Assisted living’s are a great option for those who need more assistance with day to day activities. A lot of assisted living facilities have great perks to them, like scheduled activities and a pretty dining room to eat meals in and socialize with other residents.
The convenience of being close to a wide variety of social and recreational opportunities is a great perk of assisted living. In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests that participation in meaningful activities is associated with better health outcomes for those living in assisted living facilities.
Shifting to an assisted living facility is a significant life change that can be challenging. In addition, it can shock families when they discover their loved one isn’t having the enriching social experience everyone had expected. Therefore, helping your parent during the transition phase is a priority.
Assist them in getting used to their new schedule and environment. Try to see things from their perspective as they adjust to a new home, routine, and community after living in the same place for so long. Keeping them busy with enjoyable pursuits and showing them your unwavering love and support will go a long way.
Program details can be obtained from the activities director at every retirement community. In addition, communities often provide numerous options for residents to choose from in terms of programs, services, and entertainment so that everyone may find something that speaks to them and makes them feel at home.
What follows is a list of many possible activities that your loved one can participate in once they move into an assisted living facility.
The 11 Best Activities For Seniors in Assisted Living
It might be challenging to think of engaging in assisted living activity ideas for a loved one who is residing in a care home, especially if that person has mobility or cognitive impairments.
But frequent visits help you stay close to your loved one and finding things to do together can improve your bond and foster and enhance vital abilities. To help, I’ve put up the list of the top activities for seniors below.
1. Walking Workouts
Individuals can enjoy the outdoors by going for a morning stroll around the block or in a neighboring park. Then, senior citizens can break up their day with a brisk walk outside when they feel bored and antsy.
Walking is an excellent way for seniors of any age to get some physical activity while still having a wonderful time. This is a good habit because it has the potential to boost their health in general.
Walking has many health benefits, including muscle strengthening, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes, and protection against bone loss. Walking is beneficial to senior citizens’ health, and they do not even need to walk over very long distances in order to receive those benefits.
Seniors can reap health benefits even if it’s just a brief walk every day. In addition to keeping children physically and cognitively engaged, this is also a lot of fun.
2. Music
A senior living community is great for people of all ages to come together and share a love of music. Music is another form of therapy and entertainment that any older person can enjoy.
The right song at the right time may work wonders for your disposition, making you feel happier and more confident.
Those in a senior living community benefit physically and mentally from the simple act of sitting still and enjoying music. In addition, they can listen to a playlist of all their favorite music whenever they come together.
They may even have a sing-along if they knew the words to the songs being played.
3. Playing With Pets
In most assisted living facilities, visitors are welcome to bring their pets with them. A senior will light up at the sight of a furry pet. In addition, those who have pets, especially furry ones, are more likely to engage in physical activity.
The presence of furry companion animals can greatly improve the health of senior citizens. Individuals who share their homes with furry companions may benefit from less stress, lower blood pressure, and more frequent and meaningful social connections.
Petting a cat or dog is an excellent way to relieve stress. In addition to bringing the family dog or cat with you on your next visit to the senior in the assisted living facility, you can always buy a furry friend as a gift for the resident.
Health and vigor may increase as a result of the positive emotions and focused physical exercise they experience every time they connect with a furry pet.
Here are some examples of simulated pets that look real:
Dog
Cat
4. Gardening
Gardening is something a lot of residents really enjoy. Some senior living communities will have an enclosed outdoor gardening area that residents can enjoy.
Gardening is a way to unwind and connect with nature in a serene setting.
Planting, weeding, and generally working in a garden are great ways for those living in a senior assisted living community to exercise and improve their mobility.
5. Art And Crafts
Individuals at assisted living facilities might pursue crafts as a hobby or work on them along with family and friends. Fine motor skills are developed through needlework activities like knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching.
However, those who have difficulty with fine motor control may benefit more from participating in more abstract arts and crafts like painting and collage.
6. Yoga
Exercises in a group setting, such as yoga, are great for seniors living in assisted living facilities. The emotional and physical benefits of these routines are substantial.
There is some evidence that yoga can reduce the risk of falls in older adults, making it an important practice for this population.
Yoga group activities are safe and effective for individuals, helping them to retain mobility and confidence as they age. This worthwhile program helps our senior population age in place with pride and dignity.
7. Board Games
Seniors can have a lot of fun while also making new friends by playing board games. An excellent method for getting to know new people, lifting one’s spirits, and having a good time.
Board games also help seniors improve their cognitive abilities, reduce stress, boost agility, reduce blood pressure, and protect against mental illnesses.
For seniors, even something as basic as playing a board game could prove to be a welcome distraction.
8. Birdwatching
Seniors can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle by taking up birdwatching. In addition, seniors who are otherwise confined to their homes might get some fresh air and exercise by going birdwatching.
Watching birds, listening to their songs, and learning to recognize different types of birds flying around is a highly engaging exercise for seniors. In addition, seniors are encouraged to bring a camera to capture stunning images of the birds they encounter.
Birdwatching is a fun activity that can be done from the comfort of home, even by seniors. For senior citizens who may have difficulty standing for a long time, birdwatching can be made simpler by using lightweight binoculars.
9. Watching Movies
The idea of spending the day or night watching movies appeals to just about everyone. So snuggle up with some food and blankets and let them pick the movie. Like music therapy, watching classic films can calm an older person’s mind and body.
You can watch whatever you want, and they might even recommend something you would enjoy if you’re a senior adult looking for something to do inside.
10. Scrapbooking
Whether you want to preserve a specific event or just want to use up some old letters and photos, scrapbooking is a fun method to accomplish so. In addition, when a senior begins to have trouble remembering things, they can use scrapbooking as a visual aid to help them recall the information.
11. Picnic
A picnic is an ideal way to enjoy the outdoors without exerting too much effort. All you need is a simple picnic blanket and a selection of your favorite meals to have a great time without breaking the bank.
Suppose you need shade when outside; an open tent or umbrella can do the trick. Also, remember to take frequent breaks in the shade and drink lots of water.
Things to Consider About Activities in Assisted Living Facilities
1. There is no Obligation to Participate
Residents in assisted living facilities are encouraged to maintain an active and friendly lifestyle but are in no way compelled to do so. Instead, encourage your loved one to get out and mingle once they’ve moved in by discussing the benefits of doing so.
As a first step in getting to know the neighborhood, pick two or three events to attend.
Meals and common areas can still be good places for informal conversations and bonding. However, your loved one can also choose to remain in and relax with some quiet time in their apartment, whether with a movie or a good book.
2. Flexibility is Possible in Daily Routines And Plans
Individuality is preserved to some extent among assisted living residents. For example, if your loved one regularly attends bingo games but isn’t feeling well one day, they don’t have to force themselves to play.
While daily procedures like washing, grooming, medicine, and cleaning may become more routine, residents still have the freedom to choose their own schedules and participate in activities to varying degrees.
3. Feedback From Residents is Essential
It is common practice for activity directors at assisted living facilities to request resident feedback on the programs they offer regularly. In addition, residents of the assisted living facility may be encouraged to suggest additional activities.
If an idea becomes popular, it may be added to the community schedule, or a senior may organize a new social club or activity independently.
4. Having Friends Nearby Might Make Them Feel at Home
Although the prospect of a brand-new community with a jam-packed events schedule may be daunting, the friendships your loved one forms will make the transition well worth it.
Motivate them to step outside their comfort zone, try something new, and interact with the facility’s personnel and other residents.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of activities available for individuals to participate in in a senior living community. The key is finding a few that your loved one would be interested in attending.
It is essential that assisted living facilities offer activities to the people living in their facility. Indeed, engaging in constructive mental and physical activity has been shown to improve happiness and feelings of social connection, which in turn has been linked to improvements in cognitive function and physical mobility.
Your loved one will be able to find joy in participating in these different activities, and they’ll also be able to retain some of their independence thanks to the care they receive there.
The right community may help bridge the gap between your loved one’s abilities and the support they may require daily. Hence, whether you’ve been considering placing them in a home for a while or whether recent developments have made their present living arrangement less ideal.
The appropriate activities for seniors in an assisted living setting can help them continue to pursue their interests, maintain their health, and enjoy life to the fullest, regardless of their age or prognosis.
References
- https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/assisted-living-activities
- https://www.experia-usa.com/blog/fun-assisted-living-activity-ideas/
- https://www.seniorliving.org/life/activities/
- https://www.sabalpalmsseniorliving.com/6-engaging-activities-for-seniors-in-alzheimers-assisted-living/
- https://discoversarabella.com/9-fun-activities-seniors-can-do-in-assisted-living/
- https://westbladenassistedliving.com/articles/what-seniors-do-in-assisted-living/
- https://www.agingcare.com/articles/assisted-living-social-activities-events-146313.htm
- https://theglen.org/10-activities-seniors-can-enjoy-at-an-assisted-living-facility/
- https://www.terrabellaseniorliving.com/senior-living-blog/best-assisted-living-activities-ideas-for-seniors/
