Assisted living communities play a crucial role in providing care and support to seniors, but they also provide opportunities for socialization and engagement. With the right activities and events, assisted living can become a vibrant and exciting community where seniors can thrive.
There are several reasons why you should care ensuring your creating a lively atmosphere in your senior living community:
Engaging events and activities greatly improve the quality of life for seniors living in assisted living. These activities can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, help build social connections, and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
When residents are happy and engaged, they are more likely to feel satisfied with their living situation and less likely to seek alternative living arrangements. This can result in higher resident retention rates and reduced turnover costs for the owner.
A senior living community that offers a variety of engaging events and activities is more likely to be seen as a positive and desirable place to live. This can attract new residents and improve the community's reputation in the local area, helping to drive future growth and success.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into 16 different events you can run to take your event planning to the next level.
From movie nights to technology workshops, we’ll detail why each event is a good idea and how to do it successfully. Whether you're a recreation director, manager, or staff member charged with entertaining seniors, these ideas will make assisted living more enjoyable for those you love.
Virtual Reality (VR) technology offers a unique and exciting way to engage seniors in assisted living. With VR, residents can experience a wide range of immersive environments, from exploring exotic locations to participating in virtual games and activities. The technology can provide a much-needed escape from the monotony of daily life and can also be used for therapeutic purposes, such as helping with memory recall and reducing anxiety.
We wrote an article about the benefits and implementation of VR for assisted living communities.
Who doesn't love a night of laughs? We've seen retirement homes host comedy events with spectacular results. You can even invite the broader community you're a part of, charging a nominal fee for the overhead costs. The residents love it, their families love it, and the community has a great time, and they learn more about the home (who wouldn't want nan to go into a home with comedy shows?). This idea can pay for itself while boosting the community's morale. We’ve even seen move-ins increase shortly after a nursing home had the event.
.png)
It turns out dogs aren't just a man's best friend but a senior’s best friend too. We rarely see more joy on the faces of seniors than when residents' families bring their dogs in for a visit. Everyone gets involved, even the staff, and it brightens the mood of the entire home for a day. However, in light of this, we rarely see scheduled visits from our furry friends. So why not plan a day every few weeks when dogs can visit? It's a great way to put a smile on the faces of everyone in the facility and reach out to the community.
A variety of board games, card games, and video games can be a great way to encourage socialization and friendly competition among residents. To run this event, the facility could provide a selection of games, set up tables and chairs in a common area, and encourage residents to bring their own games if they have any.
Karaoke can be a fun and interactive way for residents to express themselves and enjoy music together. To do this, the assisted living facility could provide a karaoke machine, microphone, and songbook, and set up a stage area for residents to perform on.
An instructional class on how to prepare simple, healthy meals can be a great way to encourage residents to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle. To run this event, the facility could provide a demonstration kitchen, a trained instructor, and all necessary ingredients and equipment.
Screening of classic or recent films is a good idea as it provides a social activity for residents to enjoy together, while also offering a sense of familiarity and comfort. To do this, the assisted living facility could set up a projector or large TV in a common area, provide snacks and drinks, and encourage residents to bring along their own favorite films to share. You can even set up a decent sound system with a sound bar and subwoofer for under $200.
A lesson in painting, drawing, or other forms of art can be a great way for residents to express their creativity and bond with one another. To run this event, the facility could provide all necessary supplies and a trained instructor to lead the class.
A low-impact workout led by a trained instructor is a great way to help keep residents active and improve their overall health and well-being. To run this event, the facility could provide a suitable space, such as a large community room, and a trained instructor to lead the class.
Bingo is a classic game of chance that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's also a staple for seniors. To run this event, the facility could provide bingo cards, markers, and prizes for the winners. Offer some awesome prizes to and invite the community that you're a part of and charge a small fee per head. You'll build goodwill and positive word of mouth.
A talent show can be a great way to showcase the skills and passions of residents, staff, and visitors. To run this event, the facility could set up a stage area and provide a microphone and other equipment as needed.
A celebration in the facility's outdoor garden can be a great way to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery. To run this event, the facility could provide food, drinks, and live entertainment, such as a live band or singer.
A discussion of a chosen book can be a great way for residents to engage with literature and share their thoughts and opinions with one another. It's also a great excuse to start building a library in your community. To run this event, the facility could provide a selection of books, a trained facilitator to lead the discussion, and a comfortable space for residents to gather and chat.
A guided tour of a nearby park or natural area can be a great way for residents to explore the great outdoors and experience the sights and sounds of nature. To run this event, the facility could provide a trained guide and transportation to and from the park or nature area.
A pampering session with manicures, pedicures, and massages can be a great way for residents to relax and rejuvenate. To run this event, the facility could provide a suitable space for the spa activities, such as a community room or salon, and hire professional technicians to provide the services.
A lesson on how to use new technology, such as smartphones or laptops, can be a great way for residents to stay connected with loved ones and the world around them. To run this event, the facility could provide a training room, laptops or other devices, and a knowledgeable instructor to lead the workshop.
A hands-on workshop in which residents can create their own crafts to take home can be a great way for residents to express their creativity and make something to treasure. To run this event, the facility could provide all necessary supplies, such as crafting materials and tools, and a trained instructor to lead the workshop.
A live performance by local musicians, featuring a variety of genres, can be a great way for residents to enjoy live entertainment and bond with one another. To run this event, the facility could provide a suitable space for the performance, such as a community room or outdoor patio, and hire local musicians to perform.
A nostalgic trip down memory lane, with old photos, videos, and stories shared by residents and staff, can be a great way for residents to reminisce and connect with their past. To run this event, the facility could provide a suitable space, such as a community room or lounge, and encourage residents and staff to bring along their own photos and memories to share.
Hosting engaging events and activities in assisted living facilities is a crucial aspect of providing the best possible care and support to seniors. These activities provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, help build social connections, and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. As we've seen in this blog post, there are a wide range of events that can be run, from movie nights to technology workshops, and they all have the potential to make a real difference in the lives of seniors.
We hope this blog post has given you at least one creative event idea. With the right approach, assisted living can be a vibrant and exciting community where seniors can thrive and live their best lives. So, let's work together to create a brighter future for all those in senior living, filled with fun, friendship, and fulfillment!
