I paid someone to take them out every day from 10-2

Are they in good physical shape? Gardening is addicting.

Anonymous wrote: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

Genealogy and recording stories for the grandkids, etc. Labeling and curating family photos. Express your interest in knowing who people are in old photos, even if you aren’t, someone else in the future may be. Once hooked, these hobbies take a lot of time.

Ballroom dancing!

It’s great for them physically and mentally, and they will meet lots of nice people in classes.

Anonymous wrote:Be careful, it’s very easy for one to get drawn in and addicted to gambling or betting sites.
Also easy to get scammed online.
Opt for a hobby that’s not on a device.
Weaving? Crochet? Knit? Paint by number?

This is my fear. My MIL's hobby is visiting the casino twice a week because she still drives. We can't seem to convince her to do something healthier or more productive.

Be careful, it’s very easy for one to get drawn in and addicted to gambling or betting sites.
Also easy to get scammed online.
Opt for a hobby that’s not on a device.
Weaving? Crochet? Knit? Paint by number?

What have they been addicted to in the past?

People need to teach more old people to eBay so they can slowly sell their old collectibles to whoever actually wants them.

My FIL wrote a book, MIL takes painting classes and is in a book club.

Duolingo
NYT games
books
cooking

is there anything they can help you do (that would be actually helpful? -
phone calls/making appts/ordering something,
researching something for you
picking up orders if they drive

something they can do for grandkids (if there are any) - packing lunches, picking out library books

Art classes, especially drawing bc the materials are cheap and simple and you can do it at home outside of class. My 75yo mom has gotten really into it .

Just don’t answer their calls during the work day if this is just boredom.

You’ve told us nothing about them, what kinds of things did they do before?

Anonymous wrote:They are pretty active in genera, but the day is long when you arent somewhere all day.

I'm looking for things to keep them distracted when they are at home.

Go to the shelter and them a senior citizen dog. It gives them something to do while at home, promotes activity and bonding. The dog and them would both be grateful to have one another.

Ancestry.com
NYT games
Library book groups
Events on Zoom, podcasts
Audiobooks
Revive or try a new hobby--coins, crafts
Cooking
Go through and label photos with names, places and dates