Retirement communities combine two of life’s greatest joys: friendship and free time. So as you research and tour facilities, be sure to ask about the retirement community activities they offer. Look for a full schedule of varied activities, enthusiastic staff members, and friendly residents who are active in the facility’s social scene. So what sorts of retirement community activities can you expect to find? Scroll down to find out.
Retirement Community Activities
OLD FAVORITES
You would be hard-pressed to find a facility that does not offer some of these classic games. Easy to learn and fun for people of all ages, these old favorites are popular with seniors across the world. As you tour the facilities, check that they (1) offer some of these games and (2) have lounges where the residents can comfortably gather and socialize over a game of mahjong or Scrabble.
- Card games (bridge, rummy, poker, pinochle, Uno, etc.)
- Chess and checkers
- Backgammon
- Bingo
- Puzzles
- Dominos
- Mahjong
- Yahtzee
- Board games (Scrabble, Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples, etc.)
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
If a facility doesn’t place a great emphasis on residents’ health, steer clear of it! The best assisted living communities offer excellent medical services as well as opportunities for exercise. There should be paths for walking and some healthy activities like exercise classes, bocce ball tournaments, or washers.
- Exercise classes (aerobics, water exercise)
- Gardening
- Bocce ball or croquet
- Horseshoes or washers
- Ping Pong
- Dancing lessons
FUN ALTERNATIVES
As I said before, you’d have a hard time finding an assisted living community that didn’t offer its residents board games and decks of cards. But when a facility’s staff members are truly invested in providing fun opportunities for residents, you’ll find more interesting retirement community activities. From karaoke and trivia nights to book clubs, choirs, and murder mystery parties, these fun alternatives to standard senior activities are a great way to raise residents’ enthusiasm and get them excited about the social opportunities available at their retirement community.
- Trivia night
- Talent shows
- Movie night
- Plays and musicals
- A murder mystery party
- Holiday decorating
- Video games
- Choir practice and performances
- Holiday parties
- Karaoke
- Writing workshop/class
- Themed parties (jazz night, big band, the Roaring Twenties, etc.)
- Book club
- Arts and crafts
- Sewing or knitting group
VOLUNTEER WORK
With so much free time on their hands, many nursing home residents choose to give back to their communities. Without jobs or parenting responsibilities, they crave a productive hobby. So, some retirement community activities revolve around volunteer work:
- Sew quilts for newborns
- Tutor local students
- Volunteer to converse with students learning English
- Take a walk and pick up litter
- Send holiday cards to soldiers overseas
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If the facility you’re touring doesn’t offer one of your favorite activity ideas, ask the staff if their social schedule is flexible. There’s a chance that they’ll love your idea. If they think it would appeal to the other residents, they might even add it to their social activity calendar!
To learn more about the retirement community activities offered by Hearthside Senior Living Place, click here to schedule a tour at one of our eight locations.