Assisted living takes many of life’s burdens off the shoulders of seniors residing there. They no longer need to go to the supermarket to purchase food, vacuum the carpets, or clean the gutters when they’re blocked. To some degree, it’s life at a simpler level. Fortunately, this opens up extra free time for additional activities. But what are they?
In this article, we explore some of what seniors can gain access to when they become residents at an assisted living facility.
Walking Groups
Our bodies all begin to seize up when we make less use of them. The muscles become stiff, the joints ache, and being sedentary doesn’t help with that. Because of the need to remain active, plenty of facilities encourage residents that if they haven’t been active recently, they should consider doing so.
For instance, the assisted living Jackson NJ facility from Monarch includes a regular walking group for participants to get out and about. This is performed at a sensible pace, allowing for a bit of sightseeing or an easy chat while strolling.
Board Games and Card Games
Board games can be hotly contested. Competitive spirits can be seen in full flow where singles or partners battle it out to secure bragging rights. This might seem a little humorous but just because you’re older, doesn’t mean you’ve lost your competitive spirit!
Some people will play bridge. This is an advanced card game that requires considerable skill to master. However, many other card games can be played too. Hopefully, there aren’t any card sharps there and everyone plays fair.
Scenic Bus Trip
Planning a route and driving to and from a destination isn’t as fun when you’re older. The knees may hurt and the vision is not what it once was, making driving a potentially hazardous activity. Instead, assisted living facilities put on scenic bus trips regularly to see the sights.
Residents certainly don’t want to miss out on seeing interesting local places and those a little further afield. It might mean they’re not an international traveler any longer, but there’s much to see and do just a bus ride away.
Afternoon Movies
Taking in a matinee has a certain old-school ring to it. And that’s what many facilities do with an afternoon movie for residents.
It depends whether this means a trip to the movie theater or if there’s a dedicated home theater within the facility itself. The movies available will likely range widely to suit different tastes. Also, there are now streaming movies which doubtless expands what’s available to residents to watch too. It’s easier than ever to build a small home theater now since you can get all the needed equipment and installation at places like The Grid.
Sports Clubs and Exercise Classes
Individual clubs focused on one sport often become popular at some assisted living facilities. Exercise classes for people who are still reasonably limber raise the challenge beyond walking or playing a single sport. For active participants, they enjoy trying out different fitness equipment or the motivation provided by having a trainer on-site.
As you can tell, there are many different group and individual activities available to residents at assisted living facilities. It all depends on how much they wish to get involved.