- Senior art programs can enhance creativity and benefit the community.elderly man sitting painting picture on canvas image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Board games, cards, puzzles, special trips and guest speakers are typical activities at nursing homes. These events are important to maintaining the health and happiness of the senior residents, but try to mix in some other offerings to avoid boredom and predictability. Introducing seniors to new concepts, hobbies and advanced technology will keep them interested and excited to see what the staff plans next. - Open their minds to video games, like the Nintendo Wii. Residents can spend time with each other and young family members, while getting much needed exercise. Even those in wheelchairs can take part and challenge others to a friendly game of bowling, boxing, golf, baseball or tennis. The best part is that they don't even have to leave the building. The Wii Fit takes them through yoga, stretching and other exercises. Nursing Home Activities Resource reports that the Wii sharpens seniors' minds; improves circulation; provides a cardiovascular workout; and strengthens perception, reasoning and other cognitive abilities.
- Many elderly are hesitant to even touch computers, because they know so little about them. As you get older, you may lose touch with technological advances in society. Hold computer classes to get seniors better acquainted with them. Regular classes will get them comfortable checking and sending email, searching the Internet, playing computer games, designing on the computer, and more.
- Nursing homes often contain people with a host of talents. Hold a monthly talent show to give seniors the opportunity to entertain friends and nursing home staff. This can be a lot of fun for everyone. Residents can play an instrument, sing, do comedy, perform magic, and more. Vote for a winner after the show.
- Give seniors a sense of accomplishment and meaning by making crafts or baking items for noteworthy groups or charities. Make blankets or dolls for cancer patients at the children's hospital. Paint ceramics or pottery to decorate newly-built homes from Habitat for Humanity. Make food for the homeless. Seniors at the Freedom Inn in Arizona bake cookies and send them along with notes of thanks to local police, firemen and other groups that serve their community.
- This form of exercise combines breathing techniques with laughter, chants and bodily movements. Studies show that a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes of laughter greatly benefits the human body, explains Laughter Yoga International. The group says this unique exercise increases oxygen content, boosts the immune system, raises metabolism, decreases depression and introduces joyfulness and rejuvenated energy.
- Get seniors involved in scrapbooking to socialize, enhance creativity and showcase special memories and photos. They can create scrapbooks filled with their own family pictures and mementos, or take pictures at nursing home events and create a big scrapbook for the nursing home to display and keep.
- Many nursing homes hold movie nights. If the weather is nice, rent (or have donated) a huge outdoor screen, and enjoy a movie in the great outdoors. There is something soothing about sitting under the moon and stars to watch a movie on the big screen.
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