Fun, Fitness, and Friendship: Exploring Senior Living Activities
It's proven that an active lifestyle is a benefit for all ages, but especially seniors. Hobbies, social activities, and physical activities have all been shown to potentially lower the risk of developing stroke, dementia, and heart disease.
Activities in senior living are also great for promoting social interactions, which can help battle loneliness and depression as people age. A variety of activities promote a well-rounded and healthy lifestyle.
So, what are the top senior living activities? Here are a few that promote fun, fitness, and friendship for seniors.
Book Club
Many adults love to read, so having a book club may be one of the most popular events. Book clubs can meet monthly, allowing members plenty of time to read the assigned book.
Reading can help keep the mind sharp as can discussing it with other members. Plus, there are social benefits they can talk about the book and other topics together.
Arts and Crafts Classes
Allow creativity to flow with arts and crafts classes. Along with creativity, it can also help with being social, boosting self-esteem, and helping people feel accomplished.
There are so many options for arts and crafts classes, including painting, collage making, and pottery. Seniors can also learn how to knit, crochet, or other fiber arts.
They can create unique works of art at any skill level. Having artists come in to teach can also be a great way to make arts and crafts classes engaging.
Nature Walks
Getting outside and enjoying nature has been shown to be beneficial to mental health. Nature can help calm and lower stress levels, leading to better overall well-being.
If you're looking for engaging senior pursuits, nature walks are an easy activity to infuse into senior communities. These can also be a great source of physical activity, allowing seniors to get some exercise.
On nature walks, seniors can spot different plants, trees, and flowers. Easy hikes and walks through parks are the perfect location for these activities.
Crossword Puzzles and Sudoku
Another way to keep the mind sharp is to have a crossword puzzle and sodoku club. These activities will keep seniors thinking as they try to solve the puzzles. While they're solo activities, they can still be done together.
Host a crossword puzzle or sudoku club where seniors can sit together and do the puzzles together. They'll be able to chat or help each other with clues, which can promote a social aspect as well.
Group Exercise
It's so important to be active throughout your life. Regular movement is especially important for seniors to maintain a healthy lifestyle, senior fitness, and promote a healthy body.
Hosting a few senior well-being activities weekly or a few times a month is a great way to help seniors stay active and healthy. Group exercise classes don't have to be intense.
Along with some exercise, seniors will be able to be social with each other while being active.
Gardening Club
Seniors who love plants and flowers will love a gardening club. With a gardening club, seniors can plant and take care of potted plants and flowers. They can have regular meetings where they maintain their gardens.
In these clubs, seniors can also plant vegetable gardens. Raising vegetables, plants, and flowers from seeds can provide a sense of accomplishment. This is the perfect club to start in the late winter or early spring.
Birdwatching
Another way to enjoy the outdoors is with a birdwatching club. Seniors can take a walk and try to spot as many birds as possible. Bring binoculars and a bird book to help guide you.
You can go birdwatching at a local park and see a variety of species. However, if you want to see rarer birds, you may have to go a little further out on a day trip.
Birdwatching is an activity you can do throughout the year to see different species. You can also try going out at different times of the day.
Board and Card Games
Be social and promote brain health by having seniors play board and card games. These can be some of the most fun activities for seniors and it's easy to have them a few times a week or month.
Classic board and card games can be a fun way to help seniors be social with each other. These can also bring out a fun competitive side that can help make the card and board games more fun.
Dance Classes
Exercise classes aren't the only way to get moving. Dance classes are a fun way to promote physical activity. Dance classes are sure to be one of the most fun senior living community events.
You can have a teacher come in to teach different dance styles like jazz, square dancing, or zumba. These can be catered to all experience levels and for senior movement.
Having these weekly or biweekly can help maintain a healthy community. Plus, they'll have fun dancing around together.
Weekly Outings
Getting out in the world is essential for senior citizens. Weekly outings are some of the most enriching senior experiences you can plan. Host trips to the casino, museums, planetariums, or arboretums.
There are plenty of places that seniors will love to go. These outings can help seniors explore and benefit their mental health.
Weekly or monthly outings can be engaging and help seniors make memories. Plus, they'll enjoy the social aspect of getting to explore the world together.
The Top Activities in Senior Living Communities
Being active throughout your life is essential to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Maintaining an active lifestyle is essential for seniors, which is why having a variety of activities in senior living communities is important.
Activities should allow seniors to get creative, be social with each other, or stay healthy through physical movement. These top activities are great to have on the schedule.
Live in a senior community you can call home. Addington Place of Burlington strives to provide supportive and customized care for all residents. Contact us today to inquire about our community.