What Activities Are Best for Seniors in Assisted Living or a Nursing Community?

Finding the right assisted living or nursing community for a loved one demands careful consideration of quality of life goals, according to U.S. News & World Report . Appropriate activities for seniors are essential to residents' quality of life, with Ohio State University Professor Tanya Gure noting that staying active and engaging socially "makes residents feel happier and obviously, that has lots of benefit in terms of reducing depression." Furthermore, socializing invariably entails communication, which can help improve cognition. "It helps to allow residents to utilize their communication skills and those interactions can be very helpful for keeping a high level of mental stimulation," Gure states. Sue Johansen with the A Place for Mom senior referral service in Seattle says determining the best socialization activities for a loved one depends on the senior's emotional and cognitive status. She stresses that seniors should be asked what they would prefer rather than taking that choice out of their hands. Also valuable is asking what the loved one would do if they had unlimited activity options. Gure also says maintaining community engagement is vital for seniors so they feel less isolated and more connected to the world at large.