The month of August brings along with it the prospect for senior citizens to participate in a wide array of fun activities to kill time productively. These indoor and outdoor activities appeal to numerous adults as they cover a diverse range of themes and calendar dates.
Do you prefer soaking in the sun, or do you enjoy a worthwhile experience that does not require leaving the comfort of your home? Worry not, for we have concocted an elaborate list of both indoor and outdoor activities to help you find an exciting recreation that is apt with your overall liking. So, keep scrolling to find senior activities that will make this August enthralling!
Golf
Golf is undoubtedly one of the most widely played sports among seniors in not only America but also around the world. There are several ways you can include golf into your everyday life: join the membership of a nearby golf course, participate in a golf tournament, or even set up a golf course on your own lawn.
Berry Picking
Be it raspberries or strawberries or even blueberries, every person loves some kind of berries! Gather all your friends who love the same berries as you do and embark on a field trip to do a little berry picking. You could then use those hand-picked cherries to whip up some scrumptious dishes for a potluck with your fellow berry-lovers, or better, have a cooking face-off!
Art and Culture
If you are a keen art and culture enthusiast, try hosting appreciation talks for your favorite arts and celebrate their work by presenting digital slide shows of their masterpieces. To bring out the Picasso within you, choose an artwork that is close to your heart and take your spin on it to create a piece of your own. It could be anything ranging from the folk art style of Grandma Moses to the cottages and churches of Thomas Kinkade.
Games
Playing board games and mind games amount to one of the top august activities for seniors. One such game that has proved to be quite popular among elders is the Invention Game. The past century was marked by innumerable technological innovations and inventions: filling a table with photos of such inventions and asking the participants to guess what year it was invented makes for a great mental exercise!
Foot Health
Heel pain and other foot health problems are commonplace among seniors and can adversely affect the quality of activities they are spending time on! So, why not utilize this month to promote foot health and employ different foot-relaxing techniques. Take a helping hand from youtube to learn about trigger points and foot reflexology. Go to your local massage salon to enjoy a deeply relaxing foot massage and say goodbye to foot pain!
Cooking
If you enjoy cooking, this would be a great time to sharpen your culinary skills and let your creative juices flow. You could do so by playing with different ingredients and experimenting with weird combinations to make different types of sandwiches. Although if you feel that cooking a sandwich is too arduous, you could opt for other related activities, such as hosting a sandwich buffet or showing kids how to cut the bread into various shapes with cookie cutters.
Go to a Park
Spending time in a park creates a soothing and relaxing effect on both your body and mind. You could either visit a park alone and enjoy your coffee or invite other friends to have a game of chess. However, if you do not have access to a nearby national park, make up for it by attending a virtual tour via a digital slideshow. There are also loads of pictures of national parks surfacing online Viewing large images of natural beauty is soothing and inspiring.
Special Days in August
If you or your group take a keen interest in literature, art, food, sports, or a particular culture, the following commemorations and dates will help you find the most suitable senior activities:
August 2 – Signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
This day calls for a zealous red, white, blue celebration. You could incorporate these colors into your home decor, dishes, or even in your clothes!
August 2 — National Ice Cream Soda Day
Ice cream float or soda fountain -a mixture of ice cream and a soft drink- was created in the 19th century and ever since then has been a childhood favorite for all generations. Doubtless, many of your acquaintances would remember the traditional soda fountain from the early years of life, so ask them about their favorite flavors and prepare a few to serve in your next get-together.
August 4 – National Chocolate Chip Day
The use of chocolate chips is not just limited to cookies; in fact, it serves as a great topping over ice cream, cakes, croissants, and other sweet delectables. On National Chocolate Chip Day, think beyond the horizons and add chocolate chips to different recipes!
August 7 – Friendship Day
Friendship day is an ideal theme to celebrate for seniors, especially those living alone in senior communities. Do some special activities together, and encourage including new people. Many communities have people who find it hard to make new friends, so it is an excellent day to help everyone get to know each other better and create a closely-knit community.
August 9 – Book Lover’s Day
A designated reading time with snacks and beverages along with good conversation are the key ingredients of a perfect evening for this special day. Furthermore, it is also the perfect day to launch a book club if you don’t already have one.
August 10 – National S’mores Day
A special day for S’mores? Yes, you read right. This calls for sitting around a campfire or grill with some crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars. Though these essential ingredients make a classic S’more, you could surprise others by adding a special ingredient.
August 11 – Baseball Fans Day.
Baseball is a great theme for August senior activities. Get out the baseball paraphernalia (or use a baseball theme for a craft), decorate tables, make some ballpark food, and have a baseball party. For those who can, attend a local game, or have a game of wiffle ball in your yard.
August 13 – Annie Oakley’s Birthday (1860).
The wild, wild West is a big part of American history. With her birthday in August, it is a perfect time for a senior party. Annie was one of the few well-known women of this era, having great target and shooting skills. So put out a few hay bales, a few toy pistols, get some country music, pull out that barbeque, and go for a safe shooting game with your group of seniors!
Be sure to wear a cowgirl or boy hat, or go all out in jeans and a western shirt.
August 15 – National Lemon Meringue Pie Day.
Lemon is a luscious flavor for summer, and a lemon pie is a favorite of many. So do consider including it in your dessert or snack time on this day.
August 16 – International Tell A Joke Day. Joke books are easy to find, including at the library. So invite your elderly to lunch or dinner with a small informal comedy stand-up.
August 17 – Davy Crockett’s Birthday (1786).
To celebrate this American folk hero, “King of the Wild Frontier,” has a western-themed party or special western type meal, and don’t forget your coonskin cap. To add to the ambiance, add a few toy rifles and a bow. You can also watch lots of old shows on Davy Crockett, with Fess Parker being a famous one. We also recommend learning a bit of history about the Battle of Alamo, where Davy died.
August 19. National Aviation Day with Orville Wright’s birthday (1871).
Some folks are real aviation fans. So if you have a chance to go to an air show in August, work it into your aviation celebration. You may also watch documentaries and movies about the Wright Brothers and the history of aviation.
August 21 — National Senior Citizens Day.
Just like all groups, Seniors have a national day to celebrate as well. Visit your friends or call them over, have quality time with your family, or dedicate the day to yourself.
August 23 – Buttered Corn Day.
In the Midwest, August is the month for corn on the cob. If this day works out for you, have a picnic with corn as the highlight. Shucking corn is much more than what it seems: many treat it as a social activity to enjoy.
August 26 – National Dog Day.
So many seniors have or had pets. Include pets in your August senior activities, especially dogs. Invite others with pets to bring them on over for your group to enjoy. Petting, holding, and playing with dogs is very therapeutic for seniors. You can use a dog theme in your crafts as well.
August 26 – Women’s Equality Day.
On this date, the 19th Amendment of Women’s Right To Vote was certified as law. In 1971 Congress designated this day for women’s equality. There is a short film about this issue called “Equality, I Am Woman.” Celebrate women’s contributions, whether in the arts, education, sports, science, medicine, politics, volunteering, on this day. You may also have someone in your group who did something outstanding. Or who fought for women’s rights. Many may have memories of how things have changed for women over the decades.
August 27 – Banana Lovers’ Day.
If you like bananas and their crafts, August 27 is the day for you. There are plenty of ways to enjoy this nutritious fruit. Some foods to try are banana splits, frozen bananas, bananas dipped in chocolate, banana cream pie, simple banana cake, and banana bread. You can also just put bananas in your breakfast cereal.
August 28 – Martin Luther King’s speech.
Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech (1963) on this date. With an audience of 250,000 civil rights supporters, the sermon remains a masterpiece to this date. Get a copy of the speech from your local library, printing out meaningful quotations onto small tent cards for the middle of your tables. You can also print out a picture of Martin Luther King to add to the tent card if you’d like.
August 30 – National Toasted Marshmallow Day.
Toasting marshmallows over a grill or fire is a tradition and perfect for August senior activities. Combine it with a picnic or outdoor games. You can also use them in s’mores with graham crackers and squares of chocolate.
August 31 – Eat Outside Day
If having an outdoor picnic is on your checklist for August senior activities, then there is no better day than August 31st. To make your picnic more interesting, add a party theme such a western party or a fish fry theme.
The Takeaway
There are several ways to enjoy the days of August, beyond the limitations of age and time. Choose the ones you love and have a fun-filled August! Have a look at our Jazz July Senior Activities and Senior Activities in April as well!