Find activities for residents at your senior living facility that can be done independently and also with a small group. We’ve shared craft ideas, sensory activities, games, puzzles, themed ideas, and more. As many events have been cancelled as well as visitation, these ideas will help keep your residents active, entertained, and keep their hands and minds busy!
Craft Ideas
Find suggestions for craft materials and how to use them to create DIY works of art! Plus, learn some fun ideas on kits and craft activities that seniors can work on together or independently.
Sensory Activities
It is important to keep residents’ hands busy and occupied and provide figet and stress options especially during this time of isolation. Find several sensory ideas below, including sensory boxes and trays.
Sensory Trays for Seniors – A New Sensory Stimulation Experience
9 Easy-to-Implement Olfactory Activities for Your Alzheimer’s Residents
Games, Puzzles & Activities
If you are looking for some new and different activity ideas, we’ve shared several ideas within these blogs on how to keep residents entertained. These ideas can be modified for different needs and abilities, and some can also be done independently, like puzzles and makerspace ideas.
7 Cognitive Puzzles to Try With Your Assisted Living Residents
Exercise Activities
Be sure to provide some options to keep residents active and moving. If you are able to plan group activities, provide toss games, card games, and tournament ideas. You can even plan a Field Day outdoors.
Indoor Activities
Since many residents will be indoors during this time, make sure you have some ideas planned like the ones below!
Themed Ideas
Everyone loves themed activities. Come up with a few themes that allow you to plan several different activities to keep residents busy for a longer period of time. If you had planned to have pets visit from an outside source, consider using faux pets as a replacement that will still put a smile on their faces and allow for one-on-one interaction.
How to Start a Faux Pet Therapy Program in Your Senior Facility
Bingo Games
We all love Bingo! If you are planning some group activities at your assisted living facility, we’ve shared several ideas for different ways to play. You can switch up the patterns to make it more exciting for residents.
Activities for Men
If you are specifically looking for ideas for your male residents, we’ve shared a few ideas on how to keep them engaged.
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would like to register for an activity kit please
Hi Helene, what products in particular are you interested in for an activity kit?
Have you attempted to do any virtual games for your seniors? I am looking for an uncomplicated, practical way for a group of women to play bunco virtually. Some of these women are not tech savvy, but all at least have a smart phone.
Hi Joslyn, we don’t specifically have a blog post about virtual activities for seniors however we do have this blog with ideas for social distance activities. https://www.ssww.com/blog/7-socially-distanced-activities-for-seniors/. Also, I have heard several senior living facilities are offering bingo games where residents gather in the hallway outside of their rooms and they call the numbers over the loud speaker. As far as Bunco specifically, have you searched for an app to see if this is available on smart phones?