How to Plan Engaging Group Activities in an Assisted Living Community
Assisted living communities know that one of the best ways to have the best living experience are a variety of activities that are easily accessible, fun to participate in, and have the ability to create social opportunities. Staff members can put together group activities that you and your fellow residents can participate in. At the same time, you can also float different ideas and get support from others if you’re looking to plan events that you and others may enjoy.
Group activities are a regular fixture in assisted living communities. Simply put, something is going on and you have the opportunity to participate and enjoy yourself. You’ll never know if you’ll meet like-minded people that will become your friends. Or if you want to try out something new and enjoy it so much that you can’t wait for the next time.
Planning Around Interests: How Can It Work?
As a resident yourself, you may be asking yourself what your fellow neighbors and friends are interested in. Knowing this will allow you to access information that will make the planning stage a lot easier. You could have a certain interest with many others sharing it with you. What better way to plan an event around that?
What are some best ways to get interest from residents? Here are some things to consider:
- Conduct surveys or even informal interviews. Ask your neighbors and friends who live in apartments or cottages about hobbies they may have, what they miss doing, or any new things they would like to try for the first time.
- Observe what people are gravitating to. This can include art spaces, music events, social gatherings, game activities, etc.
- Consider the idea of mixing things up. These can be familiar activities from earlier on in your life with the new ones that may give you the opportunity to explore your curiosity.
If you have enough information about certain interests, you can plan events around them. Group preferences, accessibility, and even the opportunity for your neighbors and friends to invite others can make it possible for participation numbers to climb higher.
Don’t Forget About Structure & Staffing
While a good plan looks good on paper, putting it in motion is completely different. It needs reliable structure and a good amount of support. In this situation, you could consider asking for assistance from the assisted living community staff. They may help you with some of the following aspects of planning an activity such as:
- Assign staff members or trained volunteers each with a role that they are comfortable with. They can help you make sure the activities are running smoothly, inclusive for all, and adaptable if and when necessary.
- Keep groups small to ensure that everyone is interacting comfortably. If it’s too large, then it may lead to people feeling excluded or even feeling lost. This can be a major issue for someone who may be in memory care.
- Factor in resources such as the materials needed, space, and time. Check with the staff to see if there are any supplies ready for use along with rooms being reserved. Finally, make sure that transitions between one activity to another are minimized.
- Take flexibility into consideration. Especially when weather, calendar conflicts, or even health issues can change things at a moment’s notice. This may lead to activities being postponed for a later date due to these reasons.
How To Make Events More Accessible and Inclusive
Every resident in assisted living can participate if they want to. When created from the ground up, it is important to keep events as accessible and inclusive as possible. Here are some things to know about:
- Make adjustments for physical limitations. These include seated versions activities, accessible rooms, devices for assistive purposes, etc.
- Consider adaptations for cognitive differences. Make sure they feature concise, simple instructions. Repetitions and familiar cues can also be accounted for, especially for participants who may have mild memory issues.
- Offer “opt-in” choices so that your neighbors and friends can feel agency rather than feeling forced to participate.
- Suggest small groups or social pairings that will be best suited for more shy residents or those who may be less confident.
Make Every Group Activity Fun and Engaging! Discover Assisted Living At Brennity Fairhope Today
When it comes to fun group activities for everyone, Brennity Fairhope is the best venue for them. If you live in assisted living apartments, you can participate in these events, whether it’s put together by staff or someone in the neighborhood has planned them. No matter who is the mastermind behind the fun activities, you’re bound to have a lot of fun. Contact us today or schedule a tour of Brennity Fairhope.
