Our Activity Director schedules Bingo Puzzles and other games. Talks on Food, Flower Arranging ,Trips out for breakfast ,lunch or dinner on our bus. Trips to visit Target for shopping. The Director has a tough job to keep every one happy and occupied.
Everyone is different, so they aren't going to make each resident happy. Personally, I couldn't care less about having my activities "directed;" I can entertain myself and prefer it that way.
Shuffle board is always a favorite it seems and can easily be marked out on any flat surface. Even wheel chair patients can play it. For a outing, perhaps some putt-putt golf could be arranged. Maybe a decent course might even offer a senior’s day on one of their slower days. I’ve even seen some indoor courses with tables and chairs and stuff. Ya might check with the local senior’s center and see if there can be some activities you guys can join in on.
Ya think suggesting roller blading would be totally out of line? Skateboarding? Paint Ball Wars? How about staging the gunfight at the OK Coral with water pistols? Seriously though, I’m with you on the director thing. I never have any difficulty finding something to do even if it’s a solitary game of toe ketch.
If your Director could find one, the Wii Game can be/is very active. Before we bought ours, from Best Buy, we found out that many Assisted Living places had bought it for their residents and the residents loved it. We read that one resident said "thank God for the Wii Game. I finally can get my a** out of my chair and get some exercise." One thing for sure, it can definitely give a person exercise!
I love learning. Perhaps some classes on history, language, other cultures, art, classical music, etc. Perhaps music lessons...keyboards are pretty cheap. So are low end guitars. Do you have a time when pet owners can get together for Critter Socializing Hour?
Dance lessons. Yoga, Sketching and Painting lessons, arts and crafts, Making a vegetable garden, cooking or baking classes.
Have to remember forum members, just like Lon has told us about how many of the residents have health-related problems. Some use wheelchairs and/or walkers. Many people live in Assisted Living, because they can no longer take complete care of themselves.
Thanks for your response. They have those activities scheduled. Except for dance lessons. It's hard to dance with cane and walkers.
Yes, I figured it might be so my other suggestion would be to have music concerts such as a piano player, etc.
We have our own garden with delicious Cherry Tomatos. Cukes, Squash, Broccoli, Celery, Carrots, etc. I don't garden but enjoy the product.
For the rodeo types, mechanical steer roping might be a nice addition. For the Medieval jousting fans or wildlife nature freaks, maybe walker clashes like two bull elk clashing antlers. Wheelchairs races are a crowd pleaser and a good bookie could make some serious side cash. Fencing with canes is also a great pastime. I would suggest the bagpipes and/or the didgeridoo for the old windbags. Tug a war is good for those competitive types. I would advise against dancing as it can lead to hanky panky and scandal. Maybe line dancing if combined with tug of war would kill two birds with one stone so to speak.