Activities When Visiting Your Senior Loved One in Their Community

Maintaining regular visits is a vital means of staying connected and demonstrating your care when your older adult resides in senior housing in Denver. However, some individuals may feel unsure or uncomfortable about visiting because they are uncertain about what to do or say. Planning ahead and bringing along engaging activities can transform visits into enjoyable and positive experiences.

To ensure the success of your next visit, Balfour Senior Living has compiled a list of fantastic activities suitable for your loved one in a senior housing community.

A Fresh Air Walk

Instead of confining them to their room, consider taking them outside to the courtyard or garden. You can walk alongside them at a gentle pace, providing support if necessary, or push their wheelchair to ensure they can enjoy the surroundings. If the care community lacks a suitable outdoor space, don’t worry. Even walking around inside the building can serve as a wonderful activity that promotes their overall health and well-being.

Listen to Music

Music possesses a remarkable ability to enhance mood, reduce restlessness, and promote joy and engagement universally. It serves as a wonderful activity to share with your older adult. When spending time together, consider playing their favorite songs or setting up a simple music player that allows them to listen at any time. You can sing along or enjoy the music, have an impromptu sing-along, or encourage them to reminisce about cherished memories from their younger days. If you’re uncertain about their musical preferences, seek input from relatives or compile a selection of songs from their youth and ask which ones resonate with them the most.

Music remains an excellent activity even when your older adult is unwell or confined to bed. Gentle melodies provide a sense of calm and comfort, creating an opportunity for shared experiences. Observe their body language for cues indicating their enjoyment of the music. If agitation arises, transition to something more soothing, lower the volume or switch to a different activity accordingly.

Bring Your Pet

Engaging in the therapeutic act of petting a dog or stroking a cat can have profound benefits. Consider bringing your pet along during your next visit to the care community. For older adults who have a fondness for animals, the opportunity to spend time with a beloved family pet can bring immense joy.

Research has demonstrated that interacting with animals can lead to lowered heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels, offering immediate benefits. Over the long term, regular interaction with pets has been associated with decreased cholesterol levels, prevention of depression, and reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Before bringing a pet, it is important to check with the care community to ensure that furry visitors are permitted.

Read to Them

Engaging in the activity of reading aloud provides a meaningful way to connect with your loved one and express your care, even without extensive conversation. Reading aloud is particularly beneficial for older adults who are bedbound, less responsive due to advanced health conditions, or have vision impairments. Consider bringing one of their beloved books and sharing a chapter or two during each visit. Alternatively, you could bring an audiobook that allows both of you to listen together, creating an enjoyable shared experience.

Treat Them with a Massage or Manicure

The therapeutic benefits of touch can be highly valuable for many individuals residing in senior living communities. If you have a close relationship with your older adult, dedicating an afternoon to pampering them can be a delightful way to spend quality time together.

You can enhance their experience by bringing lightly scented lotion and providing a gentle hand massage or offering a manicure using appropriate tools. Women may also enjoy the application of nail polish. For those who appreciate full-body relaxation, consider giving a gentle massage while they sit in their usual chair. Remember to use a delicate touch, as senior skin and muscles may be more delicate, and focus on areas such as the neck, shoulders, back, and arms that are within your reach.

Look Through Old Photographs

Looking through old photos may ignite a treasure trove of stories and memories, offering an opportunity for your older adult to share their experiences. Photos also serve as excellent conversation starters, sparking engaging discussions.

If you and your older adult are interested in a collaborative project, consider working on creating a family tree or delving into family history. This endeavor can be both enjoyable and meaningful, allowing you to bond further while preserving your family’s legacy.

Watch a Favorite Film

Sharing the experience of watching TV or a movie is a common activity we enjoy with friends and family, so why not extend that to spending quality time with your older adult? It provides an opportunity to bond without feeling pressured to engage in continuous conversation.

If your older adult has a TV in their room, consider getting them a DVD player so you can enjoy movies together. Alternatively, if you have a laptop or tablet with a subscription to a streaming service like Netflix, you can watch a variety of content on demand.

Engage your older adult by asking them what they would like to watch. They might have a preference for revisiting beloved older movies or shows. Alternatively, you can introduce them to current shows you believe they would enjoy. Regardless of the choice, it’s a wonderful way to relax and cherish each other’s company.

Learn More About Our Amenities at Balfour Senior Living in Denver

At our senior housing community in Denver, your loved one will always have a myriad of activities and amenities to keep them busy. From private painting sessions in the garden to fitness classes in our gyms, the well-being of our residents is prioritized by providing them with many activities to choose from. For more information, get in touch with our team at Balfour Senior Living today.