6 SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING
Although the calendar marks June 21 as the start of summer, the official start of the most active season of the year begins on Memorial Day. From Duluth, Minnesota to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, summer is the kick-off for barbecues, water sports, and family vacations. Summer also is the time of year when seniors at assisted living facilities in Rio Rancho celebrate their favorite activities.
Let’s look at six summer activities for seniors in assisted living.
Enjoy Nature
Hot and relatively dry describes the climate during the summer in Rio Rancho, which sits a few miles north of the Albuquerque city limits. Although heat might limit some outdoor activities, residents of senior housing facilities in Rio Rancho have plenty of time to enjoy nature. Seniors can organize a group trip to watch a sunrise or catch one of the spectacular desert sunsets. If a senior feels like spending a little quiet time with nature, taking an evening walk represents an effective way to rejuvenate both the mind and body.
Bird watching is an especially popular nature-related activity that helps seniors avoid spending time outdoors during the warmest times of day
Board Game Nights
Cool evenings make board games the perfect activity at an assisted living facility in Rio Rancho during the summer months. In addition to engaging seniors, board games also keep residents of senior housing facilities in Rio Rancho mentally active. A comprehensive study demonstrates that board games boost mental activity enough to decrease the risk of developing dementia. According to a related study, solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles helps keep a senior’s mind nimble, as well as gives a senior purpose through achieving accomplishments.
Cookouts
One of the most popular group activities at senior living facilities in Rio Rancho involves organizing outdoor cookouts. Working with a facility’s dining services department, seniors can organize cookouts that range from simple barbeques to more elaborate cooking competitions. Choosing a day for a weekly cookout makes it easier to organize different events. A variation of the weekly outdoor cookout is to arrange a weekly dining out event. Albuquerque offers a diverse range of culinary destinations.
Stargazing
One of the advantages of living in a semi-arid climate is enjoying the night sky explode in Rio Rancho. The city is far enough away from the bright lights of Albuquerque for stargazers to get unobstructed views of the stars and planets. An assisted living facility in Rio Rancho can plan a weekly stargazing event that includes serving a light snack.
Museum Trips
A twice-a-month trip to visit a museum in Albuquerque represents a great way to keep cool when daytime high temperatures can reach 100 degrees. Albuquerque is world-renowned for its Native American art and history museums that provide an in-depth look at the Native American cultures surrounding the city.
Outdoor Movies
Drive-in theaters have become a nostalgic memory, but that does not mean seniors at assisted living facilities in Rio Rancho cannot catch a flick or two outdoors. Movies shown with nature as a companion help take the focus off ailments and other issues seniors face as they age. They also give seniors the opportunity to relax.
By valuing our guests and recruiting team members that feel a calling to value others, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho is recognized as one of the best assisted facilities of its kind in greater Albuquerque. Contact our facility to learn more about the resort-like amenities and stunningly beautiful views.