. Our in-home care services are provided by bonded and insured caregivers all of whom pass a national background check.

If a senior family member needs in-home care services in Harper Woods, Wixom, Harrison Township, Redford, Northville, Pontiac and surrounding areas, we are an excellent choice with exemplary references. In-home care is the compassionate choice for your elderly loved ones' continued independent living. We promise we will do our best to make it a positive experience for them and you. For more information, please visit: http://seniorhelpers.com/location/2601.