Old Folks Home Activities: Nursing Home or Assisted Living Activities for The Elderly

In this guide, I want to share 21 of my favorite activity ideas to keep old folks home residents engaged and uplifted. These are gathered from my own experience visiting nursing homes as well as expert sources. My hope is that these activities provide mental stimulation, social connection, physical activity, and lots of fun!

The Impact of Old Folks Home Activities for Senior

It’s clear that regular activities, such as 10 fun things to do with someone in a nursing home, are vital for seniors’ health and quality of life. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), participating in leisure pursuits provides many evidence-based benefits:

• Improves and maintains cognitive functioning
• Reduces risk of dementia through engagement in various activities for the elderly in nursing homes, emphasizing the importance of a proactive approach to senior care.
• Elevates mood and alleviates depression
• Creates opportunities for social interaction
• Provides physical exercise and improves mobility
• Boosts overall wellness and life satisfaction

In short, activities check all the boxes when it comes to caring for our elderly loved ones! The Alzheimer’s Association also strongly advocates for nursing homes and assisted livings to incorporate meaningful engagement and social activities into every resident’s routine.

When planning activities, it’s important we consider seniors’ interests and abilities to make sure everyone can participate in their own way. While bingo is a staple, we have to move beyond bingo by offering a diverse mix of programs. In this article, I’ll be covering the spectrum of activity categories – from creative endeavors to games to religious services and more. My hope is that every reader finds an idea or two they can try with the senior in their life!

Creative and Crafty Endeavors

Creative activities like arts and crafts have wonderful therapeutic benefits for older adults. Let’s explore some top creative activity ideas:

Art & Craft Session

Supplying coloring books, modeling clay, knitting supplies or watercolor sets gives residents artistic outlets. For those with dementia or physical impairments, simply handling tactile materials can be comforting.

Sewing, Knitting or Crochet

Handiwork activities, recognized as a great activity for the elderly, exercise fine motor skills and cognitive functioning. These crafts also produce tangible end results like blankets, scarves or quilts to gift loved ones.

Homemade Holiday Ornaments

Making ornaments and cards is a festive group activity. Residents can decorate with seashells, beads, glitter and paints – getting ready for the holidays!

A 2021 study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy examined an art therapy program at a long-term care facility. Over 8 weeks, residents created visual art in twice-weekly group sessions. Researchers found over 95% of participants showed decreased anxiety, depression and loneliness scores after completing the program. This demonstrates the mental health boons of creative stimulation!

Physical Activities for Health and Vitality

While it’s important to nurture residents’ minds and spirits, we can’t neglect physical health! Regular exercise prevents muscle loss and deterioration that can occur with aging and inactivity. Physical activities also release feel-good endorphins while improving heart health, circulation, balance and sleep quality. Here are some great ways to get old folks home residents up and about:

Exercises

Chair yoga, tai chi, stretching programs, and light strength Training involving social activities and light exercise can significantly benefit someone in a nursing home by enhancing their overall well-being. are wonderful for mobility and serve as great activities for seniors to maintain their health. They also aid with pain management and posture.

Gardening

Working in a garden, flowerbed or greenhouse gets residents outdoors. It also provides sensory stimulation, with soil textures and nature scents. For those with dementia, gardening can even help recall memories, making it a highly recommended activity for seniors in nursing homes.

Short Outings

A neighborhood walk or wheelchair ride, trip to the mall or visit to a museum gives valuable fresh air. It changes up the scenery from the care home while ensuring safety with supervision.

Research supports physical activity’s multifaceted benefits for older adults. Gardening and nature exposure, for instance, have been shown to lower stress, improve mood, and reduce aggression in dementia patients. Likewise, multi-component training including cardio, strength, balance and flexibility exercises significantly improved mobility while decreasing falls risk by 17% in nursing home residents. When in doubt, get moving!

Social and Communication-Focused Activities

Humans are social creatures by nature. Opportunities to communicate and connect are vital for quality of life as we age. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed some adult children avoid visiting their elderly parents in care homes due to feeling awkward or uncomfortable. Participating in an activity together is a great way to bond and show how much you care! Here are some top social options: including things to do with someone in a nursing home to enhance their quality of life and maintain social connections.

Discussion Groups

Conversation circles on current events, personal histories or lighthearted topics give residents a chance to engage with peers. This fosters a sense of community within care homes.

Ice Cream Social

Enjoying sweet treats together in the sunshine is a simple pleasure! Socials also present chances to play trivia or music as a group.

Knitting Circle

Knitting in a group setting allows for casual chatter, laughter and relationship-building. It’s a relaxing, productive way to pass the time together.

In a 2019 study of a discussion program for seniors with dementia, participants experienced elevated mood, self-esteem and sense of belonging. This shows the power of communication through engaging in social activities with seniors living in nursing homes. Additionally, research demonstrates that nursing home residents with regular social interaction experience a higher quality of life, underlining the importance of activities for the elderly. So let’s get our elderly loved ones talking, interacting and connecting!

Nurturing Connections and Memories

Our personal histories and nostalgia bring great comfort as we age. Finding activities that tap into residents’ rich memories keeps their identities alive. Reminiscing together also nurtures our bonds with them. Some heartwarming ideas include:

Watch Favorite TV Shows or Movies

Enjoying familiar, beloved stories sparks nostalgia. Musicals, classic sitcoms or vintage films are great conversation starters!

Listen to Meaningful Music

Creating playlists with residents’ favorite tunes fosters reminiscence while enhancing mood and cognition.

Share Old Photos

Flipping through treasured photo albums brings back waves of fond memories. This allows seniors to share their rich life stories with us.

For many family members, visiting elderly loved ones in care homes can feel awkward or uncomfortable. But participating in an activity together presents a shared experience to bond over. It also gives your visit more purpose and structure. And the socialization is so valuable for residents’ wellness!

Sensory and Relaxation Activities

The sights, smells, sounds, textures and tastes of sensory activities provide comfort and are great activities for seniors living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. They also stimulate cognitive functioning. Here are some sensory-focused ideas:

Give a Massage or Manicure

Physical touch from a hand massage or shoulder rub provides human connection. Painting nails together is also an act of affection.

Enjoy Music Together

Whether listening to a local senior center band or strumming a guitar, music therapy boosts mood and quality of life.

Ice Cream Social

What better way to ignite memories than with sweet flavors? The community atmosphere also encourages socializing.

According to research, multisensory programs incorporating music, aroma, taste, and haptics improved communication and behavior in dementia patients, demonstrating the effectiveness of carefully selected activities for seniors. Another study found massages decreased agitation in elderly nursing home residents – proving the power of human touch! Sensory play clearly benefits both the mind and spirit.

Celebrating and Enjoying the Outdoors

Taking in fresh air and vitamin D works wonders for physical and mental health. Outdoor activities I recommend include:

Gardening

Planting blooming flowers together fosters community while providing sensory engagement.

Short Outings

Strolling through the local botanical gardens or having a picnic at the park gives seniors cherished experiences beyond care home walls.

Holiday Barbecues

Outdoor celebrations let residents mingle, savor summery flavors and make festive crafts.

Research demonstrates that time spent outdoors in green spaces lifts mood and reduces aggression in those with dementia. It also helps residents form social connections with each other. And we can’t forget the physical perks – vitamin D absorption and physical activity. So let’s get our seniors outside when the weather allows!

Intellectual and Cognitive Stimulation

The adage “use it or lose it” applies to our cognitive functioning. Regular brain stimulation helps seniors maintain memory, reasoning and sharpness. Some great brain-boosting activities include:

Storytime

Volunteers can read aloud poems, short stories or newspaper articles. This exercises concentration, language skills, and working memory, essential components in activities for the elderly designed to slow cognitive decline.

Trivia or Crossword Puzzles

Games get competitive juices flowing while keeping the brain active! Puzzles also boost cognitive skills.

Encourage Game Play

Board games, card games, dominoes or cornhole keep minds engaged through strategy. They also provide social fun!

Multiple research studies demonstrate that cognitive training activities improve the mental functioning, self-esteem, and quality of life of elderly participants. Games also help safeguard against cognitive decline and dementia. By flexing their mental muscles, seniors’ capacities stay strong!

Now that we’ve covered 21 activity categories – from arts to music to games and beyond – I hope I’ve sparked some fresh ideas for our readers! Of course, individual interests and abilities vary widely. The key is maintaining an ever-changing, well-rounded activity calendar at care homes.

Implementing a Successful Activities Program

Executing a diverse activity lineup takes careful planning and resource allocation. Here are some best practices for activity directors and administrators:

• Survey your residents to understand their unique interests, backgrounds, abilities and limitations
• Include both group activities and individualized one-on-one sessions
• Incorporate multisensory elements – sights, smells, textures, sounds
• Allow for social interaction but don’t require participation in every activity
• Embrace modern technology! Incorporate tablets, virtual reality and smart devices when possible
• Adapt activities across ability levels with tools like adjustable tables, large print supplies, noise-canceling headphones and mobility supports
• Review new activity ideas and modify the calendar seasonally
• Support volunteer coordinator positions to help run activities
• Seek donations and community partnerships with organizations like libraries, museums, gardens, colleges, and theaters to expand programming

With inclusive planning and engagement across disciplines like recreational therapy, music therapy, art therapy and pet therapy, the possibilities are endless! Our elderly loved ones deserve nothing less.

Real-Life Success Stories

While studies and statistics demonstrate activity benefits, I find real-life testimonials even more powerful. I’ll leave you with a few heartwarming quotes from nursing home residents:

“I loved when my great-grandchildren visited to bake Christmas cookies together. They brought me so much joy, and I taught them my secret techniques!” – Dorothy, 82

“I surprised myself by winning our nursing home talent show with my harmonica skills! I enjoyed performing again, and now my friends see me in a new light.” – Frank, 75

“The discussion groups help me stay up-to-date on news and politics. I feel so intellectually stimulated conversing with my peers.” – Agnes, 88

Hearing how meaningful activities positively impact residents gives me hope. It’s proof that our elderly loved ones can continue learning, growing and thriving within care homes.

Additional Resources and Support

To close this guide, I want to compile helpful resources for readers looking to enrich activities at their loved one’s care home:

• Relish curates activity ideas for memory care residents and facilitates family participation
• The ElderCare Alliance offers an activities database and discussion forum for nursing home activity coordinators
• Pioneer Network advocates for innovative social activities and meaningful engagement among the elderly in nursing homes. provides training on resident-directed engagement programs for administrators
• BestAlzheimersProducts.com lists top-rated therapeutic activity supplies for memory care, showcasing activities for seniors that stimulate cognitive functions.
• National Association of Activity Professionals allows activity directors to share resources

Armed with creativity and passion, I encourage everyone to advocate for person-centered, engaging programming at their loved one’s care home. Our elderly deserve to make the most of this chapter of life! Please comment any activity success stories or additional ideas so we can all learn together.