Wellness programs have increased over the years and continue to rise in popularity as we learn more about the benefits of taking a holistic approach to senior care. According to the National Institute on Aging, research indicates that a combination of behaviors such as eating healthy foods, being physically active, keeping your mind active, staying connected with social activities, and managing stress all contribute to your cognitive health and overall wellbeing. In addition, there is research to suggest these behaviors may even help reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Senior woman holding quad cane handle in elderly care facility. Hospital nurse comforting mature female in nursing home, sitting with walking stick. Background, close up on hands with wrinkled skin.

Implementing wellness into your facility is something that takes a concerted effort. Once a facility has an established routine, we often forget to re-evaluate these routines to see how they can be improved. However, reviewing routines is something that must be done often in order to keep your residents active, healthy, and thriving.

Here are seven ways your senior care facility can offer more wellness opportunities, ultimately resulting in happier, healthier residents.

1. Fitness Programs

Fitness programs like water aerobics, resistance band workouts, walking, chair exercises, chair yoga, dumbbell strength training, Zumba, balance training, and tai chi are all great workouts to offer your residents. Regardless of their age or ability, these classes can be modified to suit each individual’s needs. In addition to in-person classes lead by a trainer, these can also be offered online or even through virtual reality with VR headsets that offer activities such as bowling, biking, mountain climbing, and much more.

2. Healthy Meal Plans

Shot of a happy older couple enjoying a healthy lunch together outdoors

Having fresh, local, and healthy meals is another way to help introduce and maintain wellness into your senior living facility. There are numerous ways to partner locally, such as having specific days when local chefs come to prepare fresh and healthy meals. Your facility can also reach out and partner with local community gardens, asking for vegetable donations grown locally and even take residents on trips to help pick the produce. By offering meals that are cooked from scratch and use fresh ingredients, it will not only make your food taste better, but your residents will be benefiting from the reduced sodium and reduced sugar that is often found in processed/packaged goods.

3. Planned Social Activities

An activity board for a senior living center

Many aging adults are at risk of being isolated, which is one of the leading causes of depression among seniors. According to WhitneyCenter.com, experts have proven that socialization among older adults not only “keeps the brain sharp, but it can even decrease the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” Going shopping, playing bingo, playing card games, having field trips, attending birthday parties, coffee chats, art classes, book clubs, dancing, crafting, and trivia are all great social activities that every senior care facility should be making a priority for their residents.

4. Learning Courses

Group of senior friends playing cards in the nursing home and having fun

Numerous studies have shown that learning new skills or even developing a new hobby can improve one’s mental wellbeing. Lonely or bored residents can find meaning in learning a new skill such as drawing, painting, learning a new language, learning a musical instrument, practicing yoga, meditation, attending online courses, or even learning a new game. In addition to the overall wellness benefits, learning new things can help strengthen neural connections within the brain and sharpen the mind.

5. Worship Services

According to the National Library of Medicine, the role of religion and spirituality can have numerous positive effects on older adults, ultimately enhancing their well-being and health. It can help residents have a greater capacity to cope, provide social support, and give residents an opportunity to participate in more social functions. Offer spiritual and emotional support to your residents by holding worship and devotional services, having religious leaders visit regularly, setting up a prayer room within your facility, and providing trips to religious gatherings.

6. Focus on Quality Sleep

Senior Couple Relaxing In Bed Hiding Under Sheets Smiling And Laughing.

Unfortunately, night-time sound disturbances can be common in senior care facilities and among residents, but it shouldn’t be. Sleep affects almost every part of our body such as our immune system, breathing, blood pressure, mood, stress levels, and our overall health. Poor sleep is also associated with higher risks for obesity, heart disease, and infections. For these reasons, it’s crucial that residents not only get enough sleep, but good quality sleep. One way to improve residents’ sleep is to set up a sleep program. This sleep program can be focused on incorporating the wellness tips mentioned above, as they all play a role in contributing to better sleep. In addition, we recommend implementing a quiet time during certain hours. This quiet time would consist of making sure televisions and personal alarms are all turned down low or off and that general noise levels are low. Employees would also need to be mindful of quiet time by refraining from restocking, cleaning, or talking loudly at night during those hours in order for residents to get the quality sleep they deserve.

7. Meditation

Meditation has increased in popularity over the past few years due to its proven benefits in helping to retrain your mind to focus, relax, and improve overall wellness. Specifically, daily or even weekly meditation can help your residents with pain control, reduce depression, lower blood pressure, reduce stress and anxiety, slow memory loss, improve sleep, and help boost immune systems. One way to introduce meditation to your facility is by enlisting help from local meditation coaches to come lead sessions weekly. Your facility can also offer guided meditation through various apps. These meditations can be used early in the morning to help focus or later in the evening to wind down and relax before bed time. We recommend implementing both in order to get the full benefits for your residents.

5 senior citizens laugh together in a city park

Now that we’ve learned just how important each of these factors contribute to the overall wellness of residents, we hope that you will re-evaluate your current offerings and consider adding some, if not all, of these recommendations into your daily routines. And if you’re in need of new signage, such as updated menu board signs, activity display signs, fitness signs or more, visit HealthcareSigns.com today.