What Are The Hobbies/works That Interest Unemployed People Over 50 Years Old?

[christineshajjar]

Hi, I m a graphic designer, my senior project is based on a community/center that gathers unemployed people between 50 and 64 years old, working and doing what they love (drawing, music, hand craft, cooking...) in order to make them stay productive and active (far from being depressed and feeling lonely). And in addition, the center can sell their work (Ex: cooking = catering, hand craft and drawing = exhibitions...) If this community was real, what would be the work that they could be interested in? Thanks in advance!

[Old_Geezer]

I think you have listed them. I can't see the interests/hobbies are going to be much different to those that younger folk are interested in, as long as the eyesight and joints etc. allow them still to be indulged in.

[ummmm]

My mum is retired (62) and her interests are churches and being outside. She gets up every morning to watch the sunrise...

[vulcan42]

As Old Geezer says, it's the problems that come with old age that will stop people pursuing their interests/hobbies. Arthritis has curtailed my interest in oil painting but photography is still my main interest plus carpentry, gardening and Diy. There are many pastimes out there, the few I've listed plus amateur dramatics, rambling ( walking not talking), Dancing, fishing, music, computing, sport and keeping fit; but probably the most popular would be those that come under your title hand crafts.

[Jennykenny]

Have you investigated the University of the Third Age, U3A? It might give you some ideas.
Most areas have a group, which as the title suggests is for older people but as Old-Geezer says, we older people are interested in more or less the same things as younger people.
And yes getting outside is really important. I try to ride my bike every day, weather permitting. Gives me a real boost.

[Sir Alec]

I now have problems with pain in my hands and have taken up loom knitting. It has been proven to help with arthritis. Excellent for 'ladies of a certain age' to make hats, scarves, socks etc for grandkids.

[woofgang]

as a 60 plus YO, I find this project slightly condescending although I am fairly sure you don’t mean it to be. I know many people in that age group and they swim, party, travel, ride motorbikes, restore cars and motorbikes, take part in local politics, keep pets, ride horses, work for charities and do all manner of other things.
I think that people of all ages can feel depressed and lonely for various reasons and i think that its a much better project concept to work out ways of dealing with loneliness and depression in general and helping people to find a life which suits them rather than herding them into a community/centre.