Entertain yourself at home with these fun online activities.
With the ongoing pandemic and cooler weather on its way, many of us are spending more time at home than usual. Thankfully, there are plenty of activities available on your computer, smartphone, or tablet that can help you keep busy from the comfort of your home!
Check out these online activities for seniors to keep yourself entertained and intellectually stimulated:
- Taking online courses
- Blogging
- Joining a forum/hobby group
- Playing games
- Streaming music and videos
- Connecting on video chat
Below, learn more about how to enjoy these online activities for seniors!
Taking online courses
These days, online courses are available on just about every topic under the sun—often for free! Look on course websites such as:
You can learn a new language, explore history, master the principles of photography, ignite your imagination with creative writing, get healthier by studying nutrition, and so much more.
Blogging
In addition to learning new things, you can also share your own knowledge and passions by starting a blog! WordPress.com is a popular website to create a blog or website for free. You can make your blog about anything: creative writing, informative posts about topics you’re an expert on, or even memories and photos from your youth so you can share them with your family and leave a record that will last for generations.
Joining a forum/hobby group
Participating in online groups is a great way to find a social outlet with like-minded people. There are forums and other kinds of online groups for every topic you could imagine. You can share tips on photography or gardening, talk about woodworking or fixing up old cars, connect with fellow seniors on a site like SeniorForums — the list goes on! If you have a Facebook account, you can also look for groups to join there.
Playing games
Spend time battling an opponent in online versions of classic games like chess, Scrabble, or mahjong. You can also enjoy some solo challenges in online Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and word searches. Games and puzzles offer positive benefits to your brain and your mood! Want to branch out beyond classic games? Video games aren’t just for young people — seniors should play them too! A Wii is a great game console to start with, as it adds a physical element with movement-based games such as Wii Sports, which allows you to play golf, tennis, bowling, and more virtually from the comfort of home.
Streaming music and videos
You might have collected an impressive number of records, CDs, and DVDs throughout the years, but when you’re looking for something new, the internet is where to find it! Look for shows and movies on Netflix or Hulu, new music on Spotify or Pandora, or use YouTube to watch funny videos or tutorials on cooking and other skills.
Connecting on video chat
Nothing beats seeing the smiling faces of family and friends while you trade jokes and talk about life! But getting together in person can be tricky, especially during a pandemic or if you live in different places. Downloading a video chat program like Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, or FaceTime makes it easy to see your loved ones and stay in touch when you can’t be together.
For more lifestyle and wellness tips for seniors, check out the CapTel blog! In addition to all these online activities for seniors, sometimes nothing beats a good old-fashioned phone call. A CapTel captioned telephone is an excellent option for people with hearing loss, so you can read along with everything the other person says and never miss a word!
