If you have senior loved ones residing in nursing homes or assisted living, regular visits are necessary to correspond with them and show your love. Hanging out with them helps lighten up their day, and letting them know about your next visit gives them something interesting to expect.
Some relatives feel awkward every time they visit their older adults in assisted living since they don’t know what to do throughout their visiting days. Luckily, we will look at some enjoyable activities you can do with your loved ones to make your reunion worth the moment.
What to Do in Retirement Facilities
Bringing activities for your loved ones to enjoy and having some exciting ideas in mind can make your visit engaging. We’ve put together five safe, senior-friendly, and interesting activities for a successful visit you and your senior loved one will never forget.
1. Eating together
Eating is always better when you are with another person. You could take your senior loved one outside or eat together in the retirement community, but sharing meals with them is a great activity to do when paying them a visit. You might arrange an indoor or outdoor picnic inside the retirement facility or cook supper.
Furthermore, you may cook their favorite meal or prepare something both of you used to enjoy in the past. If you and your older adult agreed to move them to assisted living, you might search the web for senior living communities near you to see accurate results.
2. Furry pets
Cats or dogs are good sources of comfort and dependable companions for those in assisted living. Furry buddies can aid with loneliness and offer seniors something to take care of. Petting canines or felines is a reassuring and therapeutic activity, specifically for seniors. Bringing pets along when visiting your loved ones is an excellent idea to help keep them delighted.
If they are pet lovers, they will probably appreciate it and be happy to hang out playing and interacting with a beloved family pet. Furthermore, research shows that spending time with pets can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, stress levels, and heart rate and prevent depression, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. However, it is necessary to ask the care community before carrying a pet to ensure furry pets are allowed.
3. Gardening activities
Gardening activities are a social activity that captivates most senior citizens and helps them form good connections with their fellows. Planting various kinds of seeds, digging in the dirt, or growing plants or beautiful flowers helps keep them immersed and relaxed as this also gives them a peaceful experience with nature. Senior citizens in active retirement communities will enjoy planting and pulling weeds, keeping their mobility in good condition.
4. Reminisce over old pictures
Looking at old videos or pictures with your loved one is a nice way to strengthen your bond and hang out together. Furthermore, pictures are good communication starters; you do not know what your older adult would love to share about memories or stories they remember. Another way to entertain your loved ones who take residence in senior living facilities is by doing small tasks like family history or family tree to keep their mental condition engaged and active.
5. Cards and board games
Board games are an enjoyable and fascinating activity for seniors. It’s a great method to socialize with their fellows, laugh, and have a great time. Additionally, board games also come with numerous health benefits for elders. These can help enhance their skill and mental function, lower blood pressure, and prevent mental illnesses. In addition, board games can improve the seniors’ lifestyle as they will likely have fun with these activities.
