Enjoyable Activities for Family Visits to Assisted Living Centers

Fun Things to Do When Grandkids Visit in an Assisted Living Center

While assisted living centers organize a wide range of activities, programs, and events to encourage socialization among residents, many individuals still grapple with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Separation from their familiar surroundings and loved ones can cause great emotional distress. Their desire to go home can further intensify their feelings of anxiety and agitation.

Regular visits from family members, particularly grandkids, can help alleviate these feelings and provide a lifeline of emotional support. There could be many enjoyable activities offering a perfect pastime when you visit your loved one in an assisted living center.

Luckily, we’ve done all the research for you; see our curated list of fun things to do when family members or grandkids visit in an assisted living center.

Engage in Arts and Crafts

Among the myriad of fun things to do, arts and crafts stand out as an excellent choice to bond, unleash your creative spirit, and create lasting memories with your grandparent.
Here are some enjoyable arts and crafts ideas to consider during your visit to an assisted living center:

• Memory photo collage. Gather old photographs, magazines, colored paper, and glue to create a memory photo collage together.
• Handmade greeting cards. Encourage your grandparent to help you design cards for upcoming family birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays.
• Paint or draw together. Bring some watercolors, acrylics, or colored pencils, along with sketchbooks or canvases.
• Decorate flower pots. Brighten up your grandparent’s living space with hand-painted flower pots, adding a personal touch to their room.

 

As you work on your projects, your grandparent may share stories from their past about their own artistic endeavors or anecdotes about family members.

Play Games and do Puzzles

Playing games and solving puzzles are timeless activities that transcend generations. They’re universally enjoyable, making them suitable for everyone regardless of age. Sometimes, even a simple jigsaw puzzle or a crossword can challenge memory and concentration, helping keep your grandparent’s mind sharp. Whether you’re playing a simple tabletop game (e.g., a board game or a card game) or a digital game on a tablet, these activities provide hours of relaxing enjoyment, allowing for quality time spent together.

Enjoy Coloring Books

Coloring has been shown to have a calming effect on the mind, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels for people with Alzheimer’s. Most importantly, it doesn’t require any prior artistic skills. Your grandparent can choose colors, experiment with different combinations, and bring life to simple illustrations or even intricate designs.

Completing a coloring page can instill a sense of pride and accomplishment and boost their confidence. It will also remind them of the enjoyable moments you’ve shared during your visits.

Look at Old Photo Albums

Visiting your grandparent in an assisted living center offers an opportunity not only to connect, but also to preserve and celebrate family memories. Old photo albums can help you start a conversation as they evoke questions, curiosity, and nostalgia.

When you sit down together to flip through old photo albums, your grandad can share stories and anecdotes associated with the people, places, and events behind the photos, allowing you to learn more about your family history. Reminiscing about past moments and memories can also have therapeutic effects, improving mood, and overall well-being.

Plan a Family Outing

Planning a family outing offers a special day to look forward to, providing a break from daily routines and adding a touch of adventure to your life. A trip outside the assisted living center, whether it’s a park, a local café, a museum, or a scenic drive, allows you to breathe in fresh air, enjoy new sights, and experience a change of environment. If possible, involve them in the planning process. Allowing them to choose the destination or activity can contribute to an even more exciting adventure.

Aside from breaking the routine of life in an assisted living center, outings encourage social interaction with family members, friends, or even other residents, which is essential for emotional well-being and brain health.

At Arbor Trace Assisted Living Center in London, Ontario, we aim to create a supportive and engaging environment where residents can form friendships, share experiences, and enjoy a sense of community. We also recognize the importance of spending time with family, and we encourage residents and family members to plan outings and activities together, which offer an escape from the daily grind.

Contact us to schedule a visit for your grandparent in our Arbor Trace retirement community.