It’s easy to assume that when a person moves into assisted living, it’s the end of their life, or at least the end of the quality years of their life. But that’s not what assisted living is all about. People often incorrectly think that it’s just a place where elderly men and women go when the last days of their life are fast approaching.
They basically confuse it with other types of elderly care. In truth, a quality assisted living facility is designed to help men and women maximize their quality of life, even when they may be dealing with health issues, physical limitations, and numerous other challenges that often come from the natural process of aging.
When you choose a quality assisted living facility or community, you or your elderly loved one will discover that there are still many things to pursue in life. Just because someone might have limited mobility due to their age, a stroke or heart attack, injuries, or even a disease like Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia doesn’t mean they have to give up living.
What activities might seniors discover at quality assisted living facilities?
That all depends on the location, the facility, and the interests of the residents, but for the most part, they may expect to find art activities, music lessons, fitness training, gardening, and much more.
Let’s look at each of these in greater detail so you or your loved one can realize just how vital assisted living could be for improving quality of life and helping seniors discover new passions in life (or rediscover and rekindle old ones that had long lain dormant).
The Arts
Whether it’s painting, sculpting, or engaging in other types of crafts like knitting, crocheting, or sewing, there are many ways that people can learn new skills, test their limits, and create beautiful works of art with their own hands.
If the facility offers the arts as an outlet, they may bring in professionals or experts from the community to teach classes and support the residents along this journey in life.
Music
Music is a huge part of life for many people. However, when people have children, build a career, and take on other responsibilities in life, they tend to let go of these passions. Whether an aging senior once played an instrument in high school and gave it up along the way or always wanted to learn, a quality community might be just the place to start.
Again, as with the arts, if the facility brings in a professional in the field of music, he or she can help support residents who have a desire to learn an instrument, take it back up again, or just appreciate this form of art on a deeper level.
Fitness Training
For seniors who want to get fit, stay fit, or reinvent their physical health, it’s important that the facility relies only on professionals who are not just experts in fitness training but who also have extensive experience supporting seniors. That’s because seniors require different outlets, different patterns, and different ways of doing things than someone in their 20s, 30s, or 40s.
Gardening
Not all facilities have the resources to provide gardening as an option, but for those that do, this is a great way for seniors to get outside, enjoy some fresh air, and feel productive in life as they grow their own fruits, vegetables, or other homegrown products.
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