Entertaining Concepts for Senior Living Facilities: Gaming Edition
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In nursing homes across the country, providing engaging recreational activities for residents is a top priority. Here's a look at some of the ways facilities are creating enjoyable and stimulating experiences for their residents.
Creating a Comfortable Environment for All
When it comes to recreational activities, every resident's needs and preferences are unique. If a resident refuses to participate, it's important to identify the reason behind their refusal and offer alternatives. Personalise the activities, create a comfortable environment, encourage peer involvement, and offer incentives to encourage participation.
Ensuring Safety and Accessibility
Safety is paramount in any recreational setting. Ensuring the playing area is free from tripping hazards, well-lit, and equipped with sturdy chairs or armrests is crucial. Using non-slip flooring, keeping the area free from clutter and obstacles, and providing close supervision for residents who need assistance with mobility or balance are also essential.
Offering a Variety of Activities
Beyond traditional games, the best recreational activities for nursing home residents include arts and crafts, virtual tours, indoor gardening, music and art therapy, senior yoga, and pet therapy. These activities offer cognitive stimulation, physical engagement, creativity, social connection, and emotional well-being, often adaptable for residents with varying mobility levels.
- Arts and Crafts: Painting, knitting, journaling, scrapbooking, and other crafts allow residents to express creativity, improve dexterity, and foster social interaction when done in groups. The repetitive motions can be meditative and boost self-esteem.
- Virtual Tours and Armchair Travel: Seniors can explore museums, aquariums, and historical sites online, stimulating their minds and sparking conversations without physical travel, making it a relaxing and enriching option.
- Indoor Gardening: Caring for plants, herbs, or flowers indoors provides therapeutic effects and a sense of responsibility. It can be adapted for limited mobility and encourages socialization through gardening clubs or group activities.
- Music and Art Therapy: Engaging with music and art helps with emotional expression and cognitive stimulation, often used as complementary therapies in nursing homes.
- Senior Yoga and Light Exercises: Gentle stretching and movement improve flexibility, circulation, and mood, tailored to seniors’ abilities.
- Pet Therapy: Interaction with animals provides comfort, reduces loneliness, and encourages social engagement.
Maintaining Equipment and Respecting Individual Choices
Keeping equipment in good condition and replacing anything that is broken or worn out is essential to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all residents. It's also important to remember that every resident is unique, and their level of participation in recreational activities may vary. The key is to find a balance between providing opportunities for engagement and respecting individual choices.
References:
[1] National Centre for Biotechnology Information. (2019). The impact of arts on health: A review of the literature. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6450334/
[2] National Institute on Aging. (2017). Creativity and Aging: The Arts in Later Life. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/creativity-and-aging-arts-later-life
[4] American Psychological Association. (2018). The Benefits of Arts and Humanities for Older Adults. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/arts-humanities.pdf
- Engaging with music therapy, as a form of art therapy, can enhance emotional expression and foster cognitive stimulation among nursing home residents.
- For the fashion-conscious resident, virtual visits to museums, aquariums, or historical sites offer an opportunity to engage in armchair travel and stay updated on the latest fashion trends.
- Those who enjoy gardening can find solace and responsibility in tending to indoor herb gardens, providing therapeutic effects and social opportunities through group activities or gardening clubs.
- In a nursing home setting, shopping might be limited, but residents can still engage in meaningful activities, such as art and music therapy, senior yoga, or pet therapy, that prioritize emotional well-being, relaxation, and social connections.
- While planning travel itineraries, consider destinations known for their pet-friendly accommodations and activities, allowing visited residents to enjoy pet therapy experiences outside of the nursing home.
