For most of us, by the time we reach retirement, we’ve spent decades shouldering responsibilities. We’ve worked diligently to earn a living, take care of our families, and set a good example for others.
Along the way, we may have forgotten what it’s like to let go and really enjoy ourselves. Recapturing that capacity can be one of the best gifts we can give ourselves, though, because having fun is vital to healthy aging.
Why Is Having Fun Important?
Whether you’re immersed in a favorite pastime or laughing it up at a comedy show, doing something that brings you joy is good for your physical and mental health.
Having fun releases endorphins, lowers stress, and improves your mood. Having fun on a regular basis can lower your blood pressure and may even reduce your risk for experiencing dementia, depression, and stroke.
The Powerful Benefits of Hobbies
Why are hobbies important for seniors? The obvious reason is that they offer a regular source of pleasure. But there are often other reasons that underscore the importance of hobbies for older adults.
For instance, having a hobby in retirement can add purpose and meaning to what might otherwise be a mundane or monotonous day. And in some cases, hobbies provide opportunities to socialize. This can be particularly helpful for adults who live alone, as sharing interests with others can prevent feelings of isolation.
Fun Times at Park Senior Villas
Our staff has a knack for being creative when it comes to having a good time — like planning specially themed days, when residents dress up in colorful outfits, engage in art projects, and sample theme-related cuisine.
At other times, the activity might be something spontaneous, such as an impromptu dance party during karaoke.
We also encourage residents to participate in a variety of games. When the weather’s nice, we go outside to play bocce or ring toss. Indoor favorites include Rummikub, mahjong, and hot potato. And bingo, naturally.
According to an article titled “The Benefits of Play for Adults” published by HelpGuide.org, “There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself.”
An Introduction to Our New Activities Director
Residents in our Chandler community couldn’t ask for a better advocate for enjoyment and purpose than our new activities director, Gretchen Hartman, who has nearly a decade of experience in senior living.
As a certified Montessori dementia care practitioner, Gretchen’s approach to developing programs for residents aligns with our organization’s purpose — to help seniors thrive to the very best of their abilities — as well as our values <https://parkseniorvillas.com/careers/>.
Montessori Emphasizes Person-Centered Care
Gretchen says much of her approach is inspired by Montessori principles adapted for seniors and memory care. The goal is to help residents remain as independent as possible, which entails focusing on what they can (still) do rather than what they have lost.
Montessori-based engagement, she notes, encourages choice, familiarity, repetition, and meaningful purpose. It allows residents to experience success, dignity, and self-worth while helping them maintain their functional abilities as long as they can.
To ensure activities feel relevant and meaningful to residents, she takes the time to learn about each resident’s personal history, career background, hobbies, interests, talents, and life experiences. When residents feel they’re connecting to an activity that’s familiar or purposeful, Gretchen says, not only are they more likely to participate, but their well-being also improves significantly.
Living a Purposeful Life After Retirement
“People need purpose at every stage of life,” Gretchen says, “so I believe in giving residents meaningful roles and responsibilities.”
What is purpose? It’s a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It’s feeling needed and useful. Why is purpose important? According to Gretchen, it’s “incredibly important for emotional health.”
Helping residents find purpose could be as simple as asking them to help with tasks when a group is preparing a recipe they’ve selected — like a cheesecake they recently made. It could also be inviting residents to teach others something they have special knowledge about or experience with.
In the months since she became part of our care team, Gretchen has begun pairing residents in assisted living with those in memory care. As a result, she’s seen new relationships blossom.
“Residents in assisted living are very willing to help those in memory care,” she says. “They have friends now in the other villas, and they like to see each other. They help each other, take them under their wing. It’s really good to see the friendships and bonding.”
Expanding Lifelong Learning Activities
Every day, Gretchen leads a learning activity for residents who want to participate. They’ll choose a topic — which could be anything from a travel destination to the health benefits of a particular spice. Then, they’ll research the topic online as a group. Afterward, they’ll take a short quiz.
Lately, they’ve been learning some Spanish vocabulary. “Language is one of the best ways to grow new neurons in your brain,” Gretchen says. “It’s another way to get them thinking.”
She has also been teaching residents about color theory, drawing on her previous experience teaching children’s art classes.
“A lot of the residents like to paint or create drawings with different types of colored pencils. Color theory helps them no matter what medium they use,” Gretchen says.
Other Favorites, From Music to Mindfulness
Activities involving music, whether live performances, karaoke sessions, or musical trips down memory lane, have always been popular with residents in our communities. Gretchen wants to do more of them.
As an example, she says she was inspired when she saw Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Bacon, Kenny Loggins, and The Roots perform “Footloose” on a recent episode of “The Tonight Show” using toy musical instruments. She’s hoping to do a similar version with residents — and creating a video she can upload to social media, of course.
To help residents increase mindfulness and awareness, Gretchen has been using meditation combined with breathing exercises. The sessions are a natural method of calming. Meditation is also useful in helping residents focus when they want to learn new information. She has also been using essential oils during light cardio exercises, to help residents increase their awareness.
The Main Takeaway
Reflecting on her own personal experiences, Gretchen says one of her primary objectives is to ensure that residents know they have value and worth.
“It’s so important,” she says. “There’s purpose to what we do. We help them have a reason to get up. To have that quality of life, and that joy, every day. That’s why we’re here.”
To learn more about the many types of activities we offer at Park Senior Villas, call
602-345-1992. We also invite you to check out our upcoming events and let us know if you’d like to join us!
Featured Image: DavideAngelini / Shutterstock | Jake Johnson
