Do they have a church? The senior ministry at any reasonably sized church usually is doing all kinds of fun stuff. Like, I sometimes wish I could go!

My FIL got into Ancestry.com and wrote a lot of his findings down to share with family. Some library systems offer free access for card holders. He also researched local history, mostly from Civil War era, and made PowerPoints that he posted to YouTube. He actually got a few hundred views!

My dad uses Duolingo and has actually learned a decent amount of Spanish.

Schedule an uber to the senior center. My parents didn't want to go and figured it would be like 100 year olds eating applesauce while playing bingo. Nope! It was mostly 60-70s, very active seniors. They have lots of field trips, like a bus to see the cherry blossoms (we're in a suburb, but seeing the cherry blossoms is too hard when you can't park downtown/ they're too old for the metro).

They've made a lot of friends. They are in several gardening groups and their favorite part is making a dessert to bring to the group. My mom is a good cook, but the other attendees just praise her nonstop, so she looks forward to it.

I know this won't work if your parents aren't nearby, but my parents plan activities with my kids. I don't use my parents as childcare (I pay for other care), but they have days where they pick up a kid afterschool and take them to do things. Like chess on Thursdays or baking. My dad loves being at pick up. I think it gives him a schedule that he was missing after he retired.

Also, they are crazy about their dog. Dog lives a better life than most kids. It keeps them active walking the dog and playing with it.

My grandpa took up stained glass, my dad took up canasta and shuffle pickle or something. Four Square? My grandma joined a board and played Mah Jong and got a book club going.

Anonymous wrote:Can you get them to go to a senior center and hang out with other seniors? Sometimes there's a transportation option to get them there. Making friends and being out and about is really the best way to get them enjoying their life.

Sometimes those centers (or churches, or neighborhood groups) take monthly trips or regular lunch outings or things like that.

Yes, these are so lovely! At least Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince William have well established centers throughout the counties.

Anonymous wrote:Just don’t answer the phone.

That doesn't solve the problem.

puzzles

get them a garden plot somewhere

send them a birding book with a life list

get one of those "record your life story" kits, (monthly tasks in it)

send them a box of old photos and a scrapbook and ask for "help" organizing it all into books.

Get them an Ancestry.com account -- totally addictive.

Can you get them to go to a senior center and hang out with other seniors? Sometimes there's a transportation option to get them there. Making friends and being out and about is really the best way to get them enjoying their life.

Sometimes those centers (or churches, or neighborhood groups) take monthly trips or regular lunch outings or things like that.

Just don’t answer the phone.

Encouraging them to research on AI chat bots could be fruitful. Especially if you can get them to speak to the chat bot.

I need to get elderly relatives hooked on addictive hobbies so they aren't so bored and calling me all the time when I'm at work.

Suggestions?

I assume the obvious (Candy Crush) would have already worked if it was going to work. Need more strategy and subtlety