Nursing facility residents should be kept active to stave off depression, prevent falls, and maintain a positive outlook on life. In order to keep your residents engaged and active, you’ll need to have activities that they enjoy. Many nursing home residents spend most of their day sleeping, so activities that require them to get up and move are important in keeping them happy and healthy. Here, Mark Berger, CEO of Villa Healthcare, shares some tips for keeping your nursing facility active.
Encourage Daily Activities
Residents often enjoy activities that have a specific, daily purpose. You can encourage daily activities that have a purpose by having residents participate in activities that meet specific needs, such as cleaning, dressing, and eating. You can also encourage daily activities by scheduling daily exercise. Residents who participate in daily exercise often enjoy exercising and will be more likely to participate in other activities that they would otherwise skip.
Add social games
Social games can easily be incorporated into daily activities. These games are usually played between two people, encouraging social interaction. You can add social games by putting a table or chairs by the common area and encouraging residents to sit and chat while they eat or while they prepare their meals. You can also set up an outdoor area where residents can sit and socialize while they participate in outdoor activities like gardening, walking, or relaxing in the sun.
Schedule physical games
Physical games are a great way to get residents moving. You can schedule physical games for the entire day or only during specific times, such as in the morning when the weather is nicer or in the early afternoon when the sun is at a lower angle. Physical games can be as simple as walking laps around a large lawn, or as complex as playing tennis. Physical games that encourage outdoor activities are particularly beneficial for residents with mobility issues as they can get plenty of fresh air and exercise as well, explains Mark Berger Villa Healthcare.
Use food and drink
Food and drink can be incorporated into daily activities to provide a source of nutrition while also serving a purpose. For example, nursing home owner Mark Berger recommends serving fruit as part of a daily cleaning activity, or you placing water bottles throughout the facility that residents can take with them as they participate in activities throughout the day.
Residents often become bored with their food, and adding a little something new to your menu can keep them interested while they eat. Organize afternoon activities that include food and drinks to entice residents to attend. You might reward your participants with ice cream or popcorn after playing a physical game.
Conclusion
Nursing facility residents need to stay active to have a better quality of life and to prevent depression. You can encourage daily activities, add social games, schedule physical games, and use food and drink to keep your residents engaged. Make sure that each resident has an activity that they enjoy, and be sure to incorporate daily exercise into your schedule as well. The more active your residents are, the happier they will be and the less depressed they will be. Take advantage of this opportunity to make your residents’ lives easier and healthier by encouraging daily activities, adding social games, scheduling physical games, and using food and drink.
Mark Berger Villa Healthcare 