He lives with us and has no interest in senior activities. TV all day. Very depressing. Sad to watch him be sad. He was real active but now uses a walker and can't do his former activities and has no Interest in new ones. He is lonely but won't go to senior center.
Remind him about his options every so often - don't go on about the senior centre, just offer to take him now and again - reassure him with hugs and small attentions as frequently as you have time for, and let him be.
Hm. Do you know any other seniors who do go to the centre? Well enough to invite them round for coffee, maybe? If he knew somebody there he might warm to the idea.
If you father had died at 78 (as is not at all uncommon for his generation) and especially if it was from an accident and not a lingering chronic illness (hit in the head with a ball on the golf course, for example) then you wouldn't have to watch him getting older and older. But you'd probably wish you could have, at least for a few more years.
Ours is the first generation where huge numbers of us are dealing with parents living into their nineties, and overall we don't quite know how to react to it, or handle it.
I suggest you try to give him some happy moments, like looking through an old scrapbook with him, or sharing memories. Maybe he'd like to tell you about what he is most proud of, or how he felt being a father for the first time. Not all day, every day, but sometimes. Try for happy moments. Don't except constant happiness.
Of course, maybe he's ill or depressed. How is his appetite and overall health? If all other things are well, I wouldn't worry about it. I might ask him if there was some reason he didn't want to go to the senior center or to church, or just for a ride. Maybe he has a reason. Maybe his hip hurts or he's just tired. If not, I would accept it and maybe buy him something that might amuse him at home, like magazines, dvds, etc. My mom likes to listen to audio of the Bible. What about a low maintenance pet like a goldfish?
Try not to impute your own feelings into how he should live his life. He's living HIS old age. Some day, you may live yours. And they might not look all that different.
Good daughter! Or Good son!