If you are on the lookout for fun-filled activities to keep older adults active and engaged during the winter months, you are on the right page. Over here we discuss some of the enjoyable activities that you can organise at your care home this winter:
- Dancing: The cold temperatures outside can make it difficult for seniors to step out for a walk or stick to their usual exercise routine. If seniors resist exercising because of the cold weather, you can host dancing sessions indoors. Dancing is one of the powerful and enjoyable forms of exercise. It helps keep the body and brain healthy. Also, it helps enhance balance and agility. You can organise the classes in a large space where social distancing can be maintained.
- Knitting, crocheting or quilting: At first go, all these activities look complicated. However, once the seniors get the basic techniques they can create beautiful scarves or blankets. The repetition involved in knitting, crocheting or quilting allows the mind to relax and at the same time, help them use their imagination to come up with new patterns and designs.
- Arts and crafts: Arts and crafts are enjoyed by the young and old equally. From painting to making paper crafts, there are limitless possibilities when it comes to arts and crafts ideas. Besides helping seniors pass the time, arts and crafts offer a host of health benefits. In addition to discovering their creative side, senior residents also experience improved motor skills, better cognitive ability and reduced stress.
- Reading: During the winter months, there is nothing like a good book and a warm cup of coffee. Reading can engage the seniors at your care home and keep them mentally stimulated. Though reading is a solitary activity, you can start a reading club in your care home so that seniors reach out and make new friends. Select the first book with a vote and later you can let residents pick what they wish to read.
- Musical nights: During the winter months, the weather can be gloomy and dreary. The perfect way to lift everyone’s mood in your care home is to organise musical nights. You can organise a choir performance, a music class, or a karaoke night. Music is the perfect indoor activity that is fun-filled. Group music activities are a great way for seniors to socialise with each other, too. You can conduct this activity online or in small groups so that maintaining social distancing is not an issue.
- Indoor games: Bingo, puzzles, dominoes, card games and board games are the ideal activities for cold winter days. You can have scheduled game nights, which offer seniors an opportunity to have some fun and socialise. Indoor games help seniors to practise essential cognitive skills. They help to improve the parts of the brain that are responsible for complex thought processes and memory formation. Residents can play remain in their doorways while playing so that they can avoid coming too close to each other. They can also opt to play online games with their friends and families.
Caregivers should take personal preferences of the residents into account when coming with an activity calendar.
How can you help caregivers focus on person-centred care at your care home?
While caregivers try to focus on person-centred care, they get occupied with y time-consuming manual tasks like filling in MAR sheets or reviewing them. By implementing electronic MAR, an electronic medication administration record system, you can can automate the medical administration in your care home and reduce the workload of caregivers. The electronic medication administration record template is similar to paper-based MAR sheets, making it easy for caregivers to adapt swiftly. eMAR will not only improve the operational efficiency of the medication administration process but it will also give caregivers more time for residents. Book a demo today.
