Play time is important to everyone, no matter what your age or interest. There are many types of activities that encourage social interaction, can help with an increase in dexterity, flexibility and hand/eye coordination. Many games, such as counting card games or crossword puzzles have been known to help with memory.
Caregifters would like to encourage everyone to find something that interests them or seek a way to be active. If there is a physical issue that may discourage activity, we have a few suggestions. If you are interested in something in particular that you don't see here, give us a call.
EXERCISE
Caregifters offers many "armchair fitness" books, guides or tapes that can help to work on cardio-vascular training and can even help contour, trim and tone muscles while seated. There are also guides that help encourage activity and independence by helping individuals lose weight, avoid falls by increasing balance, increasing vitality and becoming more mobile.
CRAFTS
Many crafts can help encourage and develop personal interests and/or social
interaction at the same time. Some improve sensory motor skills, and some are just fun. As an example, making jewelry or building an airplane from a kit is easy and rewarding. Many of these projects can be worked on in a group setting or as an individual interest. Many times the project can serve a double-purpose by being a gift. Some may even like to plan an ongoing project to work on with a younger person or grandchild. It can be a very rewarding experience.
CARDS
Playing cards is good for dexterity as well as the brain. Games that require adding or bidding help keep the mind sharp and aid memory while shuffling and dealing help with dexterity. If doing these tasks is avoided because of painful arthritis, a card shuffler and card holders may come in handy. Large print cards are available for those with limited vision. The above makes a nice gift set and compliment each other nicely. 
GARDENING
Gardening is a pleasant way to spend some time. It encourages outside activity and provides fresh air along with the satisfaction of seeing a flower come in to bloom or tasting that sun-warmed tomato you just picked off the vine. Caregifters offers many tools that can help make it just a little more pleasant for the person with physical limitations.
In gardening, stooping down or bending can be difficult.
Garden stands are available to raise the garden to standing level and provide a simple solution to the pain or difficulty of stooping or kneeling. Many hand tools have large grips that help reduce stress at the wrist and hand, and some even come with a 90 degree grip for energy efficiency. Rolling stools with seat storage and a padded kneeler are other items that should be considered. Don't let small things stop you! Get out there and get dirty!
PAINTING, WRITING and READING
To encourage artistic endeavors, try applying grips to pens, paint brushes or anything that has a small diameter. These adaptations ease the stress of holding a small item and will encourage hand use. They are available in foam, triangular shape, large or small circumference and come in many styles. Some can even be permanently molded to fit the exact shape of the fingers or hand for a personal fit.
Pens come in many shapes, styles and for many purposes. One example is a "Steady Hand Magnetic Writing Instrument". People with hand tremors can write and draw with exceptional clarity with this magnetic writing tool. To help with shakiness, some 
pens come weighted. Ring pens help to avoid having to grip around a pen (they are
worn similar to a ring). Other ideas aid in holding the pen and wrap around the palm area to help secure the tool for writing.
If reading is difficult because of page turning or simply holding a book, there are many styles of book tables, page turners, reading desks and portable book holders available to suit most reading needs.
Caregifters Caregiver Tips
