The importance of nursing home activities
Many people think of a nursing home as a disgusting, soulless place where residents lie in bed or sit endlessly in a rocking chair, waiting out their days until the inevitable happens. The reality – at least in a good nursing home – is far from that. Many people enter a nursing facility while they are still very much alive and look forward to years of fun and companionship, with daily activities to keep both body and brain active.
In fact, studies have shown that regular stimulating activities help reduce depression in half among nursing home residents, warding off dementia and keeping both spirit and body alive. Activities are vital to maintaining the mental and physical well-being of residents, and even staff and visiting family and friends can willingly participate in the activities that a good nursing home offers.
If you are looking for a nursing home for a loved one who is still capable of loving life, it is important to find out what types of activities are offered and how often they are available. In fact, nursing homes that accept Medicare or Medicaid patients must have a designated activities director to obtain adequate funding. But how well they do their job is something you will have to assess yourself…
“I think the residents I talk to who tell me they can’t do anything but sleep, eat and read the paper find a purpose for getting up every morning,” Vicki30CNA writes on the allnurses.com website. “They don’t look forward to the next day as they all run together. And our not-so-abled residents get little to no stimulation other than going to the bathroom and showering. Some fold their bibs each morning and see it as their ‘job,’ but that job takes them half an hour. So what, they tell me. I hate to see their last years, months, days so empty and purposeless.”
If you want to prevent this from happening to someone you love, keep reading. A wide variety of activities should be offered in every nursing home, so make sure this is the case when considering a nursing home. Some residents may enjoy going out for lunch several times a week, shopping, or visiting the local art gallery or movie theater. Others will prefer on-site activities that stimulate their hearts and minds.
It might be a good idea to talk to the nursing home activities director to see what’s available. Here are just a handful of activities that a good nursing home should voluntarily provide…
Auto Start Activities
Great because they require little preparation and can be planned by the residents themselves. They include:
Gardening. Depending on the extent of mobility and interest of the residents, gardening can be as rigorous or delicate as they want. If there is an actual garden that is fantastic, if not, then hanging baskets, small herb pots and indoor cactus or orchid collections can hold interest.
Arts and crafts. Even older residents enjoy doing something, especially when they feel like it’s for a good cause. Knitting blankets, making baby clothes, or entering art or photography contests can keep people busy and help them make a contribution to society at the same time.
Games. You might think bingo is the most popular game in nursing homes, and you’re right. But there’s more to competitive gaming than just bingo. How about bridge, mahjong, canasta or chess? The sky is the limit. One-on-one games are great for fostering closer relationships between residents, and group games are also good for fostering a sense of community.
Music-based activities. Don’t limit the fun to singing, you may even have professional musicians among the residents, or you may discover some hidden talents.
Volunteer Led Activities
Nail care, Bible study, hair day—all you need is a volunteer with a skill, and the time to make a difference in someone’s life.
School groups. It may sound cliché, but the young have a lot to learn from the old. This can take the form of Granny teaching little Albertine to knit, or visiting a school once a week and reading to the little ones. Many schools, in fact, encourage outsiders, assuming they’ve been checked by the police, to help kids who need a little extra with one-on-one reading or math exercises.
Local community groups. People who have a special talent often enjoy visiting nursing homes regularly and sharing their skills. This could be giving residents massages or reflexology sessions, teaching them a special point about gardening, or giving a talk on orchid growing.
Scout groups. Scout troops often visit nursing homes and get together to do something fun, like bake chocolate chip cookies or build a birdhouse. The two groups can learn from each other and make use of each other’s skills and talents.
Local charities. People from charities often dedicate their time to the elderly, whether that means planning outings or having a pet therapy day when the local vet or animal shelter employees bring animals to visit.
Activities run by nursing homes
Theme events, such as birthdays or religious celebrations. Some creative residents meet with the staff to plan events like Hawaiian nights, Chinese New Year celebrations, or Halloween or Thanksgiving festivities. Friends and family can be invited to join, perhaps even residents of neighboring nursing homes.
Outdoor activities such as barbecues, picnics, or a walk through a park or garden center. In some cases, volunteers may be asked to assist residents with mobility issues.
A little culture. Going to the theater, opera, museum or cinema may require some planning, but it is worth it. Again, volunteer helpers and drivers may be needed.
Alternative therapies. Everyone can benefit, as long as they are not too intrusive. Massages, yoga or Tai Chi can help residents have fun, get fit and relax.
Keeping people as happy and healthy as possible for as long as possible. both physically and mentally, should be the goal of every nursing home. Activities should be varied and interesting, appropriate to the different abilities, needs and interests of the residents. They should not only be fun but also valuable, allowing residents to form new relationships, develop new skills and maintain their fitness levels.
“We have a ‘prom’ in May where local single Marines escort our residents (wheelchairs and all) out to dance and eat,” CoachCathy writes on allnurses.com. “We have dresses and suits donated by local thrift stores. Local hair salons come in and do the hair and nails. Everyone has a blast.
“And we had a winter wonderland theme last December: we made snowmen out of diaper boxes painted white, and we had a snowman decorating contest. Residents had a snowball fight in the interior (with cotton balls). It was a lot of fun!”