6 Enjoyable Summer Activities for Seniors in Assisted Living
With summer quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking up fun ways to spend your days.
If you’re caring for seniors in assisted living, you’ll need to consider their unique health concerns when planning summer activities. Fortunately, it’s possible for older adults to enjoy the summer season without too much exposure to sweltering heat or intense sun.
Here are half a dozen enjoyable summer activities for seniors in assisted living.
1. Arts and Crafts
One of the best ways for seniors to pass the time in assisted living is by doing arts and crafts. This is a great summer pastime for older adults because they can participate outdoors or indoors.
If the weather is comfortable, they can sketch, paint, sculpt, or sew outside. If it’s too hot, they can simply stay inside where it’s cooler.
2. Ice Cream Parties
Ice cream is practically synonymous with summer. Luckily, there’s no age limit on ice cream parties. Whether outside in the sun or indoors in the air conditioning, seniors can have a lot of fun with an ice cream party.
Make sure to stock up on a variety of flavors and toppings to give everyone plenty of options. This activity is guaranteed to be a hit!
3. Movie Nights
When the weather gets too hot to handle, take the fun indoors by hosting a movie night. Curate a selection of films and have residents vote on which one they want to watch. Don’t forget to provide theater-themed snacks, like popcorn, candy, and soda pop.
4. Dance Parties
Without a doubt, dancing is one of the most enjoyable summer pastimes for seniors who are still physically active.
You can gather residents outside for a summer dance party that lasts late into the evening. Create a spirited playlist of old-fashioned hits that will bring back fond summertime memories and watch the attendees dance the night away.
5. Karaoke Nights
Dancing may not be an option for seniors with limited mobility or other health concerns. This doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy some good tunes, though! A summertime karaoke night can give seniors the opportunity to show off their musical talents to their friends and loved ones.
6. Outdoor Picnics
An outdoor picnic is a timeless option for taking advantage of the summer sun, weather permitting. The thought of posting up outside and enjoying some delicious food is guaranteed to appeal to just about everyone, especially assisted living residents who often desire more time outdoors.
Summer Fun in Assisted Living
You may think the summer weather is too extreme for older adults to have fun, but that isn’t always the case.
There are plenty of ways for seniors in assisted living to enjoy the summer, from arts and crafts sessions to movie parties to picnics. The only question is, which one are you going to plan first?