Enhance Your Life with Fairfield Assisted Living Senior Social Programs
If you're looking to retire somewhere with a small-town vibe but with big-city amenities, look no further than Fairfield, Iowa. The charming town is culturally diverse, picturesque, and musically inclined, with Smithsonian Magazine even naming it one of America's best small towns, per the Fairfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. And because it's a small town, you can expect things to be much more affordable here!
But what if you're specifically looking for a senior community that you can rely on for help with activities of daily living (ADLs)? In that case, worry not; our Fairfield assisted living community, Addington Place of Fairfield, is here to help make your golden years happier and healthier.
We've compiled this guide to share the activities we organize to keep our residents engaged and stimulated, so please read on.
Musical Performances
Many studies have shown time and time again that music has healing powers. For example, according to a post published in The Conversation, musical interventions can benefit people with depression and chronic pain. It can also alleviate stress-related symptoms like high blood pressure and muscle tension.
In the same post, the author mentioned recent research breakthroughs that have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of music on "brain re-engagement" and emotional regulation. As a result, more healthcare providers are integrating music therapy into mental health treatments.
Listening to music is relaxing and calming, at the very least. It also opens doors for social engagement because it's conversation-worthy.
In our community, we harness the power of music by including music-related programs in our Fairfield senior events. We make it a point to have at least one live musical performance every week.
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts are among the top senior living activities for several excellent reasons, including brain stimulation. For instance, a post by the University of California, Berkeley, discussed how the book "Your Brain on Arts" delves into the science behind art's impact on the brain.
The book's authors said that making or appreciating art:
- Stimulates many parts of the brain
- Triggers cognition, emotion, memory, and sensory processes
- Lights up the brain's "pleasure centers" and produce positive emotions
- Can improve general well-being
- May heal or combat physical and mental illnesses
Arts and crafts can also help encourage social engagement in seniors since they can be nostalgic, bringing to mind happy memories. Creating something beautiful also gives them something positive to talk about.
For those reasons, our Fairfield senior community, Addington Place of Fairfield, regularly holds arts and crafts programs. To make things even more social and fun, we invite neighbors and guests of all ages to participate in our creative activities.
Wii Sports
Who said older adults can no longer enjoy techie gadgets and amenities? In our community, we use tech like Wii Sports, the Nintendo Wii simulation video game, as part of our fun and engaging assisted living programs. Wii Bowling, in particular, is a hit among our elderly residents.
Bingo
According to DoveMed, individuals of all ages have enjoyed bingo for centuries and continue to do so. It's a highly social and exciting game, after all. However, it also brings many potential health benefits, especially to seniors.
First, bingo is mentally stimulating, requiring listening skills, concentration, and memory. DoveMed says this can help maintain brain activity and reduce cognitive decline.
Bingo can also help maintain hand-eye coordination. When the announcer calls out a number, players must quickly look for it on their bingo cards and then punch it.
Next, bingo is fun and can elicit laughter from players, providing them with a way to alleviate their daily stresses. In older adults, feeling less stressed can help improve mental health, well-being, and sleep.
Since bingo is a social game, it can help seniors avoid feeling lonely and socially isolated. They can have an enjoyable time and laugh with their fellow residents.
At Addington Place of Fairfield, we regularly schedule bingo as part of our activity calendar.
Morning Walks and Other Exercise Programs
As people age, the body undergoes changes that make it more susceptible to illnesses and injuries.
For example, there's sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, which can cause muscle weakness. Weak muscles can make it more challenging to perform daily tasks and contribute to frailty, falls, and fractures.
There's also type 2 diabetes, which, according to Verywell Health, is more common after the age of 45. The health publication also lists osteoporosis or "brittle bone disease" as a common age-related condition. Its list goes on, enumerating hypertension, heart disease, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), to name a few.
The good news is that many of these age-related problems are preventable, as the same Verywell Health post pointed out. Exercise and a well-balanced diet can help prevent or lower your risk of developing them.
Our daily exercise schedules at Addington Place of Fairfield will help you get more physical activity. For example, we take our residents for morning walks every morning to warm them up before we do more senior-centered, health-focused activities. And since these are group events, you'll have more socialization opportunities, too.
Outings for a Change of Pace
As lovely as the ambiance and environment at Addington Place of Fairfield is, we know that seeing the same thing repeatedly can be a bit dull. For this reason, our expert team schedules regular outings and excursions, too, so that we can give residents a change of pace.
We take our residents out regularly for shopping and dining fun at local establishments. We also organize sightseeing trips, for example, to the Historical Village of Kalona or picnics at Lake Darling State Park.
Tour Our Fairfield Assisted Living Community Today
Musical performances, arts and crafts, Wii Sports, and outings are just some of the many fun and engaging activities we do in our Fairfield assisted living community, Addington Place of Fairfield. One thing is for sure: There's always something fun and exciting to do here, and we look forward to you being part of our community and participating in our enriching events and programs.
Call us today to schedule a tour! We'll happily introduce you to our compassionate, caring staff and happy residents and let you see why our community has garnered many positive and five-star reviews.