Physical activities in care homes are not just about giving residents something to do or passing the time. They help the residents feel connected, engaged, and fulfilled. They provide an opportunity for social interaction and creativity, giving them something to look forward to and allowing them to enjoy life even more on a daily basis.
At Midlands Care, we provide plenty of meaningful activities that our residents can participate in. These activities are based on each individual’s care plan, reflecting their strengths, abilities, interests, and hobbies. They are tailored to provide essential support for physical, mental and emotional well-being.
What Are Meaningful Activities in Care Homes?
There are different types of meaningful activities in care homes, tailored to the interest, needs, abilities, and preferences of the residents. The main types of activities include physical, social, and creative activities.
Physical Activities
Physical activities are important as they make the body stronger, despite their age. Moving the body can make a big difference in how a person looks or feels. Activities such as walking and stretching may seem simple, but they can make life easier. They can help improve mobility, balance, and overall strength, making everyday tasks easier. It makes an individual feel more energetic and improves their confidence.
Social Activities
Older people can get really lonely, even when they are physically in the company of other people. That is why social activities are meaningful. These activities give residents a chance to interact with each other, get to know one another, and maintain and build healthy friendships. Group activities at home care can be as simple as chatting over tea, playing games, and celebrating birthdays. These events bring people together, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere where people can share stories, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. They help prevent loneliness and give residents a chance to be part of a supportive community where they care about each other.
Creative Activities
Creative activities such as painting, gardening, and music give residents the opportunity to express themselves and enjoy each other’s crafts and talents. It allows them to explore new interests, learn new things, and focus on the positive side of life. Creativity can also bring back happy memories, making individuals feel connected with their past experiences, as well as allow them to create new happy memories that they will be able to look back to in the future.
Importance of Meaningful Activities for Physical Well-Being
With age, our bodies start to deteriorate. As time passes, older people tend to develop health issues, become weaker, and lose mobility more and more. Meaningful activities such as taking walks, stretching, yoga, dancing, and engaging in games can help strengthen the body.
These activities are usually adopted to suit different mobility levels to accommodate everyone who wants to participate and ensure safety. Because they encourage more movement, they help maintain muscle strength and improve flexibility and mobility, which in turn helps reduce risks such as falling.
Some examples of meaningful activities in care homes that support physical well-being include;
- Exercise classes such as dance classes, yoga, and chair exercises
- Outdoor activities like taking a walk in the garden, gardening, and birdwatching
- Arts and crafts such as pottery, painting, and knitting
- Music therapy, including singing, playing instruments, and listening to music
Importance of Meaningful Activities for Mental Well-Being
Beyond the physical benefits, meaningful activities also help promote the mental well-being of residents in home care. They help stimulate the mind, which in turn helps improve cognitive function and memory and enhances focus.
Meaningful activities also help reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are common among older adults in care homes. They encourage connection with others, which provides a sense of belonging. Some meaningful activities that support mental well-being include;
- Puzzles and brain games such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and board games
- Storytelling and reminiscing sessions, which encourage residents to share life experiences
- Learning new skills like cooking classes, language learning, or trying a new craft
- Using new technology, such as video calls (with family and friends), virtual tours, and online games
Importance of Meaningful Activities for Emotional Well-Being
Meaningful activities are just as important for emotional well-being as they are for physical and mental health. They provide residents with a sense of purpose and joy and boost their overall mood, which improves their emotional state. When residents engage in activities they like, such as their hobbies or those they are interested in, such as learning a new skill, it brings them happiness and relaxation. This helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and gives them a sense of purpose. It allows them to express themselves and process their emotions positively.
Here are some meaningful activities that can help support emotional wellbeing;
- Pet therapy – This involves interacting with animals for comfort and companionship.
- Meditation and relaxation sessions – These can help reduce stress and promote mindfulness.
- Celebrations and themed events – Marking birthdays, holidays, and cultural traditions and celebrating them together brings joy and provides a sense of belonging.
- Volunteering opportunities – Allowing residents to contribute by helping others gives them a sense of purpose and makes them feel valuable.
Benefits of Meaningful Activities in Care Homes
Our Care homes in Leicester offer multiple benefits to residents that help improve their overall health and well-being. For starters, activities that involve regular movements can help improve physical health, strengthening the muscles and bones, which ultimately helps reduce dependency and potential risks.
Conversely, activities that challenge the brain help improve cognitive function, memory, and mental agility. This is especially helpful for residents with dementia-related issues.
Group activities encourage the residents to build friendships, which helps reduce loneliness and isolation. They also make residents feel more connected and create a sense of community. Participating in hobbies and common interests gives residents a sense of purpose and offers them a meaningful way to spend their time.
Other benefits of meaningful activities include better sleep cycles, boosted confidence, and improved independence. It also encourages life-long learning by providing opportunities to learn new skills, revisit old hobbies, develop new interests, and just engage in different events.
What Happens Without Meaningful Activities in Care Homes
The lack of meaningful activities in care homes can have negative impacts on residents and their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Some of these negative effects are;
Decline in Physical Strength
Physical activities like walking, stretching, and gardening keep the body moving, which supports the muscles, reduces stiffness, and improves mobility.
Social Isolation and Loneliness
Meaningful activities that involve group events bring residents together, allowing them to interact, socialise, and make friends. This helps reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation. Without these, some residents may feel disconnected, lonely, and emotionally withdrawn.
Increased Depression and Anxiety
Due to feeling isolated or lonely, some residents may feel like they lack purpose, which can lead to sadness, boredom, anxiety, and lack of motivation in their day-to-day lives, negatively impacting overall mental health.
Reduced Self-Esteem and Confidence
Meaningful activities help residents identify their strengths, abilities, and talents, which helps boost their confidence and self-esteem. Without the opportunity to participate in different events nd activities, they may feel unworthy or unimportant.
Loss of Independence
One factor that promotes independence in care homes is meaningful activities. These activities help residents stay active and engaged and perform daily tasks on their own. For example, physical activities may help strengthen the body, which allows residents to move more freely and safely and perform personal tasks on their own, reducing their dependence on caregivers. Without them, they may become more reliant on their providers, leading to a loss of self-sufficiency and decreased motivation to take care of themselves.