Hobbies for the holiday season promote independence and wellbeing

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Older people

Hobbies for the holiday season promote independence and wellbeing

13 December 2023

Ngaire Kerse

Wednesday 13 December 2023, 12:20 AM

Set yourself a New Year’s resolution to engage in a hobby regularly [Image: Dinh Pham on Unsplash]

Specialist GP Ngaire Kerse looks at the contribution of hobbies to older people’s wellbeing, with a reminder to make time for hobbies before work life ends

Key points, Engagement in hobbies in later life improves mental wellbeing. Someone in your practice should become the expert on social and community engagement , Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Mental Health

References

1. Mak HW, Noguchi T, Bone JK, et al. Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 years and older in 16 countries. Nat Med 2023;29(9):2233–40.

2. Robinson TE, Boyd ML, North D, et al. Proactive primary care model for frail older people in New Zealand delays aged-residential care: A quasi-experiment. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021;69(6):1617–26.

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