10 Things to do in Melbourne with Your Elderly Loved Ones

Planning a day out with your elderly loved ones? Find out about elderly-friendly activities and venues in Melbourne!

The Importance of Community Access and Socialising for Ageing People

People aged 60 and over make up 10% of the population in Melbourne. While it seems a bit old-school to be viewing age 60 as seniority (and 60 is the new 40, anyway…), people over 60 still face disproportionate health issues and outcomes due to the natural event of ageing. This makes accessing the community and remaining social more difficult for people as they age, as they perhaps lose the mobility, cognition, or motivation required to do so.

People who are older or elderly have a higher chance of currently experiencing chronic ill health, too, and things like pain or the time commitment of looking after one’s deterioration in health may make them less able to do the things they used to love. Physically, they may tire more easily or have lost the means to access activities such as the ability to drive or comfortably use technology to figure out how to plan such things. This is reflected in recent data about the lives of people over 60 living in Melbourne – over 1 in 10 people over 60 need physical assistance with their core activities of daily living, and 1 in 3 don’t have access to the internet.

Due to higher chances of cognition and emotional difficulties as one ages, elderly people may have a lower tolerance for activities that used to be enjoyable – like attending live music events, eating in bustling restaurants, or being in non-temperate environments.

But social connectedness and feeling a sense of belonging and community is imperative for people of all ages. As social, connected creatures, our physical and mental health is intrinsically linked to our sense of belonging, family, and social connection. People who experience loneliness or poor social connection experience disproportionate physical health outcomes.

This is why it’s so important to care for your ageing loved ones by making sure they are remaining connected and engaging in meaningful activities with people they love. Because of the restraints around some things they can engage in due to possible declining health, we’ve compiled a list of activities you can participate in with your elderly loved one.

5 Elderly Friendly Outdoor Activities and Venues in Melbourne 

The added stress of the possibility of catching covid while out and about also prevents elderly people from accessing social events and community activities. This is why it could be easier to suggest outdoor activities for your elderly loved ones – to ease both your minds and lower the risk of catching covid. Check out our five suggestions in elderly friendly outdoor activities and venues in Melbourne!

1. Visit the Queen Victoria Market

Situated just a few kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD is Queen Victoria Market and open Tuesday through to Sunday, Queen Vic is a longstanding and important fixture of Melbourne, with many Melbournians feeling an affection towards the vibrant and bustling trading arena. Be sure to bring cash and some shopping bags and wander around to see what foodstuffs or clothes take your fancy – wandering around and admiring all the shops and shoppers is an activity within itself! You may be inspired by what ingredients you find and cook up a feast for your elderly loved one, or find a cosy corner in the surrounding suburbs to sit and have a quiet coffee. Even better, the Winter Night Markets run through July and August every year – come hungry and wander around with your elderly loved one to suss out which hot, home-made meal takes your fancy.

2. Visit Werribee Open Range Zoo

Just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, you can get up-close-and-personal with all kinds of Australia-born and exotic animals – perfect for people of all ages and abilities. As an ethical way to admire and engage with some interesting animals, you can enjoy a safari adventure through the open ranges and make friends with giraffes, zebras, and emus. Plus, it’s en-route to the Great Ocean Road – perhaps you can swing around by Bells Beach afterwards, or spend the night on the Coast!

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

Easily accessible by the CBD and just south of the Yarra River sits the stunning and accessible Royal Botanic Gardens. You can enter anywhere off Birdwood Avenue or Alexandra Avenue and find a spot on the path that strikes your fancy to begin your journey. It’s wheelchair and mobility-aid friendly, with plenty of places to stop along the way and admire the native plants along the path.

4. St Kilda Beach

St Kilda Beach is one of those super spots for fun on a nice, temperament day – you can enjoy breathing in the salty air and admiring the natural seascape, or taking a leisurely swim in the bay-like water. However, you’re never far from a fabulous place to eat, drink, or buy an ice cream, and it’s super accessible from the CBD by public transport. You can begin a stroll along the Esplanade where Carlisle Street and Acland Street meet, along the paved walkway which is suitable for all kinds of mobility aids. You can borrow a beach wheelchair from St Kilda Lifesaving Club during the Summer months, too, if your elderly loved one needs to access it.

5. Go On An Adventure

Homage has compiled a detailed how-to access wheelchair accessible and low mobility trails all around Victoria. Parks Victoria have done an amazing job of making some of the most enticing National Parks – like the Grampians and Wilson’s Promontory – accessible by wheelchair or those who need walking aids/easier walking paths. Accessing nature and these kinds of more extensive low-grade hikes shouldn’t be available to only the people who are most able-bodied – anyone of any mobility type can enjoy the wonders of the parks, too. Get stuck into this article for all the details – Check here.

5 Elderly Friendly Indoor Activities and Venues in Melbourne 

Sometimes the weather in Melbourne can be completely unpredictable, unruly or downright chilly – and it might be better to spend some time inside with your elderly loved ones. It’s easy to wonder what there is to do in Melbourne, and as the country’s hub of culture, food, and coffee, we’ve compiled some of the best things to see and do indoors with your elderly loved ones.

 1. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria is Melbourne’s most famous art exhibition and gallery space and a great wheelchair accessible activity for a day out. Founded in 1861, NGV is not only Melbourne’s most popular gallery, but also Australia’s largest. The title of National Gallery of Victoria encompasses two galleries – the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square, which showcases Australian talent, and NGV international – the original building on the corner of St Kilda Road and Southbank Boulevard, which boasts a perpetual rotating roster of international exhibitions. 

The NGV is specifically committed to being an accessible and inclusive environment for everybody – and that includes your elderly loved ones. They have a myriad of options for those who have vision or hearing impairments, sensory sensitivities, and mobility issues. In terms of wheelchair accessibility, the entirety of the gallery is accessible – that includes gallery spaces, auditoriums, toilets, and studios. There is free hire of wheelchairs and motorised scooters available at both galleries – just remember to call ahead to avoid disappointment! Entrances to both galleries are on street level with automatic doors, and each level is accessible by lift. There is also a Changing Places bathroom available between both galleries, at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. Located on level 3, this fully accessible bathroom houses a full-sized changing table, hoist system and basin – users are just asked to bring their own sling to use with the compatible hoist system. Give Hamer Hall security a buzz on (03) 9281 8288 to grab a key to access it!

2. Visit Melbourne Museum

Located on Nicholson Street in the inner-north suburb of Carlton, the Melbourne Museum is a cultural and historical museum that is widely regarded as a must-do wheelchair accessible activity when you’re in the city. As well as hosting a seasonally rotating variety of exhibitions in its gallery spaces, general entry to the museum grants you access to viewing its permanent collections, where you can learn about science, the environment, Aboriginal land, and the history of Melbourne.

All exhibitions and gallery spaces are wheelchair accessible, complete with lifts, toilets and free wheelchair or mobility scooter hire at reception. Melbourne Museum also accepts companion cards, if you need to enlist someone to assist your elderly loved one on the day. If you’re planning to catch a film at the revered adjacent IMAX cinema, there is space available for wheelchair users – just give them a buzz when you book your ticket online to avoid missing out. After your museum visit, you may wish to take a stroll around the beautiful, light-dappled Carlton Gardens – along a path that is completely accessible for people with mobility aids or wheelchairs – so perfect for your elderly loved one.

3. Experience Some Melbournian Coffee

What’s a visit to Melbourne without sipping on a cappuccino in the iconic Degraves’ street in the CBD? Take a stroll up any coffee-iconic street in Melbourne and settle in for a cozy morning chatting over hot drinks – try Degraves St in the CBD, Smiths Street in Fitzroy, Bridge Rd in Richmond, or Greville St in Prahran to stumble across some iconic roasts.

4. Grab a Bite To Eat

If you’re residing in some more of the outer suburbs in Melbourne, most RSLs and hotels will have senior deals going every day of the week. Taking your elderly loved one out to a place like this can foster a sense of community and not put so much pressure on the wallet!

5. Catch a Theatre Show

Take a look at what’s going on around the numerous theatres in Melbourne here, and decide which one you and your elderly loved ones might enjoy the most. You can pick from the iconic Princess Theatre, Comedy Theatre or Her Majesty’s Theatre.

How Can Homage Help?

Homage provides professional support workers and registered nurses to ageing people who need extra assistance with tasks of daily life. Some people don’t know the breadth of services support can offer, but the reality is that they are there to help you in almost every aspect of life that you can no longer do independently. In terms of accessing the community, support workers can absolutely help you with transport by accompanying you on public transport, driving you in their car, or helping you organise private transport, including offering support for you to access elderly-friendly activities and venues in Melbourne. They can also be invaluable in providing companionship and company while you participate in all the activities you want to. Read further on how to start getting your funding for accessing such support here.