How do you encourage an elderly person to be active?

Well, speaking from personal experience, I know that nagging doesn't work, lol. (My mother in law cares for her elderly mother in law full time and the two of them don't get along too well, lol.) Providing them with activities they will enjoy in a setting they will enjoy, in a low-stress, no pressure environment. We have actually found that it's better to provide the opportunity but no pressure to actually participate. With the elderly people in my family (the only ones I have experince with), if we let them know that we WANTED them to be active, they resisted, but if we quietly provided opportunities, they were more willing. (Example: Play a game of cards, let them know you're playing, invite them, but don't push. Or, go outside for some fresh air, let them know where you're going and that they're welcome, leave the door open, but don't insist they come outside.) Ultimately, they are adults, and capable of deciding what they will and will not do, and tend to resent - as we all would - any implication to the contrary.

ask the elderly person about the activities they used to do and liked to do during their young age or in their profession.