How to Plan Age Appropriate Activities for Seniors

For Colbi - It is obvious from your comments that you care about the Residents and want to do the best job you can! This is a wonderful job and we are honoured to be in a position to support our elderly Residents through their ongoing pursuit of recreation and leisure activities!
For all - When I think about what is 'age appropriate' I consider the age and history of the people I work with. These are older adults....not children. Think about how you wish your parent, grandparent, or yourself to be treated when their age.
Think 'meaningful, person-centred activity'. Get to know the Residents ...talk to them....their family....friends. Find out what is meaningful for each person? Rather than cartoons (which are primarily made for children), what TV programs/movies would they have watched and enjoyed during their adult years, or new releases they may enjoy now? Rather than nursery rhymes, what songs and poems did they enjoy during their adult years, or would like to learn or create now? Rather than colouring pages, what creative art projects did they enjoy in their adult years, or....would they enjoy learning now....and with real, quality art tools? Rather than preschool craft projects, what handicrafts (ie. weaving, quilting, woodworking, etc.) did they enjoy in their adult years, or would like to learn/experience now?
I encourage you and others to research "Goffman and the infantilization of elderly persons' for more background and insights on this issue. There is a long history of infantilizing Residents in long term care activity programs.....we can and must do better!

Hi,
Same here .I am experiencing the same thing about the nursery rhymes. I have being told that its childish. My clients have fun when I do different nursery rhymes with them. They said that it reminds them of old times. For me bringing laughter n joy to a clients life is very important. I use this site when I take clients for outing. Please can I have some ideas on emotional and spiritual activities for seniors.

Hi I am new to activities, however it is my favorite job because it doesn’t feel like work to me. I found this website to help me come up with things and understand how to run activities better.
But what confuses me the most is the term “Age Appropriate”
I put on Peter Pan (it was a movie on the shelf) for the Memory care unit patients for some reminiscing (also it’s a classic and for most of them it came out when they were kids.) as I know keeping attention is hard with movies I meant it as a background so when we played touch volley ball intending to have fun and talk about the movie as we did that, I noticed residents pointing out parts of the movie and we discussed it as I noticed them remembering things from their past and getting to know them better. My director came in and told me the movie was childish. To turn it off and put on the music channel (And yeah I was a bit offended by that because I felt he wasn’t seeing what I was) later that week I walked in on the memory care unit and saw the nurses had PBS on for the residents (the teaching shows of ABC’s and counting. And the nurses also try to help them remember how to do those things. Another couple days later I came in on my day off and my co worker put on HOOK with robin Williams for the skilled floor to watch. (And I was just so upset) how is that any different then watching the real Peter Pan? How is watching something about someone’s memory being gone and that all you need to do is believe and you’ll get it back appropriate for those who have trouble remembering the time every two minutes?
I’m not grasping what I did being wrong. I’m not grasping how putting on a movie with sex scenes and violence is age appropriate while me putting on classics and even Finding Nemo that is educational but fun, childish. My boss is to busy to explain things fully to me except tell me he’s been doing this for over 20 years. And I know when I’m in a home I would want to watch things that I liked growing up so I try and repeat every day what movies do you like? What music do you like? And I try to get to know everyone better so I can please them and if I please a resident one day with something they enjoy but not another I will come in the next day and do what I know they like. I am so sorry for the long comment but I was hoping someone can fill me in on more detail of age appropriateness. Why hook is better than Peter Pan? Why is black and white films assumed to be a good go to movie when there is so many new ones out many haven’t seen before but love (like finding Nemo) my residents enjoyed that movie and was excited to see something family friendly they’ve never seen before. I understand I’m not going to please everyone but I sure am going to try to. Thank for the time and this article but I’d like to go into more depth in the term “Age appropriate”

You can also sing nursery rhymes (or other songs) together while you exercise during a morning stretch activity. For example, sing Row Row Row Your Boat while doing a rowing motion with your arms and upper body. The songs and exercises are limitless and can make morning stretch fun for everyone!!

Great site has been extremely beneficial .. thank you all the wonderful information and ideas

A brilliant site with lots of taster ‘free’ activities!! When time is limited due to workload this site is invaluable to ensure our wonderful residents have meaningful activities appropriate for them :)

This site helped me a lot during our Accreditation. Thank you so much Goldencarers
So much wonderful information

I love this site!! Thank you!

Molly shared a new article: Age Appropriate Activities In Senior Care