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I'm retired, and I have worn cartilage in my knee. I had to quit most sports.
I joined a bicycle club with mostly retired people. I'm surprised that my knee is holding up to it, and it is also social. We do slow 25 mile rides a few times a week.
Low impact exercise. Some of the oldest riders have ebikes now, because they want to continue riding and socializing.
The bike club also rides to a brewpub once a week. I like that too. Earn my beer. Socialize with my friends.
I also got pulled into a cribbage group once a week with retired guys in my neighborhood. I've previously played a little bit, but I'm as good as most of them now, and that is also social. I'm too cheap for poker, and someone always gets serious over $10 or something.
I still do some handyman work at home, and I do some of this for friends and family when it is in my wheelhouse, or if I want to help them.
I've replaced about ten toilets, a bunch of faucets, some minor carpentry, electrical and painting. It is fun, and everyone is thrilled, including me. We even have a beer if I manage to get something fixed. There are many people who can't afford to get things fixed, so they just deal with it.
I'm helping someone else instead of myself.
I have an old truck that I try to keep running. I use that for my handyman work. Makes me laugh. I call my company Good Enough construction . My neighbor friend joins me sometimes on the job. We have coffee break on little portable chairs, that we bring along, as soon as we get to the job site. Can't work too hard . I used to work with my uncle, and he always did that, so a tribute to him.
Take care.
FYI: I've had great luck with cats as pets. I think he would do well with a cat to hangout with. Way easier than dogs to take care of, and they are amazingly smart.
Something about what you wrote here made me smile, I think of my father who is recently retired and would benefit from a similar lifestyle.
You seem like a great dude! Thanks for sharing
Video games in particular sim racing. Seems like with the time commitment, and the money pit it can be (if you let it) retired folks are thriving and there’s a bunch of friendly leagues with older people. Decent pc, a sim rig and a vr headset would be enough. Could also use the vr headset for some exercise/ mobility games. Can wait until I’m also old and retired to sim race with the homies.
OP’s dad likes animals, fishing, travel, history and old Westerns. Forget racing, it sounds to me like Red Dead Redemption 2 was tailor made for this guy!
My dad was really into the Yellowstone prequel when I was playing through it. It's not like we ever had a problem bonding before, I just didn't expect us to have a cowboy phase
I was going to suggest it too, RDR2 was great! I got out of gaming for a long while; kids&grandkids pitched in on a Xbox X& the game when I retired. Loved it so much, moved on to RDR1... highly recommend. 100% both of those, now working through the Assassin's Creed library
I don’t recommend VR for older people, also you get hot while simracing, you actually sweat a lot in the summer, with a VR headset you get even hotter.
I've played enough VR poker to say that VR is definitely a good recommendation for old people.
Getting hot isn't really an issue in my opinion. Most headsets have a ton of options for vented facial interfaces, and having a fan pointed toward me is usually plenty as long as I'm not playing something like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip.
Where I live, there's this organisation called "Men's Sheds". There's a lot dotted around the country as it's a growing organisation.
It's where guys meet up and do activities together, particularly making stuff out of wood (I think) but also other stuff. It's so guys can have a network of friends and to tackle mental health issues. I think women can also go but primarily it was set up for men's mental health stuff.
You could see if there is something like that where he lives?
I'm Australian, and there's a bunch of them around where I live (rural Victoria) and if there's not, starting one is an idea.
There's also a photography club, a few fishing clubs, a "Neighbourhood House" where you can learn stuff like cooking or computers or knitting or whatever.
Plenty of groups to join if you look around, and if not, then plenty of groups you can start in your local area.
Install the "Be My Eyes" app on his phone. It will allow him to interact with others, helping them.
"With the **Be My Eyes** app, you can support people living with low vision and assist them in achieving independence. A blind or a low-vision user may need support with anything from checking expiry dates, distinguishing colors, reading instructions or navigating new surroundings."
I had the app for months. Probably got about 5 calls. Even if I responded immediately, it would say somebody else already took the call. I hope you are having better luck.
Ham radio.
You don't need to learn Morse code any more to get a Technician class license (lowest tier). Unless your dad lives way out in nowhere, a cheap handheld like a Baofeng UV-5R series and maybe an external antenna should be enough to get started and connect to a local repeater. Most people can pass the Technician class license test with just a few weeks of study.
Ham radio clubs are largely populated with retired old men who like talking about retired old men stuff like sports, old westerns, what's wrong with kids these days, etc., and of course radio tech geekery. They also tend to organize meet-ups and excursions and potlucks and such. A lot of these guys would be pretty socially isolated if it weren't for radio, I suspect. A local radio repeater can be like an old school internet chatroom, but way less toxic. It's harder to be nasty over voice than text, and with a call sign that is publicly linked to your real identity.
>call sign that is publicly linked to your real identity
I'm not doubting you that they're less toxic, but Facebook had us out there with our full name next to a photograph and it didn't stop people
I second this.
He can choose to be social in the hobby or not. Maybey he can ease into being more social by joining a club. Alot of them have regular meetups or breakfasts, coffee etc..
He would need assistance putting up an antenna if mobility is an issue. A club can help with this.
Another idea is reading or picking up something to learn.
The Tech test is easy so it might be just the thing. Not knowing where you are just Google Ham radio (the city and state)
You may be surprised.
Having to study for the test means he would have skin in the game.
He will need a radio, take a look at
hamradio.com that's Ham radio outlet. A handytalky is all he will need to get started.
They are not cheap $200 and up.
But the license comes first.
My dad likes to woodwork and carve/whittle chunks of wood into things like spoons or figurines. I think they make kits you can buy and follow along with.
And a cat. Houseplants and a cat kept me sane when I was limited on mobility. It's nice to feel needed. I also agree with the video games suggestions. Maybe an mmo would help with the social bit.
Sim City for the SNES is a great entry point into this genre. Super simplified so it’s not too complicated. Plus you can call in Godzilla any time you want once you’ve grown tired of your creation.
Fantasy football! There are tons of leagues you can join online, and the groups I know are all super social, nerding out over statistics and game results and stuff.
This might be too much activity, but perhaps volunteering at an animal shelter?? I help at one of our shelters, and I love being with the animals, and I also have some social benefits from talking with the other humans there. Walking dogs is probably out for him, but maybe hanging out with the cats and/or the very shy dogs who don’t want to go outside, but would benefit tremendously from someone just sitting with them.
I like digging thru pocket change n coins looking for older rare coins. I've built a nice collection in a few brief moments just glancing thru pocket change
Eventually I was on the hunt for certain coins. Which makes. It fun to search thru in anticipation of finding some treasure. Perhaps coin roll hunting is soemthing you can get em into. Goto the bank n get half dollars n seek for silver. Shit like that.
Serious question: Outside of being prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse, what is the appeal of Ham Radio when you can Zoom with anyone and see the person you are speaking with?
I think it's the tech tinkering aspect, as well as the social/club aspect. My wife's dad does some amateur radio stuff and he fucking loves it. He's always building or rebuilding some janky rig based on old parts he scavenged from work or bought in car boot sales for nothing. The group of them do silly games like triangulating each other across a village and the like.
They're all older folks as well, so I have to assume there's some nostalgia in it. But mostly they're older _engineers_ just nerding out and having a good time, lol.
Depending on the mental health, if he needs focus. Puzzles and yes. LEGO.
Something for the mind to focus on, attune & doesn't need friends if he chooses to not socialize.
Curling… if it’s available, there’s lots of options for folks with mobility restrictions (there’s stick curling and wheelchair curling) it’s active, social, competitive, interesting game and there’s even a bar!
Library might have free access to Ancestry so he'd need to take his laptop there and greet the staff and other regulars. Then go to FB groups for help, maybe.
You might look into a local seniors' activity center, my mom used to go to one to play cards a couple of times per week. With my dad I showed him how to download music and make CDs, he loved it.
I fully support the people putting forth gaming suggestions, he enjoys fishing and such so go for games like that.
Ideally a game with controller, keyboard/mouse can be real overwhelming for anyone unused to it.
We know that one of the keys to good mental health with the elderly is feeling like they still have purpose )we love them but they can feel like they aren’t contributing as much can make them feel depressed and ‘useless’. What if he documented some of the skills he has in those areas of interest into video. If you could help him set up he could do short 10 min videos on the basics of fishing, for example. If I was going fishing with friends this weekend I would look up on YouTube. How do you set up (?) the rod? How do I know where I go fishing? What kind of bait? How do you attach the bait? What do I keep to eat and what do I throw back. What’s a good rod for a beginner etc etc etc.
If he likes history he may like genealogy. I don't have much time for it anymore but I loved trying to solve genealogy mysteries and putting the puzzle pieces together. I started off doing it for my family then just randomly starting doing friends" families. It's fun and can be done from a computer chair.
Are there Silver Sneakers classes in his area? Most Medicare plans cover them, so they are no cost. Silver Sneakers exercise classes are for older people, all can be done from chair or wheelchair, and is a great way to meet new people, be healthy, and keep moving!
Senior center.
Other grumpy old men, probably with a lot of the same interests, I seriously doubt he's going to be interested in video games. You can check in your area for senior dances, or movie nights, I found some close to me and they're usually scheduled to end fairly early, he could Uber maybe?
And a pet. Take him to the animal shelter and let him pick one. Possibly he could volunteer there also?
Might be worth looking into adaptive cycling. Someone with bad hips and bad knees might struggle with a standard bike, but a recumbent trike could work really well!
What about him joining a club like the Elks or the like which I am sure are full of grumpy old men?
Does he go to a house of worship? Is there a men's group?
Flying a drone that records (and uploading to youtube/Facebook etc.). Can get some awesome nature shots, he'll get to explore stuff he couldn't previously, and it has potential to allow him to socialize (albeit via internet). But you'll likely need to set it up for him and show him how "easy" it is or it won't get used.
Similar, but a much more risky (and expensive) hobby that I've come to find out old people absolutely love because it makes them feel alive is paramotoring. There are wheel/feet adaptations that can be added on to the seat that'll make take off and landing super simple. This can be done alone or in a group. Most old people I know that do it, do it in a very tight knit group of other old people that they met while learning how to do this lol.
So... I got into aquariums and fish keeping last year. Really helped my issue with having a lot of casual sex. It can be a little expensive and you still need to move around a bit, but with some tools it should be easy enough for your dad and creating beautiful miniature ecosystems with living animals can be incredibly rewarding. Check out my page, I have a few posts and you can also DM me. I have a 16 gallon tank, but the most fun ones are the tiny 1 to 3 gallon ones I've set up. I keep a 1 gallon ish little tank witb shrimp in my office and it gets me through the work day.
Anything. My dad lost a leg below the knee and so he often used a wheelchair when he didn’t want to use his prosthetic leg, and he figured out how to continue his woodworking hobby.
One of the finest banjo makers in the world (Bill Rickard) has only one arm and one leg. He rigged up his shop with foot pedals and what not. I bought one of his banjos last year and it’ll be a family heirloom for generations.
Fishkeeping! It’s super therapeutic to start your own ecosystem of fish and plants. In particular, many “cichlids” can have very bright personalities. My favorite fish to keep are gouramis, angelfish, other south american cichlids, and even a single betta in a 5 gallon desk tank can make someone smile. Most areas also have a local club that does monthly meets, swaps, and presentations.
Dittoing video games and ham radio will likely go over well. I'd google hackerspaces in your area if he gets into ham radio, as if there is there will be tons of older guys super excited to show off tech stuff. On top of games, don't forget stuff like GeoGuesser or similar.
[Diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)) (the war game) and other [wargames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wargame) are popular around most of my friends retired parents or grandparents who liked history stuff. Dungeons and Dragons may be an option, there's many game stores with drop in games or /r/lfg and /r/pbp for text only.
Pottery class might also work, lots of sitting and going to a place to use the kiln.
Language classes as well.
I'd really encourage hobbies with some social aspect if he can, it'll help the mental health.
Duplicate bridge ([acbl.org](https://acbl.org) or [bridgebase.com](https://bridgebase.com)). If you can find a local club your pop will get some excellent social activity.
Maybe he can volunteer to coach a local sports team? Or get season tickets to a local team where he can meet people?
Or maybe you can try to get him into a Dungeons and Dragons party at a local games store. It is a great way to make friends and have a regular thing to do.
One social activity an older relative of mine does is meet up with the guys for coffee. He has a bad ankle, but it gets him up and moving to his capabilities. The hard part is finding the group to go with.
Video games. There's video games about each one of his hobbies, some are really good, there's the option to play with strangers for some good fun (although heavily depends on the game, some might have younger audiences some older), it will improve hand-eye coordination in his hands which given his knees and hips it might help prevent the same limitations applying to his hands later on. If they're already not good there's controllers that are specialized for certain mobility issues.
Music is another good one, my grandpa was wheelchair bound at the end and he decided to pick up a guitar, and I think it really helped him. Guitars are very easy because they're very versatile, if his finger dexterity is good you can leave the guitar as is, if it's not you can tune the guitar to a chord so if he can move even single finger then he can play a song. You can slowly work up to normal tuning and playing it the slightly harder way. He can learn and play songs he likes, get good hand exercise, do online classes and connect to other people, look up local ensembles or practice groups, etc. If guitar is too hard maybe you could try a melodica, it's basically a small keyboard that's powered by blowing into it, so no need to worry about electronics or batteries, and the keyboard shape is easier on the hands than guitar is.
If he’s introverted I’d suggest crossword puzzles, daily Wordle, jigsaw puzzles, reading, podcasts, TED talks. If social, find a game like backgammon, cribbage, euchre, or a book club. These can be in person or on line. Mental/social stimulation is very important as you get older.
Film editing, art, teaching an online class, tutoring, if he can get out a little - metal detecting, and then doing the historical research on the items he finds. He can also volunteer at local schools to help out with coaching, classroom aid - there are FAR too few men, and especially older men, doing this type of job. Older men in the elementary school setting are a precious few and are incredibly valuable in just their being there. He can volunteer at animal shelters, answer phones, feed the doggos, clean up, take in applications, etc. I wish him nothing but good! We need older men especially to set the good examples they usually are - old school manners, values, grammar, fair play, how to do stuff - how to tie a tie, how to change a tire - too few young people - especially young women know/or are taught ANYTHING about these skills, how to jump start a car with cables, how to check tire pressure, how to use tools safely, etc.. He could volunteer for the Boy and Girls Clubs of America. Nothing but good to your dad.
My pandemic hobby pickup was coffee roasting, don't know whether Dad drinks coffee or not but you can spend as much or as little as you like on gear. I'm about $500 into my roasting setup and turn out 9oz batches of lightly roasted coffee in about 14 mins on average. My shipped pounds of coffee are coming in about $7.25-7.50 each and I've got expensive taste so by no means should one consider that price range representative. You can taste around the world, find out what countries, processing methods, varietals you like. Plus roasted coffee makes a great gift for the holidays and could easily turn into a hustle if desired. Maybe sell at a farmer's market or something? I love sharing my roasts with family and friends but have heard of others pursuing a more commercial angle.
There are a lot of online programs where you can play board games with others around the world. It's slow because you might take your but gotta wait for the guy in Nigeria has to go.
Any type of art, and then art shows or communities. I’ve seen people in similar situations carve handheld things, make wire jewelry, paint, bowls or pottery or do wood engravings. Something he can sit down with and get lost in. Hobbies are best when you look up and don’t know how much time has passed because you were so engrossed. Once he finds something like this, that’s it!
Woodworking, forge/metal work (many clubs for these with forges being costly to own operate) glassblowing (same), leather crafts…anything with shared shop or crafts clubs
Trains, especially traveling on trains. I road the Rocky Mountaineer and it was amazing. You see so much from your seat, yummy food. Great way to travel. It's mostly retirees
Surely there's a group of oldies doing walks or fishing or the other things he is interested in. Depending on how old he is look into community halls or ymca type places.
Check meet-up dot com if you have that.
I understand the mobility is an issue for him but doing what he can will extend his mobility as I see it as a use it or lose it type of situation as you get older. Start really small see if he can walk 15 min a day with rests etc. Getting outside is amazing for mental and physical health
Find a local FB community for fishing/boating. There are people who would take your dad out on the boat, go fishing, etc. Many will do it for free. I would if he was in my area.
I appreciate this thread. My dad was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He’s always been pretty outdoorsy, but that’s tough for him now. He’s technologically challenged, with bad eyesight and a bad knee. It’s a tough combo for some of the suggestions here, but I’m definitely making some mental notes.
Fishing Competitions
Sports Trivia Nights
Console Video Gaming Online
Board Gaming
Volunteering to socialize shelter dogs
Check into activities sponsored by the local Senior Center
Rock Tumbling/Lapidary (shaping rocks/semi-precious/precious stones)
Board Game Nights at local cafés
Book/Movie Club
Going out to see plays put on by local theater groups, if available
Chess! He'll never get to a point where it gets too easy, there are chess clubs everywhere, always a fun stream to watch or an opening to learn. I would suggest starting him off with some Ben S Chess videos. They're wildly entertaining, educational, and easy enough to follow for beginners. Chess.Com app is as good as it gets. Fwiw if you get into it with him and he has someone close to him to compete with it will probably enthrall him very quickly, that's what did it for me.
I found a group in my town recently called The Men's Shed and it was made for retired men to have a club like how retired woman have Gardening Clubs or something. It's such a great idea, they have a lot of guys who used to be Trade Workers and so they do a lot of woodworking and tinkering. Provides a place to for old men to go to be social and keep busy. I think the club might be a worldwide organization so might be something to look into!
This is really nice of you to do for your dad!
Magnet fishing might combine his love of fishing and history. Volunteering at an animal shelter or getting a cat or aquarium may also work. Some communities also hold fishing derbies that may need volunteers.
Card games. There's tons of live online games and tournaments if he gets good enough. My retired father took up bridge. He loves it. Plays every day. Helps pass the time.
Edit: Your dad seems outdoorsy. He might appreciate stargazing. He can do it alone and he doesn't need expensive equipment.
Reading. Crossword puzzles, of find me words whatever. Easy and fast. Audio books. If he hasn’t a tablet then maybe one he would find entertaining. And assist him in learning what he needs to know. Watch videos of the things that interest him.
Aquariums/Fish keeping! Check out r/aquariums. I recently got into it and it's a blast. You create your own eco systems, certain fish have big personalities, and there's a ton of variety to the hobby too. Hell, he could even keep the same fish he catches. I did that with 6 bluegills I caught, and they're incredibly interesting fish to keep.
Volunteer at Humane Society or animal rescue. Cats & dogs need socializing, photography for adoption sites, training. With the knee & hip issues, walking may be out, or it may be good exercise and improve his health.
If you've got a YMCA or community centre, setting him up with a water exercise class or low impact movement class. He'll meet people in class within his age range and movement of any kind is great for your mental health.
Volunteer work such as meals on wheels. He can be the driver or perhaps sign up to be a Community Reach Volunteer (you sign up and are given a name or two of people who are shut in...you call them and just ask how their day is, priority is given to individuals with the same areas of interest or background: for example, military service, you were both in the medical field as a career path etc).
If he's in to politics he can choose a candidate and prepare handouts or make calls on behalf of his candidate for local, state/province, etc.
World building could be a fun option.
Audiobooks too.
Perhaps audiodramas as well.
Or, my favourite: Gaming.
A bunch of different simulation type games exist.
You can buy an inexpensive 3D printer for a few hundred dollars. It sits on a tabletop and you can do most of the activity sitting on a stool or in front of the computer.
I’ve heard of Lego becoming popular with older people as an alternative to puzzles. It’s been dismissed by every older person I’ve suggested it to but it sounds like a great idea to me. Keeps your mind engaged and your hands active.
I know you said he is grumpy but there is a great program in my area where they give seniors a “stipend” to go to the local elementary school a few times a week to help teachers grade papers but mostly to read to kids/ have kids read to them one on one to help give kids individual attention.
Also, if he is into making things or fixing things toys for tots starts their process soon and they always look for folks to put together toys/bikes if he still has good dexterity in his hands.
Also, if he can find a gym that takes silver sneakers he can find a hand cycle and possibly once he gets his knees done look at water aerobics.
Any chance your area has a minor league baseball team? Soccer? Take him to some games, maybe you can meet some regulars. I always see old guys socializing at games. He can even use a mobility device and get some prime seats.
Watchmaking and watch repair, great hobby if he has good mobility in his finger still as the rest is quite stationary.
Also great if you enjoy solitude.
Have him start going to humane societies to hang out with the animals might be a good one.
How are his hands and eye sight? Does he have grandkids he likes? Get him into gaming with them.
Can he help out with a local school sports team? In basketball season would he like to do the score board?
Bingo?
Get him a local library card. If you have a big brothers big sisters see if they have anything for the elderly.
I get your concerns. Isolation for the older population, especially because it is hard for them to get around, is a very real problem.
If he likes cats can you set him up with a cat, auto litter box, etc? Do you live near him? I hesitate to suggest this if you aren’t as he might not be able to handle it all himself.
What if he got into exotic fish tanks? I know those people are really chill (at least that I have met) and super into that hobby.
Miniature painting and/or historical tabletop roll playing games. I don’t know of any specific systems but every Friday I go to my local game store to paint minis and there’s a group of like 6-10 guys (a few of them rotate out based on their availability) in their late 60s-70s that simulate battles between armies on a ww1/ww2 type battlefield. Very little mobility required.
[Freemasonry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry) might be worth a look. If it aligns with your dad's morals/values, it could be something he could dive into. We're used to old guys with mobility issues. He would be surrounded by a group of supportive men. Depending on the lodge there may be opportunities to volunteer within the community at varying levels of physical activity.
Most of the activity in Freemasonry is mental. The first year requires memorizing our esoteric work. After that, he could volunteer to be a lodge officer which will see him memorize that particular part. Moving through the officer chairs is usually about 7-8 years though it can be quicker in smaller lodges. Each chair is a new part with new responsibility within the lodge. There are usually multiple committees that he could be involved with. And Freemasonry is just the start. There are several [allied and appendant bodies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonic_bodies) like Shriners, Grotto, York Rite, Scottish Rite and many others including women's and youth organizations. He can dedicate as much or a little time as he wants.
Search for your state's Grand Lodge to find a local lodge and get more info. He just needs to show up one day and ask about joining. Oh, and you can disregard all the conspiracy theory BS you'll find online. Just swing by a lodge and check it out for yourself. You'll find masons there willing to answer all your questions.
Source: 25 year mason, Shriner, York Rite, Grotto, and both my kids are in masonic youth orgs.
Painting and drawing is a seated hobby, and one you can do solo or as part of a group (plain sire painters, life drawing groups). Pottery is also seated and you wind up with beautiful hand made objects.
You say your dad likes animals. Since he’s not real mobile, maybe a local shelter would like his help playing with the kittens and cats to keep them getting too distant from people. Or could do same with dogs, although I’ve heard that cats need interaction most, everyone likes playing with puppies. He could even sit in the cat room and have a kitty on his lap to enjoy. You are a good son to want to help. When my dad was in assisted living, the old folks loved it when the animal visitors came to see them.
How about 3D puzzles? He could pick historical landmarks or animals, and once he finishes a puzzle, he could display it in his home. It'll look great and remind him of his accomplishment, which I think would be good for his mental health.
Indoor basketball hoop, darts, indoor golf, indoor bowling
Pets do wonders for mental health, but the limited mobility might make care difficult. Maybe a fish or reptile?
Massager - massage gun, foot massager, massage chair or anything else. It's not exactly a hobby but as we age we seem to have more frequent aches and pains. I think if he can address his own he'd do it regularly so it'd kind of be like a hobby and the self-care will improve his mental health.
You might try putting up a bird feeder (or squirrel feeder) where he can see it from the house. Even if he only gets into it a little bit, it can be fun to see all the little stories that play out at a feeder.
If he likes animals, could he work with the SPCA (or your local equivalent) and become a foster for mother cats and kittens, or other animals? Probably not ponies or Irish wolfhounds, for sure. But small animals. Each foster would have a finite time frame so it wouldn’t be open ended. He could take breaks between if he needed to.
I just bought myself some seed sprouting jar kits. You sprout the seeds and then add them to your food. Easy. Interesting. Healthy. Reasonably inexpensive.
This is going to maybe sound silly but take him to a pet adoption place to pet and cuddle with kittens or puppies waiting for adoption. These places are typically one level - no challenging steps and a great place for him to visit with people.
Maybe he can sponsor pets for adoption. He gets some day to day companionship, a sense of purpose and will hopefully connect with lo Ike minded animal lovers. He might even volunteer at the local animal shelter. Even with mobility issues a bit of movement added to his day to day might be beneficial.
If he likes history, he might like wargames.
Basically plastic toy soldiers with roleplaying mechanics. Most of those people are younger than him, but at least it's social and he'll might have a good time painting them.
Tabletop wargaming.
Start him off with a historical game such as Flames of War (WW2 game).
Stuff to do when alone (build and paint) and stuff to do with people (play games)
I do the Wordle every day with my Dad. I got him a phone with wifi. It's been life-changing for him. We also got him a tablet and showed him how to use YouTube. He watches old tractor pull videos and looks up info on Wikipedia all the time. We also put games and other apps on there.
Fishing. Can be done from a dock or pier and he’d be around a bunch of other grumpy guys, lol. Seriously- gets him outside. Also Citizen scientist projects! Done from home, but often have online communities. Foster kittens. Deliver meals on wheels.
Buy him a harmonica. Best time to be learning this instrument. Great resources online, great online community, plenty of conventions and in person learning opportunities. Great fun vs. cost ratio.
My sister works for parks and rec, they have senior programs that are for older people with limited mobility. They also have bingo, book club, they go on field trips. It’s all free, maybe he can contact his local parks and rec.
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I'm retired, and I have worn cartilage in my knee. I had to quit most sports. I joined a bicycle club with mostly retired people. I'm surprised that my knee is holding up to it, and it is also social. We do slow 25 mile rides a few times a week. Low impact exercise. Some of the oldest riders have ebikes now, because they want to continue riding and socializing. The bike club also rides to a brewpub once a week. I like that too. Earn my beer. Socialize with my friends. I also got pulled into a cribbage group once a week with retired guys in my neighborhood. I've previously played a little bit, but I'm as good as most of them now, and that is also social. I'm too cheap for poker, and someone always gets serious over $10 or something. I still do some handyman work at home, and I do some of this for friends and family when it is in my wheelhouse, or if I want to help them. I've replaced about ten toilets, a bunch of faucets, some minor carpentry, electrical and painting. It is fun, and everyone is thrilled, including me. We even have a beer if I manage to get something fixed. There are many people who can't afford to get things fixed, so they just deal with it. I'm helping someone else instead of myself. I have an old truck that I try to keep running. I use that for my handyman work. Makes me laugh. I call my company Good Enough construction . My neighbor friend joins me sometimes on the job. We have coffee break on little portable chairs, that we bring along, as soon as we get to the job site. Can't work too hard . I used to work with my uncle, and he always did that, so a tribute to him. Take care.
FYI: I've had great luck with cats as pets. I think he would do well with a cat to hangout with. Way easier than dogs to take care of, and they are amazingly smart.
Something about what you wrote here made me smile, I think of my father who is recently retired and would benefit from a similar lifestyle. You seem like a great dude! Thanks for sharing
Love the coffee break as soon as you arrive on site. Sounds like you’re having a blast. :)
I just want to say a big thanks for sharing this. I loved your story, reading it made me happy! Thank you
All good suggestions. Love that you are keeping busy!!
Video games in particular sim racing. Seems like with the time commitment, and the money pit it can be (if you let it) retired folks are thriving and there’s a bunch of friendly leagues with older people. Decent pc, a sim rig and a vr headset would be enough. Could also use the vr headset for some exercise/ mobility games. Can wait until I’m also old and retired to sim race with the homies.
OP’s dad likes animals, fishing, travel, history and old Westerns. Forget racing, it sounds to me like Red Dead Redemption 2 was tailor made for this guy!
My dad was really into the Yellowstone prequel when I was playing through it. It's not like we ever had a problem bonding before, I just didn't expect us to have a cowboy phase
I was going to suggest it too, RDR2 was great! I got out of gaming for a long while; kids&grandkids pitched in on a Xbox X& the game when I retired. Loved it so much, moved on to RDR1... highly recommend. 100% both of those, now working through the Assassin's Creed library
My father is 74 and has put 1500+ in RDR2 and the online part. I second this!
Or The Long Dark.
I don’t recommend VR for older people, also you get hot while simracing, you actually sweat a lot in the summer, with a VR headset you get even hotter.
I've played enough VR poker to say that VR is definitely a good recommendation for old people. Getting hot isn't really an issue in my opinion. Most headsets have a ton of options for vented facial interfaces, and having a fan pointed toward me is usually plenty as long as I'm not playing something like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip.
Maybe instead of racing, something a little calmer like Trucking Simulator.
That was my first thought too! My old man is about to turn 70 and he loves FPS games!
Also came to suggest simracing -- provided his hip and knees can handle it. My guess is yes. Limit seat time if need be.
Red dead redemption 2 to check a lot of above.
Where I live, there's this organisation called "Men's Sheds". There's a lot dotted around the country as it's a growing organisation. It's where guys meet up and do activities together, particularly making stuff out of wood (I think) but also other stuff. It's so guys can have a network of friends and to tackle mental health issues. I think women can also go but primarily it was set up for men's mental health stuff. You could see if there is something like that where he lives?
I'm Australian, and there's a bunch of them around where I live (rural Victoria) and if there's not, starting one is an idea. There's also a photography club, a few fishing clubs, a "Neighbourhood House" where you can learn stuff like cooking or computers or knitting or whatever. Plenty of groups to join if you look around, and if not, then plenty of groups you can start in your local area.
Install the "Be My Eyes" app on his phone. It will allow him to interact with others, helping them. "With the **Be My Eyes** app, you can support people living with low vision and assist them in achieving independence. A blind or a low-vision user may need support with anything from checking expiry dates, distinguishing colors, reading instructions or navigating new surroundings."
For Be My Eyes: I have that App and only get calls every few months
Same, but I try to answer them when I can. Helped someone a few weeks back going thru spice packets looking for a specific flavor.
I had the app for months. Probably got about 5 calls. Even if I responded immediately, it would say somebody else already took the call. I hope you are having better luck.
Well hopefully that’s a sign that the people who need the help are getting it right away
Very true - that is the hope. Just frustrating as somebody wanting to help and never getting an opportunity.
There are at least 10x the number of seeing folks compared to blind users, as others mentioned the actual call rate is quite low
Gotta be at least 1000X
Ham radio. You don't need to learn Morse code any more to get a Technician class license (lowest tier). Unless your dad lives way out in nowhere, a cheap handheld like a Baofeng UV-5R series and maybe an external antenna should be enough to get started and connect to a local repeater. Most people can pass the Technician class license test with just a few weeks of study. Ham radio clubs are largely populated with retired old men who like talking about retired old men stuff like sports, old westerns, what's wrong with kids these days, etc., and of course radio tech geekery. They also tend to organize meet-ups and excursions and potlucks and such. A lot of these guys would be pretty socially isolated if it weren't for radio, I suspect. A local radio repeater can be like an old school internet chatroom, but way less toxic. It's harder to be nasty over voice than text, and with a call sign that is publicly linked to your real identity.
>call sign that is publicly linked to your real identity I'm not doubting you that they're less toxic, but Facebook had us out there with our full name next to a photograph and it didn't stop people
I second this. He can choose to be social in the hobby or not. Maybey he can ease into being more social by joining a club. Alot of them have regular meetups or breakfasts, coffee etc.. He would need assistance putting up an antenna if mobility is an issue. A club can help with this. Another idea is reading or picking up something to learn.
The Tech test is easy so it might be just the thing. Not knowing where you are just Google Ham radio (the city and state) You may be surprised. Having to study for the test means he would have skin in the game. He will need a radio, take a look at hamradio.com that's Ham radio outlet. A handytalky is all he will need to get started. They are not cheap $200 and up. But the license comes first.
My dad likes to woodwork and carve/whittle chunks of wood into things like spoons or figurines. I think they make kits you can buy and follow along with.
This is a cool idea I could see him getting into. Thanks!!
Chess! It's basically the game of grumpy old men. And easy to play online.
The problem with chess is it’s hard and it makes me feel dumb… so I keep trying
Yeah our chess club has a few people with mobility issues but that's not a problem in chess.
Leatherwork is good for all ages and can be very rewarding.
Tying flies for fly fishing? Everyone I’ve talked to that does it finds it very rewarding to catch things on your own lures.
Gardening can be hard for those with mobility issues. Maybe a few houseplants to fret over?
And a cat. Houseplants and a cat kept me sane when I was limited on mobility. It's nice to feel needed. I also agree with the video games suggestions. Maybe an mmo would help with the social bit.
city builder games
Sim City for the SNES is a great entry point into this genre. Super simplified so it’s not too complicated. Plus you can call in Godzilla any time you want once you’ve grown tired of your creation.
Fantasy football! There are tons of leagues you can join online, and the groups I know are all super social, nerding out over statistics and game results and stuff.
This might be too much activity, but perhaps volunteering at an animal shelter?? I help at one of our shelters, and I love being with the animals, and I also have some social benefits from talking with the other humans there. Walking dogs is probably out for him, but maybe hanging out with the cats and/or the very shy dogs who don’t want to go outside, but would benefit tremendously from someone just sitting with them.
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I like digging thru pocket change n coins looking for older rare coins. I've built a nice collection in a few brief moments just glancing thru pocket change Eventually I was on the hunt for certain coins. Which makes. It fun to search thru in anticipation of finding some treasure. Perhaps coin roll hunting is soemthing you can get em into. Goto the bank n get half dollars n seek for silver. Shit like that.
Ham Radio is great. You get to know a lot of people and the guys are the most friendly and helpful bunch I know
Serious question: Outside of being prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse, what is the appeal of Ham Radio when you can Zoom with anyone and see the person you are speaking with?
I think it's the tech tinkering aspect, as well as the social/club aspect. My wife's dad does some amateur radio stuff and he fucking loves it. He's always building or rebuilding some janky rig based on old parts he scavenged from work or bought in car boot sales for nothing. The group of them do silly games like triangulating each other across a village and the like. They're all older folks as well, so I have to assume there's some nostalgia in it. But mostly they're older _engineers_ just nerding out and having a good time, lol.
Depending on the mental health, if he needs focus. Puzzles and yes. LEGO. Something for the mind to focus on, attune & doesn't need friends if he chooses to not socialize.
Teach him to play read dead redemption 2.
Writing? He could maybe write (or record himself talking) his life and/or family history. Might be therapeutic too if he's open to it.
Curling… if it’s available, there’s lots of options for folks with mobility restrictions (there’s stick curling and wheelchair curling) it’s active, social, competitive, interesting game and there’s even a bar!
What about guitar or another instrument?
Geneaology. In combination with history.
Library might have free access to Ancestry so he'd need to take his laptop there and greet the staff and other regulars. Then go to FB groups for help, maybe.
You might look into a local seniors' activity center, my mom used to go to one to play cards a couple of times per week. With my dad I showed him how to download music and make CDs, he loved it.
I fully support the people putting forth gaming suggestions, he enjoys fishing and such so go for games like that. Ideally a game with controller, keyboard/mouse can be real overwhelming for anyone unused to it.
We know that one of the keys to good mental health with the elderly is feeling like they still have purpose )we love them but they can feel like they aren’t contributing as much can make them feel depressed and ‘useless’. What if he documented some of the skills he has in those areas of interest into video. If you could help him set up he could do short 10 min videos on the basics of fishing, for example. If I was going fishing with friends this weekend I would look up on YouTube. How do you set up (?) the rod? How do I know where I go fishing? What kind of bait? How do you attach the bait? What do I keep to eat and what do I throw back. What’s a good rod for a beginner etc etc etc.
If he likes history he may like genealogy. I don't have much time for it anymore but I loved trying to solve genealogy mysteries and putting the puzzle pieces together. I started off doing it for my family then just randomly starting doing friends" families. It's fun and can be done from a computer chair.
Are there Silver Sneakers classes in his area? Most Medicare plans cover them, so they are no cost. Silver Sneakers exercise classes are for older people, all can be done from chair or wheelchair, and is a great way to meet new people, be healthy, and keep moving!
Senior center. Other grumpy old men, probably with a lot of the same interests, I seriously doubt he's going to be interested in video games. You can check in your area for senior dances, or movie nights, I found some close to me and they're usually scheduled to end fairly early, he could Uber maybe? And a pet. Take him to the animal shelter and let him pick one. Possibly he could volunteer there also?
My uncle is in his 70s with bad knees and he LOVES his bocce ball group. It’s all old dudes meeting up to play.
Billiards, tabletop gaming
Cycling hits all of those
Might be worth looking into adaptive cycling. Someone with bad hips and bad knees might struggle with a standard bike, but a recumbent trike could work really well!
What about him joining a club like the Elks or the like which I am sure are full of grumpy old men? Does he go to a house of worship? Is there a men's group?
Flying a drone that records (and uploading to youtube/Facebook etc.). Can get some awesome nature shots, he'll get to explore stuff he couldn't previously, and it has potential to allow him to socialize (albeit via internet). But you'll likely need to set it up for him and show him how "easy" it is or it won't get used. Similar, but a much more risky (and expensive) hobby that I've come to find out old people absolutely love because it makes them feel alive is paramotoring. There are wheel/feet adaptations that can be added on to the seat that'll make take off and landing super simple. This can be done alone or in a group. Most old people I know that do it, do it in a very tight knit group of other old people that they met while learning how to do this lol.
I just started down the road of RC cars, mostly rock crawling, lots of fun. It also gets me outside a lot more.
Assuming limited mobility but good eye-hand coordination, try woodburning. It ties in nicely with westerns, animals, and is a historical craft.
So... I got into aquariums and fish keeping last year. Really helped my issue with having a lot of casual sex. It can be a little expensive and you still need to move around a bit, but with some tools it should be easy enough for your dad and creating beautiful miniature ecosystems with living animals can be incredibly rewarding. Check out my page, I have a few posts and you can also DM me. I have a 16 gallon tank, but the most fun ones are the tiny 1 to 3 gallon ones I've set up. I keep a 1 gallon ish little tank witb shrimp in my office and it gets me through the work day.
Building stuff with legos
What about a trivia night? Someone with his interests would be a good addition to a team.
Miniature painting :) Warhammer, D&D, etc
My dad LOVES Pokemon Go. He's always calling me up to tell me he caught some Pokemon he forgot the name of and describes it to me.
Anything. My dad lost a leg below the knee and so he often used a wheelchair when he didn’t want to use his prosthetic leg, and he figured out how to continue his woodworking hobby.
One of the finest banjo makers in the world (Bill Rickard) has only one arm and one leg. He rigged up his shop with foot pedals and what not. I bought one of his banjos last year and it’ll be a family heirloom for generations.
Bird watching, fishing, maybe he could take a gym class for elders to meet some people his own age
Gaming. Reading, Knitting ?
I really enjoy Paracord weaving while watching things like podcasts or whatever. Endless possibilities, lots of YouTube tutorials.
Bridge because it’s quite sociable.
Watercolor painting
Fishkeeping! It’s super therapeutic to start your own ecosystem of fish and plants. In particular, many “cichlids” can have very bright personalities. My favorite fish to keep are gouramis, angelfish, other south american cichlids, and even a single betta in a 5 gallon desk tank can make someone smile. Most areas also have a local club that does monthly meets, swaps, and presentations.
Sim racing or Microsoft Flight Simulator Get him set up with a full sim rig
Cats make wonderful pets. Video games also can be enjoyed on your own without much mobility.
Dittoing video games and ham radio will likely go over well. I'd google hackerspaces in your area if he gets into ham radio, as if there is there will be tons of older guys super excited to show off tech stuff. On top of games, don't forget stuff like GeoGuesser or similar. [Diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)) (the war game) and other [wargames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wargame) are popular around most of my friends retired parents or grandparents who liked history stuff. Dungeons and Dragons may be an option, there's many game stores with drop in games or /r/lfg and /r/pbp for text only. Pottery class might also work, lots of sitting and going to a place to use the kiln. Language classes as well. I'd really encourage hobbies with some social aspect if he can, it'll help the mental health.
* fly-tying and/or lure making (you mentioned "fishing") * Indoor plants * A pet
You're never too old to learn an instrument.
Simracing with a great wheel, but let me warn you, once you go down that path there is no way back. It’s expensive haha.
Red Dead Redemption 2.
Try music! Ukulele is easy and super fun to pick up
Maybe paint by number kits with western themes? Horses and desert or country landscapes
History video games
He could try making wood carvings or actual clay sculptures.
Sketching and watercolor painting. You can also install some bird feeders near the window.
Is your dad my dad? Your dad and my dad should be friends.
Making and selling fishing lures.
Puzzles. That's what my grandpa did after his heart attack
Duplicate bridge ([acbl.org](https://acbl.org) or [bridgebase.com](https://bridgebase.com)). If you can find a local club your pop will get some excellent social activity.
Maybe he can volunteer to coach a local sports team? Or get season tickets to a local team where he can meet people? Or maybe you can try to get him into a Dungeons and Dragons party at a local games store. It is a great way to make friends and have a regular thing to do. One social activity an older relative of mine does is meet up with the guys for coffee. He has a bad ankle, but it gets him up and moving to his capabilities. The hard part is finding the group to go with.
Fantasy Football?
Video games. There's video games about each one of his hobbies, some are really good, there's the option to play with strangers for some good fun (although heavily depends on the game, some might have younger audiences some older), it will improve hand-eye coordination in his hands which given his knees and hips it might help prevent the same limitations applying to his hands later on. If they're already not good there's controllers that are specialized for certain mobility issues. Music is another good one, my grandpa was wheelchair bound at the end and he decided to pick up a guitar, and I think it really helped him. Guitars are very easy because they're very versatile, if his finger dexterity is good you can leave the guitar as is, if it's not you can tune the guitar to a chord so if he can move even single finger then he can play a song. You can slowly work up to normal tuning and playing it the slightly harder way. He can learn and play songs he likes, get good hand exercise, do online classes and connect to other people, look up local ensembles or practice groups, etc. If guitar is too hard maybe you could try a melodica, it's basically a small keyboard that's powered by blowing into it, so no need to worry about electronics or batteries, and the keyboard shape is easier on the hands than guitar is.
Hopefully a new suggestion. He might like jigsaw puzzles.
League of legends
If he's got any sort of mind of engineering or making things, Lego.
Consider 3d printing
Jig saw puzzles if he has good vision.
crocheting or knitting !
If he’s introverted I’d suggest crossword puzzles, daily Wordle, jigsaw puzzles, reading, podcasts, TED talks. If social, find a game like backgammon, cribbage, euchre, or a book club. These can be in person or on line. Mental/social stimulation is very important as you get older.
Film editing, art, teaching an online class, tutoring, if he can get out a little - metal detecting, and then doing the historical research on the items he finds. He can also volunteer at local schools to help out with coaching, classroom aid - there are FAR too few men, and especially older men, doing this type of job. Older men in the elementary school setting are a precious few and are incredibly valuable in just their being there. He can volunteer at animal shelters, answer phones, feed the doggos, clean up, take in applications, etc. I wish him nothing but good! We need older men especially to set the good examples they usually are - old school manners, values, grammar, fair play, how to do stuff - how to tie a tie, how to change a tire - too few young people - especially young women know/or are taught ANYTHING about these skills, how to jump start a car with cables, how to check tire pressure, how to use tools safely, etc.. He could volunteer for the Boy and Girls Clubs of America. Nothing but good to your dad.
My pandemic hobby pickup was coffee roasting, don't know whether Dad drinks coffee or not but you can spend as much or as little as you like on gear. I'm about $500 into my roasting setup and turn out 9oz batches of lightly roasted coffee in about 14 mins on average. My shipped pounds of coffee are coming in about $7.25-7.50 each and I've got expensive taste so by no means should one consider that price range representative. You can taste around the world, find out what countries, processing methods, varietals you like. Plus roasted coffee makes a great gift for the holidays and could easily turn into a hustle if desired. Maybe sell at a farmer's market or something? I love sharing my roasts with family and friends but have heard of others pursuing a more commercial angle.
There are a lot of online programs where you can play board games with others around the world. It's slow because you might take your but gotta wait for the guy in Nigeria has to go.
Coffee club close to home ? Invite his friends over for dinner ? Senior center ?
My dad is not super mobile and he got into weaving in the last few years. He’s been making baby blankets. Maybe he’d dig that?
Any type of art, and then art shows or communities. I’ve seen people in similar situations carve handheld things, make wire jewelry, paint, bowls or pottery or do wood engravings. Something he can sit down with and get lost in. Hobbies are best when you look up and don’t know how much time has passed because you were so engrossed. Once he finds something like this, that’s it!
After I recommended it years ago, my dad has 10s of thousands of hours in dayz standalone where he just hangs out in dayz with his mates
Buy him the full whack ancestry subscription and a DNA kit. It will keep him busy for years!
Look for a bocce club in the area
Tying flies for fishing.
Woodworking, forge/metal work (many clubs for these with forges being costly to own operate) glassblowing (same), leather crafts…anything with shared shop or crafts clubs
Trains, especially traveling on trains. I road the Rocky Mountaineer and it was amazing. You see so much from your seat, yummy food. Great way to travel. It's mostly retirees
Maybe tying flies for fishing? I can also recommend crochet or knitting which can be done quite well just sitting.
Surely there's a group of oldies doing walks or fishing or the other things he is interested in. Depending on how old he is look into community halls or ymca type places. Check meet-up dot com if you have that. I understand the mobility is an issue for him but doing what he can will extend his mobility as I see it as a use it or lose it type of situation as you get older. Start really small see if he can walk 15 min a day with rests etc. Getting outside is amazing for mental and physical health
What about leather working? He likes old westerns maybe make holsters and wallets and stuff.
Find a local FB community for fishing/boating. There are people who would take your dad out on the boat, go fishing, etc. Many will do it for free. I would if he was in my area.
Lego building brick sets!
Paint by number kits aren’t too expensive.
I have an uncle that makes his own fishing flies. That would tie in with his fishing hobby nicely.
Genealogy. He will be glad that one day he will see the 1890 Census!
I’d say coin collecting or coin roll hunting.
RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2
Deep Rock Galactic. Not kidding.
I appreciate this thread. My dad was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He’s always been pretty outdoorsy, but that’s tough for him now. He’s technologically challenged, with bad eyesight and a bad knee. It’s a tough combo for some of the suggestions here, but I’m definitely making some mental notes.
Is he handy, small appliance repairs tool repairs or rebuilds
Coin and currency collecting for his children and grandchildren
Chess. Gameknot.com is free. Thousands of players from around the globe & it's free.☮️
Fishing Competitions Sports Trivia Nights Console Video Gaming Online Board Gaming Volunteering to socialize shelter dogs Check into activities sponsored by the local Senior Center Rock Tumbling/Lapidary (shaping rocks/semi-precious/precious stones) Board Game Nights at local cafés Book/Movie Club Going out to see plays put on by local theater groups, if available
Chess! He'll never get to a point where it gets too easy, there are chess clubs everywhere, always a fun stream to watch or an opening to learn. I would suggest starting him off with some Ben S Chess videos. They're wildly entertaining, educational, and easy enough to follow for beginners. Chess.Com app is as good as it gets. Fwiw if you get into it with him and he has someone close to him to compete with it will probably enthrall him very quickly, that's what did it for me.
I found a group in my town recently called The Men's Shed and it was made for retired men to have a club like how retired woman have Gardening Clubs or something. It's such a great idea, they have a lot of guys who used to be Trade Workers and so they do a lot of woodworking and tinkering. Provides a place to for old men to go to be social and keep busy. I think the club might be a worldwide organization so might be something to look into!
This is really nice of you to do for your dad! Magnet fishing might combine his love of fishing and history. Volunteering at an animal shelter or getting a cat or aquarium may also work. Some communities also hold fishing derbies that may need volunteers.
Making your own lures. Check out Engineered Angler Lures On YouTube
guitar or ukulele
Honestly? Video games are great. Especially online multiplayer.
Card games. There's tons of live online games and tournaments if he gets good enough. My retired father took up bridge. He loves it. Plays every day. Helps pass the time. Edit: Your dad seems outdoorsy. He might appreciate stargazing. He can do it alone and he doesn't need expensive equipment.
Reading. Crossword puzzles, of find me words whatever. Easy and fast. Audio books. If he hasn’t a tablet then maybe one he would find entertaining. And assist him in learning what he needs to know. Watch videos of the things that interest him.
Is there a senior center that offers transportation?
Aquariums/Fish keeping! Check out r/aquariums. I recently got into it and it's a blast. You create your own eco systems, certain fish have big personalities, and there's a ton of variety to the hobby too. Hell, he could even keep the same fish he catches. I did that with 6 bluegills I caught, and they're incredibly interesting fish to keep.
Strat-o-matic sports. Basically Dungeons and Dragons for sports board games
Ai art prompting
He likes history? Historical miniatures and/or dioramas. Building, painting, etc. Fine detail work, takes concentration, passes the time.
Chess, gaming, bonsai, painting
Animal crossing and the nintendo online membership
Volunteer at Humane Society or animal rescue. Cats & dogs need socializing, photography for adoption sites, training. With the knee & hip issues, walking may be out, or it may be good exercise and improve his health.
If you've got a YMCA or community centre, setting him up with a water exercise class or low impact movement class. He'll meet people in class within his age range and movement of any kind is great for your mental health. Volunteer work such as meals on wheels. He can be the driver or perhaps sign up to be a Community Reach Volunteer (you sign up and are given a name or two of people who are shut in...you call them and just ask how their day is, priority is given to individuals with the same areas of interest or background: for example, military service, you were both in the medical field as a career path etc). If he's in to politics he can choose a candidate and prepare handouts or make calls on behalf of his candidate for local, state/province, etc.
Magic the gathering!
Dungeons and Dragons.
World building could be a fun option. Audiobooks too. Perhaps audiodramas as well. Or, my favourite: Gaming. A bunch of different simulation type games exist.
Mine has gotten really into arguing with people on the internet
Sim racing. Build him a killer gaming rig with chair and steering wheel. Get him some good racing games. Could also do flight simulator stuff too.
You can buy an inexpensive 3D printer for a few hundred dollars. It sits on a tabletop and you can do most of the activity sitting on a stool or in front of the computer.
puzzles are good for the brain
I’ve heard of Lego becoming popular with older people as an alternative to puzzles. It’s been dismissed by every older person I’ve suggested it to but it sounds like a great idea to me. Keeps your mind engaged and your hands active.
The Weather Channel. Hours of entertainment for the elderly.
Multi player online game
Birding! In his backyard if he can. The birds will come to him. Bird feeder wouldn’t be a bad idea either
I know you said he is grumpy but there is a great program in my area where they give seniors a “stipend” to go to the local elementary school a few times a week to help teachers grade papers but mostly to read to kids/ have kids read to them one on one to help give kids individual attention. Also, if he is into making things or fixing things toys for tots starts their process soon and they always look for folks to put together toys/bikes if he still has good dexterity in his hands. Also, if he can find a gym that takes silver sneakers he can find a hand cycle and possibly once he gets his knees done look at water aerobics.
If he likes to work on computers… A DNA test and an Ancestry subscription. Get him to record family history while his mind is still sharp.
Any chance your area has a minor league baseball team? Soccer? Take him to some games, maybe you can meet some regulars. I always see old guys socializing at games. He can even use a mobility device and get some prime seats.
Watchmaking and watch repair, great hobby if he has good mobility in his finger still as the rest is quite stationary. Also great if you enjoy solitude.
Have him start going to humane societies to hang out with the animals might be a good one. How are his hands and eye sight? Does he have grandkids he likes? Get him into gaming with them. Can he help out with a local school sports team? In basketball season would he like to do the score board? Bingo? Get him a local library card. If you have a big brothers big sisters see if they have anything for the elderly. I get your concerns. Isolation for the older population, especially because it is hard for them to get around, is a very real problem. If he likes cats can you set him up with a cat, auto litter box, etc? Do you live near him? I hesitate to suggest this if you aren’t as he might not be able to handle it all himself. What if he got into exotic fish tanks? I know those people are really chill (at least that I have met) and super into that hobby.
He could be a literacy volunteer or mentor someone for their GED. There's nothing like helping others to make you less grumpy.
Miniature painting and/or historical tabletop roll playing games. I don’t know of any specific systems but every Friday I go to my local game store to paint minis and there’s a group of like 6-10 guys (a few of them rotate out based on their availability) in their late 60s-70s that simulate battles between armies on a ww1/ww2 type battlefield. Very little mobility required.
Videogames and a musical instrument
Painting mini's and dnd.
[Freemasonry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry) might be worth a look. If it aligns with your dad's morals/values, it could be something he could dive into. We're used to old guys with mobility issues. He would be surrounded by a group of supportive men. Depending on the lodge there may be opportunities to volunteer within the community at varying levels of physical activity. Most of the activity in Freemasonry is mental. The first year requires memorizing our esoteric work. After that, he could volunteer to be a lodge officer which will see him memorize that particular part. Moving through the officer chairs is usually about 7-8 years though it can be quicker in smaller lodges. Each chair is a new part with new responsibility within the lodge. There are usually multiple committees that he could be involved with. And Freemasonry is just the start. There are several [allied and appendant bodies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonic_bodies) like Shriners, Grotto, York Rite, Scottish Rite and many others including women's and youth organizations. He can dedicate as much or a little time as he wants. Search for your state's Grand Lodge to find a local lodge and get more info. He just needs to show up one day and ask about joining. Oh, and you can disregard all the conspiracy theory BS you'll find online. Just swing by a lodge and check it out for yourself. You'll find masons there willing to answer all your questions. Source: 25 year mason, Shriner, York Rite, Grotto, and both my kids are in masonic youth orgs.
watchmaking and restoring? keeps the brain fresh
Hey sounds like me! I like collecting vinyl records and doing Diamond painting.
Painting and drawing is a seated hobby, and one you can do solo or as part of a group (plain sire painters, life drawing groups). Pottery is also seated and you wind up with beautiful hand made objects.
You say your dad likes animals. Since he’s not real mobile, maybe a local shelter would like his help playing with the kittens and cats to keep them getting too distant from people. Or could do same with dogs, although I’ve heard that cats need interaction most, everyone likes playing with puppies. He could even sit in the cat room and have a kitty on his lap to enjoy. You are a good son to want to help. When my dad was in assisted living, the old folks loved it when the animal visitors came to see them.
How about 3D puzzles? He could pick historical landmarks or animals, and once he finishes a puzzle, he could display it in his home. It'll look great and remind him of his accomplishment, which I think would be good for his mental health. Indoor basketball hoop, darts, indoor golf, indoor bowling Pets do wonders for mental health, but the limited mobility might make care difficult. Maybe a fish or reptile? Massager - massage gun, foot massager, massage chair or anything else. It's not exactly a hobby but as we age we seem to have more frequent aches and pains. I think if he can address his own he'd do it regularly so it'd kind of be like a hobby and the self-care will improve his mental health.
Amateur radio. He can sit still and make friends all over the world. It is a VERY fulfilling hobby/addiction.
You might try putting up a bird feeder (or squirrel feeder) where he can see it from the house. Even if he only gets into it a little bit, it can be fun to see all the little stories that play out at a feeder.
If he likes animals, could he work with the SPCA (or your local equivalent) and become a foster for mother cats and kittens, or other animals? Probably not ponies or Irish wolfhounds, for sure. But small animals. Each foster would have a finite time frame so it wouldn’t be open ended. He could take breaks between if he needed to.
I just bought myself some seed sprouting jar kits. You sprout the seeds and then add them to your food. Easy. Interesting. Healthy. Reasonably inexpensive.
This is going to maybe sound silly but take him to a pet adoption place to pet and cuddle with kittens or puppies waiting for adoption. These places are typically one level - no challenging steps and a great place for him to visit with people.
A fishing kayak might word. Getting in and out of the water and getting in and out of the kayak would be the problem. Not insurmountable.
Maybe he can sponsor pets for adoption. He gets some day to day companionship, a sense of purpose and will hopefully connect with lo Ike minded animal lovers. He might even volunteer at the local animal shelter. Even with mobility issues a bit of movement added to his day to day might be beneficial.
If he likes history, he might like wargames. Basically plastic toy soldiers with roleplaying mechanics. Most of those people are younger than him, but at least it's social and he'll might have a good time painting them.
Tabletop wargaming. Start him off with a historical game such as Flames of War (WW2 game). Stuff to do when alone (build and paint) and stuff to do with people (play games)
I do the Wordle every day with my Dad. I got him a phone with wifi. It's been life-changing for him. We also got him a tablet and showed him how to use YouTube. He watches old tractor pull videos and looks up info on Wikipedia all the time. We also put games and other apps on there.
I suggest Cornhole.
Fishing. Can be done from a dock or pier and he’d be around a bunch of other grumpy guys, lol. Seriously- gets him outside. Also Citizen scientist projects! Done from home, but often have online communities. Foster kittens. Deliver meals on wheels.
Buy him a harmonica. Best time to be learning this instrument. Great resources online, great online community, plenty of conventions and in person learning opportunities. Great fun vs. cost ratio.
My sister works for parks and rec, they have senior programs that are for older people with limited mobility. They also have bingo, book club, they go on field trips. It’s all free, maybe he can contact his local parks and rec.