Senior Friendly Activities in DuPage County

DuPage County seniors are surrounded with opportunities to socialize, stay physically active and feast on flavorful cuisines. Approximately 130,000 seniors call DuPage County home. As the second largest county in Illinois, DuPage County is rich with activities designed to keep the elderly on their toes.

Senior friendly activities in DuPage County are accessible. Transportation can be coordinated for many of the county’s events, especially if your loved one has a companion care provider. As a benefit to the elderly living on a fixed income, the majority of DuPage County activities are free for its senior residents, while some events charge a nominal fee.

1. Movies and Shows

Going to a movie is a fun activity for seniors to do with family and friends.  Movie theaters typically have senior discounts as well as seating to accommodate seniors with disabilities and wheelchairs.  Seniors in DuPage County can also enjoy free movies every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center.  Check the Naperville Park District website for movies and times.

Seniors in DuPage County can also see live theater at a number of venues throughout the area.  Seniors and their families can take in a show at the McAnich Arts Center, Drury Lane Theatre, Tivoli Theater, and Wego Community Theatre.  The Naperville Park District is also sponsoring a day trip for seniors to see The Sound of Music at the Paramount Theatre in nearby Aurora, IL.  November 14, 2022 is the last day to register.

2. Nature and Outdoors

There are many opportunities in DuPage County for seniors to enjoy nature and the outdoors.  There are forest preserves, miles of bike trails, and parks that allow for many activities and events.

There are more than 26,000 acres of parks and forest preserves in DuPage County where seniors can go for a walk or bike ride, fish, or have a picnic.  The trails are easy for seniors with limited mobility to walk in most of the parks.  The most popular parks in DuPage County include Blackwell Forest Preserve, Danada Equestrian Center, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, Mallard Lake, Waterfall Glen, Springbrook Prairie, and Willowbrook Wildlife Center.

The Morton Arboretum consists of 1700 acres of land with a wide variety of trees and plants, and it is also a scientific research center for tree health and improvement.  Throughout the year, the Morton Arboretum will host events and exhibits, including seasonal exhibits like the Glass Pumpkin Patch in October.  The current exhibition at the Morton Arboretum is the Human+Nature exhibit which features five sculptures between 15 and 26 feet tall that highlight the connection between humans and trees.  This exhibit is running through March of 2023.

3. Shopping

Shopping is a fun activity for people of all ages, including seniors and their families, and DuPage County is full of great places to shop including big shopping centers and downtown areas.

Many towns in DuPage County have historic downtown areas that feature restaurants and coffee shops as well as local shops and boutiques.  The family-friendly tree-lined streets of these downtown areas are perfect for seniors looking to do some leisurely shopping.  The best downtown areas in DuPage County include Naperville, Downers Grove, Bensenville, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Lombard, and Wheaton.

For days with less than ideal weather, seniors can shop indoors at one of many shopping centers in DuPage County.  These shopping centers include the Oakbrook Center, the Promenade Bolingbrook, Yorktown Center, and Burr Ridge Village Center.

4. Physical Activities: Yoga, Tai Chi and Dancing

Seated Yoga on Monday mornings in Wayne Township helps seniors ward off disease. A regular practice of yoga improves joint health and balance in the elderly. Stiff joints are diminished and muscle tone increases. Yoga also reduces high blood pressure by lessening seniors’ oxidative stress.

Seniors keep themselves in peak physical shape with low-impact activities, like tai chi. Twenty minutes of daily tai chi reduces blood pressure, eases arthritic pain and improves cognitive conditions, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The activity improves lower body strength in senior practitioners.

Folks who rise early might start each Friday with the Tai Chi program at Wayne Township’s Senior Center. Active older adults may also participate in tai chi classes held at the Naperville Park District. Tai Chi is restorative for a senior’s mind and body, helping them to age gracefully.

Exercise can be thrilling, especially with a senior dance partner. Dancing regularly wards off dementia by 76 percent. Seniors who waltz receive the same cardiovascular benefits as those who cycle or walk. Frequent dancing keeps seniors independent, as the creative legwork helps them move about easily.

Even seniors without a dance partner can enjoy the multiple health benefits of regularly shaking one’s hips to groovy tunes. Fit a line dance on Wednesday mornings at Wayne Township Senior Center into the schedule and reap the social, physical and mental benefits.

Seniors thrilled with large crowds of about 700 will be overjoyed by attending the monthly dance parties sponsored by the DuPage Senior Citizens Council. Meet new people, dine together and leave the party by 8pm. Attendees spend the grand, social evening boosting their physical ability and mental acuity.

5. Excursions: Mystery Trips and Day Trips

Traveling near or far offers seniors a change of scenery and a chance to socialize with like-minded people. The stimulation of new and exciting places is a boon for older people. Fortunately, DuPage County is rife with opportunities for seniors to set foot in new places.

Seniors itching for an adventure will delight in Wayne Township Senior Center’s nationally renowned Mystery Trip. In fact, October’s Mystery Trip has a waiting list. This all-day event calls for a moderate amount of walking. The lunch break is situated in a locale with a breathtaking view.

The Darien Park District offers several upcoming day trips for seniors. The Chocolate Lovers Trail is designed for those with a sweet tooth, as touring a confectionary company is on this tasty agenda. Sampling wine at the winery next door finishes off this spectacular day.

6. Dining: Brunches and Exotic Cuisine

Dining out with friends is appreciated by people of every age. The chance to socialize and satisfy one’s taste buds is enjoyable. Seniors have plenty of gastronomic opportunities in DuPage County. Whether via restaurant outings or cooking classes, the county offers a wealth of culinary events.

Seniors with their own transportation can head out to Wayne Township’s Senior Brunch Bunch, held midmornings on Wednesdays. Those with a goal to consume a healthier diet also have options at DuPage’s ongoing Eat Right, Eat Healthy program on Thursday mornings.

The DuPage Senior Citizens Council offers dining locations geared toward those who aim for a taste of exotic fares without leaving the country. On Thursdays, for instance, The Council offers ethnic cuisines for seniors at the Shah Nihari Restaurant in Lombard.

7. Games and Leisure: Bunco, Books and Knitting

Some seniors may just want to relax and enjoy a stimulating game or two. The Naperville Park District offers a huge menu of exhilarating games for seniors. Older folks revel in mind-boggling card games, like pinochle, or the dice game of bunco. Games like these keep seniors’ minds active.

Intellectual seniors may join weighty discussions about books in the Naperville Park District’s Book Club. Exciting social games in which seniors become heavily invested include social bridge, table tennis and pool (or billiards), also offered at the Naperville Park District.

For seniors who love to read, the Naperville Public Library offers special services in which library materials can be selected, delivered, and picked up by a volunteer from the library. Seniors who cannot come to the library due to health restrictions or Covid concerns can call the library to partake in these special services.

For seniors who delight in relaxing in a comfy chair and engaging their minds creatively are likely to find an idyllic spot at Wayne Township’s Quilters Group. If yarn and needles suit seniors better, the Township’s Friday morning Knitting & Crocheting program is a fitting recreational activity.

Knitting is not only relaxing, but the hobby keeps seniors’ brains sharp. Hand-eye coordination improves as seniors focus their minds and hands on the project. Knitting programs at senior centers, like those mentioned, offer a place where like-minded hobbyists can knit and socialize together.

Seniors can also be social and engage in fun activities at the Joseph and Sarah Levy Senior Center in Bolingbrook, IL. This center offers many daily activities such as exercise classes, art classes, dancing, hot lunches and dinners, card games, Bunco, shuffleboard, and free movies and it is free for DuPage Township residents.

8. The Arts

If your senior loved ones enjoy singing, they can join Singing for Seniors which is a choir for seniors that meets at The Compass Church. Any senior can join the choir, including seniors with physical disabilities, as the church offers easy accessibility. You can also arrange for a volunteer to pick up your loved one and give them a ride home after the event.

Seniors who play a musical instrument can show off their chops and perform with others in the Senior Suburban Orchestra. Those who join the orchestra will get regular opportunities to play music, improve their playing, and experience the joy of making music with others.

Located in the same town as the Naperville Park District, Assisting Hands Home Care tends to the home care needs of seniors in the area. When your elderly loved one needs transportation to a social event, our professional caregivers are ready to provide a safe ride. We’ll also prepare a nutritious breakfast for the senior to consume prior to heading out for the afternoon.

Transportation, meal preparation and assistance with dressing are only a handful of the many non-medical senior care services Assisting Hands Home Care provides. When your aging loved one needs compassionate assistance at home, our licensed and bonded caregivers are available to lend a hand.

Families and their senior loved ones in Naperville, Illinois, continually turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for all their companion care needs. Consult our knowledgeable representatives for answers to any questions about our reliable elder home care services or to start a journey toward aging in place with dignity.