What Activities and Events Should an Assisted Living Home Offer?

A good assisted living home plans a full week of things to do, marks the holidays with real celebrations, gets residents out into town, and lets residents shape what goes on the calendar. When you're comparing homes, the activities tell you a lot about whether the people living there have something to look forward to.

I'm Parul Darji. I'm a registered nurse, and I own Aspen Leaf Assisted Living Residence, four small homes in Flagler, Stratton, and Limon on Colorado's Eastern Plains. Medications and safety come first when you're choosing a home. The activities matter too, because they shape most of a resident's day. Here's what I'd look for.

What activities should an assisted living home offer?

A regular week of things to do, holiday and seasonal events, trips out into the community, and room for residents to say what they want.

The everyday part matters most, because it's what residents live with. In our homes, the team plans the week around what residents enjoy: card games and crafts, music and gentle exercise, reading hours and holiday celebrations. On nice days there are outings around town and walks outside. Residents play bingo, paint, decorate cookies and bake together.

None of it is required. A resident who'd rather spend the afternoon with a book or a nap should be able to, and nobody should make them feel otherwise.

What does a good weekly activity calendar look like?

It has variety, and it's built around the people who live there.

When you look at a home's calendar, check for a mix like this:

• Social time, like card games, bingo and conversation over coffee
• Creative time, like painting, crafts and baking
• Music, whether it's listening, singing along or a visiting performer
• Movement, like gentle exercise and walks outside when the weather's good
• Quiet options, like reading hours, for residents who prefer a calmer afternoon
• Time outside the home, like outings and errands around town

A calendar that's all television and bingo is a thin week. One that's packed so full nobody could keep up isn't real either. You're looking for a steady rhythm residents can count on.

Each of our homes keeps its own Resident Engagement Calendar, because the residents in Flagler aren't the same people as the residents in Stratton. 6th Street in Limon has an activity room and a dedicated space for worship. Flagler has raised garden beds under a backyard pergola. Stratton and 6th Street each have an on-site beauty shop, so a hair appointment is part of the week rather than a trip into town. You can see more of what the week includes on our amenities and daily activities page.

Why do holiday and seasonal events matter?

Because they give residents something to look forward to and bring families and neighbors into the home.

A holiday celebration breaks up the routine, gets people talking for days beforehand, and makes a home feel like a home rather than a building. Ask any home how it marks the holidays, and listen for specifics. "We do something for all the holidays" is a weaker answer than one that names what happened last Christmas.

This year, all four of our homes are holding a Halloween costume contest on October 31, with the residents as the judges. Kids from town come in costume, the residents pick their favorite, and the winner gets a prize. It's a small thing, and it's exactly the kind of small thing that makes a day.

Do residents get a say in what's planned?

They should, and it's one of the best questions you can ask on a tour.

In our homes, residents can request events or activities, and we're glad when they do. Each home also holds a monthly resident council meeting, so residents can tell us what's working and what they'd like to see. That's why the calendars look different from home to home.

If a home can't tell you how residents shape the calendar, the activities were probably planned for residents, not with them.

What should you ask about activities on a tour?

Ask questions that show you what really happens, not just what's planned:

• Can I see this month's calendar? Then ask what happened last week.
• Who plans the activities, and how do residents add ideas?
• What happens on a nice day? Ask about outings, walks and who arranges the rides.
• What about someone who prefers quiet? A good home has an answer for both kinds of people.
• Are activities and outings included in the rate? At Aspen Leaf, all in-house activities are part of our all-inclusive monthly rate. Wherever you tour, ask whether anything costs extra.
• Can I visit during an activity? Seeing a card game or a craft afternoon in progress tells you more than any brochure.

I've written more about what to look for on any assisted living tour, including the one test that matters most: look at what residents are actually doing, not what the calendar says. And if you want a feel for how an ordinary day unfolds, start with what daily life looks like in a small assisted living home.

Where to go next

If you're still deciding whether assisted living is the right step, the signs it may be time and what assisted living is are good places to start. When you're ready, schedule a visit at any of our four homes. Coming to look doesn't commit anyone to anything.

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Parul Darji, RN — Owner & Administrator, Aspen Leaf Assisted Living Residence. Serving families in Flagler, Stratton, and Limon, Colorado.