With over 20% of the adult population having limited activity levels, health problems continue to rise all around the world. To prevent these problems from happening as you grow older, you must find ways to stay active.
Our staff at Bennett Place Assisted Living knows that improving health means participating in a variety of assisted living activities. While physical activity is key, it's also important to work on mental and social health.
To give your well-being a boost, keep reading. We'll go through the top senior living activities that'll have a positive impact on all aspects of your health!
Stretches are a great way to start the day. They get the blood moving and help you wake up more than a cup of coffee. They also give many unique health benefits for seniors, including:
To get the most out of these exercises, you need to remember not to push your body past your current stretching level. As you continue to stretch, your muscles will be able to adapt to deeper stretches but pushing too much can cause injury.
These reasons are why many seniors like to begin their day with simple stretches. Bennett Place Assisted Living's staff hosts a Stretch It Out in our activity calendar several times throughout the week so that we can achieve those benefits together in a safe and guided way.
If you're looking for engaging activities for seniors, nothing can quite beat the appeal of the noodle ball. Many people don't know what it is at first, but it's addicting once you've played a single round.
Armed with a pool noodle, you'll whack the noodle into a balloon around the room with other players. It's more of a workout than you'd expect, even though it never feels like true exercise.
It's a fun and exciting way to get your body in motion and your heart pumping. With all the laughing that happens during this beloved game, it's no wonder it's such a hit with our assisted living community.
An active senior lifestyle doesn't mean you have to focus solely on physical activity. Activities that focus on other aspects of your health can impact your overall health.
Pampering yourself and having a mental health day can make a huge difference to your mood and temperament.
At Bennett Place Assisted Living, we have days dedicated to indulging yourself. For example, we have events dedicated to nail care and facials so that our residents can feel good and relax to the fullest.
Sometimes, we all need a little pick-me-up, and turning personal care into a recreational activity can make all the difference in the world.
Another way to maintain your health is to participate in activities that can aid in improving multiple aspects. Crafting is a great example because you'll engage different parts of the brain while also working on hand dexterity and motor control.
The best part about doing crafts is that it can easily become a social activity as well. Instead of creating something on your own, you can work as a group and brainstorm together.
This makes crafting a kind of activity that can hit on all the aspects of health: physical, mental, social, and cognitive.
Bingo is a classic senior community game but it has that iconic recognition for good reason. It aids in cognitive function, memory care, and socialization. It's easy for beginners to get started but also has that edge of friendly competition which can make it exciting.
One game never feels like quite enough because you just know you're going to win the next round.
It's a fun social activity that many communities, including Bennett Place Assisted Living, host frequently for its residents. Residents and staff both look forward to this classic game every week.
Completing a puzzle gives a sense of satisfaction since it can take a lot of time and effort to complete the picture. You'll work on memory and pattern recognition as you find the right pieces.
It can be a relaxing activity even as your brain continues to run through shapes, textures, and organization. Plus, doing it with friends makes the experience better.
Finding true wellness in assisted living means connecting with the senior community and your local area. Social health is an underrated aspect of our well-being but we all feel the detriments when it goes neglected. You'll suffer from problems such as:
Engaging in community outings is a reliable way to prevent these issues from occurring. Once you participate in a community outing, it'll be much easier to keep participating in the future. You'll find yourself saying yes to things you may have declined to join previously.
Going shopping or dining with your senior community helps elevate your social health, mental health, and aids in keeping you active overall.
Karaoke is a unique activity because it's both social and personal. You'll need to remember the words to your favorite song and keep up with the music. You'll need to remember certain timings so you don't go off the beat.
It also can push you to new heights, especially if you're someone who feels shy about performing in front of others.
Don't worry, participation is possible even if you're nervous. Gather a few of your senior community friends and do a sing-a-long to get the benefits of karaoke without the fear of performing alone.
No retirement can feel fulfilling if you feel like each day is a bore. To get the most out of your community and to improve your well-being, join a senior community that loves assisted living activities as much as you do.
Bennett Place Assisted Living is an Indiana senior community that makes fun activities a focus every single month. We include all of the above activities in our calendar to find the right balance between physical, mental, and social activities for a full experience. Make sure to schedule a tour with us and we'll show you the current day's activities in person!