Enriching Social Activities for Seniors to Look for in Senior Care Homes
Choosing senior care for your loved one requires attention to many details. You will want to make sure that they are well taken care of as well as happy at a senior care home. They may have a lot of opinions on where they want to live but you should be able to guide them.
One major thing to consider when looking for a senior care home is what kind of social activities they offer for seniors that will keep them engagedand help them avoid loneliness. Social activities can help a person feel at home and welcomed into a community and at home.
Keep reading to find out all of the social activities for seniors that you should look for when selecting a senior care home for your loved one.
Flip Through a Photo Album
One great activity that many seniors can do is flip through a family photo albumto bring back fond memories of friends and family. Looking through a photo album can help them feel less lonely as they can see everyone who loves them.
If they’re up for it, then they may even want to share photo albums with other seniors. They can see the happy times that their friends
had throughout their life. They may even be able to share stories that they remember.
When preparing a photo album for your loved one to look at there are a few steps you will want to do especially if they have dementia. Make sure that the photo album has large and clear pictures. You should also label each picture to help them to remember details whether they are looking at it alone or sharing it with others.
Listen to Music
Listening to music is another great activity that seniors with dementia can do together. There is significant research that proves listening to music can provide emotional and behavioral benefits. It can also
help to trigger memories because the key brain areas that are linked to musical memory may be unaffected by Alzheimer’s disease.
For seniors, listening to music is a great way to relieve and reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Musis can also lighten the mood and provide a way for residents and staff to connect to each other.
Bring Them Babydolls
Seniors who love to care for babies and children may be thrilled with a babydoll activity, especially if they can do it with other seniors. For seniors with dementia, the dollscan be a great way to help them reduce anxiety as well as depression.
Babydolls have been shown to relieve frustration in seniors as well. When handed a babydoll, the grandparent instinct will often kick in and they will feel a bit of happiness.
During this activity, there is no need to pretend that the babydolls are real babies. The goal is to help residents in a way that works for them especially if they are interested in babies or children.
Petting Puppies
If seniors don’t feel a connection to babydolls, another option is bringing in puppies. There are many organizations that will bring dogs right to you that will help reduce stress and anxiety. Hanging out with dogs can help seniors feel less lonely.
A companion is a great thing for seniors with dementia to have but having their own pet is going to be rather difficult. Taking an afternoon to pet and play with all different kinds of pups can help to bring joy into their life.
Bird Watching
Sometimes, seniors don’t want to be cooped up inside all day so taking them outside to bird watch is a great alternative to staying indoors. Bird watching is a great activity because it is relaxing but also helps to stimulate the mind.
If anything, sitting outside to look at bird and nature will also help seniors to reduce their stress. They can take their mind off of difficult
things while looking at some unique and interesting birds around their senior care home.
Some Light Gardening
Gardening may be a bit too difficult for some residents who suffer from dementia but there are others who may thrive in this activity. Many seniors could feel a bit of nostalgia if you ask them to help with some light gardening such as potting a few plants or pruning a plant for the senior care home.
Doing a bit of light gardening for the right senior will make them feel great and bring back plenty of memories.
Going out to Eat
Another great activity for getting seniors out of the house and to socialize is taking them out to eat. They may need a few extra caregivers but if an event to go out to a restaurant can be coordinated, then it would be great for them to experience.
This would give them a chance to try something that they may not have done in a while. Seniors can also talk to each other. Loneliness affects old people hard but giving them opportunities to communicate with others will go a long way.
Plenty of Social Activities For Seniors
When it comes to finding senior care you’re going to want the best especially if memory care is needed. You need a place with plenty of social activities for seniors so they can be relieved from any additional stress, anxiety or depression.
Arthur’s Senior Care is a great place for any senior with dementia. They have small homes as well as live-in caregivers that are always ready to help out when needed.
Seniors
When it comes to finding senior care you’re going to want the best especially if memory care is needed. You need a place with plenty of social activities for seniors so they can be relieved from any additional stress, anxiety or depression.
Arthur’s Senior Care is a great place for any senior with dementia. They have small homes as well as live-in caregivers that are always ready to help out when needed.
Contact Deb Nygaard today with any questions you may have about Arthur’s Senior Care. She can even give you a tour!