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The choice to move to a senior living community opens up entirely new opportunities for older adults to make new connections with their fellow residents. Even if your loved one has made this move, it's crucial to remember they will still rely on the support of their family during the transition and once they’re settled in.
Many seniors who move to a senior living community are pleasantly surprised by the benefits of the senior living lifestyle. After all, senior living communities are designed to accommodate and support the unique needs of older adults.
Depending on community, residents enjoy some great features designed to help them connect with the community:
- Planned activities, organized events, and fun trips
- Resort-like amenities like pools, fitness centers, walking trails, and beauty salons
- Chef-prepared meals served in a community dining room
Tips and encouragement for spending quality time with older loved ones in a senior living community
1: Visit your loved one often
They might not be as able to travel to you as they used to be, so it’s up to you to visit them. Set up a schedule for family and friends to visit your loved one. This will keep busy family members from feeling overwhelmed and allow your loved one to enjoy time with different people. Share the schedule with your loved one so they aren’t caught off guard and can look forward to the visits.
2: Celebrate special occasions
Birthdays, graduations, holidays, and other special occasions are perfect opportunities to spend time with a loved one in a senior living community. Many communities have private dining rooms available where families can celebrate these special occasions with residents. Pick your loved one up for the day so they can enjoy a meal at their favorite restaurant or celebrate a special occasion at a family member's home.
Download our free guide, Choosing the Right Senior Living Community.
3: Participate in the community’s activities and events
One of the best ways to spend quality time with a family member in a senior living community is by participating in the activities and events organized by the community.
Many communities host game nights, movie nights, pool parties, wine tastings, and arts and crafts sessions. This is the perfect time to enjoy the community's events, break up the monotony of visits, and encourage social interaction and mental stimulation.
4: Attend meals
Sharing a meal is a fantastic way to spend time and connect with loved ones in senior living communities. Residents enjoy delicious chef-prepared meals in various dining options, including formal dining rooms, poolside barbeques, cafés, and sports bars.
Stop by for a quick coffee, breakfast, lunch, or decadent dinner with your loved one.
5: Utilize technology
Most senior living communities are equipped with Wi-Fi Internet access, so your loved one should have no trouble using tablets and smart phones for video calls. Some communities even offer technology classes to their residents, so they can feel more at ease using all of this wonderful new technology!
Allegro Senior Living’s connected living program, for example, offers technology-based solutions to help communities build an environment where residents can stay connected to one another, their loved ones, and Allegro staff. This is an easy and effective way to communicate with and make sure your loved ones are safe in senior living.
Wrap-up
Spending quality time with family while in senior living is essential to the health and well-being of seniors and their loved ones. Regular visits allow families to stay connected and to show loved ones in senior living that they’re loved and appreciated. Whether through sharing a meal, participating in group activities and events, utilizing technology, or celebrating special occasions, these special moments greatly enrich the lives of residents and create lasting memories.
For more information on Allegro Senior Living communities, please get in touch with one of our helpful advisors! Download our free guide, “Choosing the Right Senior Living Community,” to learn more.
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