Why Social Activities for Seniors Improve Quality of Life at Assisted Living Communities
Giving a round of applause and laughter when his friend wins a game of Bingo.
Singing her favorite song with joy among peers and caregivers.
Moving to the beat at his favorite exercise class every Monday morning.
Moments like these are common at assisted living communities that provide seniors with a selection of fun, interesting, and engaging social activities.
Perhaps your loved one is living at home and is struggling with social isolation. And maybe you’re just beginning to consider how the activities for seniors at assisted living communities can help. Here’s what you need to realize…
Senior living social activities don’t simply fill your loved one’s calendar…they also provide a number of benefits.
Read on to discover three specific reasons why social activities improve your loved one’s quality of life at an assisted living community.
#1: Social Activities for Seniors Build Relationships among Residents and Caregivers
Making a move to assisted living communities involves a process of building new relationships and engaging in activities to become closer to fellow community members.
Social activities act as that necessary bridge for new members, particularly those that may be more introverted and need an easy “in” to new friendships and bonds.
Whether your loved one signs up for a book club or cooking class, these activities are perfect ways to meet others with similar interests.
Beyond fellow residents, social activities also act as a catalyst for relationship development with caregivers.
For example, at The Ashford, our caregivers are often involved in facilitating and encouraging social activities within the community.
This opportunity for engagement beyond assistance-based tasks only strengthens the caregiver-resident bond.
#2: Social Activities Improve Seniors’ Confidence Levels and Build Trust
The benefits of social activities for seniors extend beyond the increased opportunities for social engagement and relationship building.
These activities also provide a chance for residents to try new things and increase their confidence and trust in themselves and others.
As the saying goes, it’s truly never too late to try something new.
Maybe it’s seeing your father discover a new sense of joy out in the community garden.
Or perhaps it’s hearing your mother talk excitedly about her first watercolor painting class.
Whatever it may be, your loved one’s participation in these activities plays a big role in maintaining a healthy level of life satisfaction and happiness.
#3: Social Activities Act as Stress Relievers and Improve Overall Wellness
Oftentimes, when seniors decrease their level of physical activity, their health will decline rapidly.
In fact, the BMJ Journal reports that “worldwide, around 3.2 million deaths per year are being attributed to inactivity.”
Understandably, for many people, the motivation to stay physically active can be hard to maintain alone.
That’s why group physical activities for seniors—such as light yoga classes, aerobics, and even gardening—are helpful and encouraging for many residents to stay active and fit.
Beyond physical health, these activities improve mental health and brain functioning in older adults.
Life Science describes how one study found that “U.S. adults ages 70 or older who engaged in mentally stimulating activities at least once or twice a week were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment four years later, compared with those who did not engage in mentally stimulating activities as frequently.”
Based on these findings, it’s safe to say that with the reduced stress, improved brain functioning, and optimal physical ability, physical activity can greatly improve a senior’s overall life experience.
As the son or daughter of a senior, knowing that your loved one has numerous opportunities to stay engaged and healthy at his or her fingertips will give you peace of mind.
At The Ashford, our assisted living communities offer the chance to engage in social activity each and every day. From dining events to exercise programs, we help our residents stay socially engaged with each other.
To see our atmosphere for yourself, schedule a visit to one of our communities…or plan your visit in advance to The Ashford at Sturbridge, our newest community, which opens in late fall of 2018.
