I need help thinking of activities to do in a senior center?

Question

i have a project where i have t come up with 20 activities to do in a senior center and im stuck at number 14. if youc oudl give me any ideas rather than the normal bingo ect that would be great!

just so everyone knows...i know that just because people are older doesn't mean they can't do what they use to but these activities are for those who can't do much physically.

Answer 1

OK...so here are a couple of things I have done that seem to have gone over pretty well:
1. a poety reading night. Have the residents bring in favorite poems and either read them to the group or you can read them. When I did this we found out we had a very good poet as a resident and she read many of her really good poems. We watched a movie on the life of Edna St. Vincent Millay (a native of Rockland Maine...) and then, as a group, we wrote several cinquain poems with the theme of "Spring." You can go on line and get the directions for writing these simple, description poems.
2. We made pine cone bird feeders. You can go on line and find the directions for these as well.
3. We made seaglass suncatchers out of seaglass I had collected over the years, clear plastic coasters (I found at the dollar store) and elmer's glue. Really pretty.
4. We made cat treats and gave them to the local animal shelters. We made Valentine cookies for the kids that volunteer their time at the Assisted Living. We made diabetic pies for their Thanksgiving dinner.

Go online and see what you can find. Good luck

Answer 2

Our Senior Center has several computers that were donated by the school board and the electric company.

For those seniors that have the capacity to learn are offered classes.

One day a week we have what they call "The Kitchen Band", it's made up of seniors that play instrument's who got together to form a band and they have an hour or so of dancing after lunch and an evening dance on holidays.

They have the grade school, Jr high and high schools kids come in at scheduled time to entertain for an hour.

Choir's, dancing schools such as tap dancers and ballet dancers are always willing to entertain the seniors.

They have a quilt up for the quilter's and donate to the homeless or baby quilts that are donated to the women's shelter.

They have a woman come in and teach line dancing.

Crafts for the seniors who usually have suggestions.

Make a suggestion box for the seniors to come up with their own ideas of what they would like to do.

Maybe an isometric exercise class and treats after. A doctor could advise what type of exercise is recommended for seniors.

I can't think of anything else right at the time.

Answer 3

I'm not much of a joiner, so I doubt I'd ever find myself taking part in activities at a senior center. I have too many hobbies going on here in the comfort of my own home that need to be finished, TV and computer for companionship and a couple or 6 pets that keep me hopping.

Answer 4

I was an RN at a senior center and watched those aids do fun things with the elders who were unable to participate in the physical activites. The seniors sat in a chair and threw a small beach ball to each other,They had a current events and had the elders each pick out something from the morning paper and in tern read it and discuss it with the group, also they had trivia games on all subjects from,presidents, to food,to songs,and expressions,anything that kept their minds active, hoped they helped.

Answer 5

Shuffleboard, checkers, storytelling, dancing, baking, visiting places, attending events, Scrabble, puzzles, etc.

There are several ways to think of lapsing time:

spending time as wasting time
spending time as investing time or using time to accomplish something

Do seniors REALLY want to just WASTE their time?
Not the seniors I know.

I'd think learning a skill, and one of the skills MUCH in demand among the seniors I know is computer use.

So we could likely spend days and days and days in short spurts teaching basic computer skills to seniors, reviewing those skills, finding novel and clever ways to use those skills, and maybe even teaching those skills to other senior residents or users of the senior center.

That should occupy about 15-20 years, after which we're likely to get at least SOME new blood in the senior center, and the process can begin all over.

Answer 6

Since Christmas is here, why don't you have them make Christmas decorations or Christmas card you can send out to the military overseas and/or to their families. Or something crafty made by them to give to their family. I would try some art crafts that is simple and easy and maybe not to messy. Do a small skit with them and put it on for everyone to see. Maybe show a movie and have a snack and drink maybe. What about a day trip somewhere close maybe to an event. Maybe you can get a school to come in to sing for them for the holidays. Or you can get them to put on a concert themselves. Hope this help some. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Here's an 'activity' that can bring lasting beneficial results for both you, & them, including helping them to be able to do more again, with less pain than they may have experienced in years:

You might want to teach them how to do EFT:
Emotional Freedom Techniques,
founded by Gary Craig.

It's explanation & instructions are free, online.
Many experiences of its results are, too.
Even those of the elderly.

Another possibility is to teach them the hope in the Bible, that the earth will be restored to a true paradise, & perfected mankind will be living forever on it. That info is also on-line, & that Scriptural promise will have much longer lasting results, than EFT!

Answer 8

Older people love to dance. A dance session or activity is always fun.
A laughing contest is a big hit with seniors. Our senior citizen center's excercise group (hand and foot exercises) ends the session with a laughing contest to see who can laugh the loudest. The seniors love it!
A vote is taken and a small token gift given to the winner. It's great fun and after they start laughing, they really START laughing.

Answer 9

Happy Holidays
We are not much different from those who are not seniors. Just with more wisdom (smile)
I've notices since I started answering questions on YA music question seems to get a lot of answers. Maybe some kind of Triva about music.....
Happy Holidays

Answer 10

I was an activity coordinator for years.The activity to do is one that needs to be done and can't.I done nails for them.Soak in clean warm water and clean with a orange stick,then clip and paint if they wanted.It builds self esteem in those unable to do their own.Just be careful and change the water and orange sticks after each one.Cooking classes are fun and easy....