7 Engaging Assisted Living Activities for Seniors in Three Rivers, MI

Are you (or a loved one) approaching retirement age?

Now is the time to start thinking about long-term plans for senior wellness; this topic runs the gamut, from mental well-being to financial health.

Research from the National Institute on Aging found that seniors with active lifestyles are less likely to struggle with the following issues:

Shorter lifespans
Depression and anxiety
Dementia and memory issues
Heart health risks
Problems with coping
Cognitive issues

Assisted living activities offered in a senior community can mitigate the issues above by providing mental stimulation and socialization.

Discover seven activities that can help seniors live happier, longer lives.

1. Communication Boosts Well-Being For Seniors

Seniors' well-being vastly improves when in regular communication with family and friends. Assisted living communities also have friendly professionals who sit and talk with residents.

Establish a weekly phone call routine. Designating a specific day and time out of the week keeps seniors connected with their community outside of assisted living. This activity facilitates more trust in seniors so that they can build community within their new accommodations.

Be open to digital alternatives to phone calls like email and video chat apps.

User-friendly chat apps include:

Skype
WhatsApp
Facetime
Zoom
Google Meet
Facebook

The above apps also allow larger parties to communicate at once. These options are great for saying hello to long-distance relatives during the holidays.

Letter-writing is another creative, mentally stimulating activity that engages seniors while keeping in touch with loved ones and colleagues.

2. Art Activities For Seniors

Joining an assisted living community like Lakehouse Three Rivers allows seniors to immerse themselves in the arts. For example, residents can check the community's activities calendar for monthly art club meetings.

Other artistic activities to explore include:

Music therapy
Storytelling classes
Quilting and textiles
Trips to museums
Movie and documentary nights

The above activities merge artistic interests with social engagement. Residents can also get together to form their own social hours around such interests as knitting or drawing.

More cognitive-stimulating ideas include:

Making scrapbooks and collages
Crocheting
Sculpture and pottery
Painting
Jewelry making
Wood carving
Rock painting and nature art

Seniors may still enjoy art events outside of the community. This is a great way for seniors to spend time with visiting relatives and friends. A concierge service is also available to book transportation or tickets for museum events and festivals.

3. Elderly Engagement Ideas For Reading

Reading remains one of the most valuable activities in assisted living communities. A 14-year-long study published by the National Library of Medicine found that regular readings help prevent long-term cognitive decline.

Another study monitored older adults who read for an hour and a half per day at least five days out of the week during an eight-week period.

These participants were given iPads with pre-loaded books instead of traditional books. The senior study participants displayed noticeable improvement in working and episodic memory.

Reading may also be enjoyed as a social activity via book clubs and author talks.

4. Light Exercise

Being sedentary for too long can contribute to more aches and pains. Fortunately, assisted living communities approach these issues before they start.

Light exercise sessions, like walking clubs, are offered weekly on the activities calendar. Residents are also encouraged to take walks around the grounds in groups.

Even getting outside for a little fresh air can make a world of difference. Various activities can be completed outdoors, as well, including art and reading.

Seniors are encouraged to explore the following exercises:

Light aerobics
Balance exercises
Morning stretches
Gentle knee lifts
Chair exercises
Standing calf stretch

These exercises can be enjoyed inside one's living unit or outside before a morning coffee break.

5. Educational Senior Activities

Like reading, engaging in enriching educational activities does wonders for cognitive function. Enjoying books from the Lakehouse Three Rivers collection is just the start. Check the activities calendar for even more educational opportunities.

You'll find:

"Today In History" talks
Historical movie screenings
Local field trips
Music history talks

There are also educational opportunities outside of the community. The concierge can help you book transportation for classes in the local area. Local museums and libraries often provide free classes on a range of topics.

Online, you'll find plenty of ways to enrich your mind. You could take free courses through Coursera or watch university lectures on YouTube. Platforms like Coursera also allow seniors to earn additional degrees and certificates at an affordable price.

6. Join a Game Night

It's not an assisted living community without plenty of games! This is one of the highlights of living at Lakehouse Three Rivers. Residents can check the nursing home activities calendar for a daily or weekly game night.

Options include:

Bingo
Scattergories
Puzzle clubs
Cards
Dominoes
Sensory games
Dice games
Skip-bo

Seniors are also encouraged to engage in individual games to keep those logic skills sharp. Completing a daily crossword puzzle from the New York Times is a great start. There are also puzzle books with such popular games as Sudoku and word search.

7. Assisted Living Activities For Socialization

Joining a bingo night is the perfect way to feel social again.

Bingo is unique in that it has the appeal of an individual game like crosswords, but it's enjoyed in a social setting. There's a light competitive edge that makes the game even more fun, keeping residents coming back for every bingo night.

The community offers more opportunities to socialize, including:

Ice cream socials
Meet and greet events
Coffee breaks
Field trips
Weekend clubs
Group shopping trips

Residents looking for religious or spiritual activities can find community through weekly worship groups and services.

Lakehouse Three Rivers' dining program is a wonderful facilitator of socialization. Meanwhile, residents enjoy attentive tableside service while engaging with the community.

Thrive In Assisted Living

A hallmark of a trusted senior living community is an engaging assisted living activities program. Trained professionals are also available to create custom weekly lifestyle schedules for residents. Keep the above ideas in mind as you tour the grounds for an initial tour.

Check out our community's testimonials to learn more about living at Lakehouse Three Rivers. We have several senior living options, including respite care for post-surgery rehabilitation. Our military veterans program is also here to assist with service members' financial needs.