Staying socially active provides many mental, emotional and physical benefits for older adults. One great way to foster this is by providing seniors with small daily or weekly tasks that help the community run smoothly. Whether it’s helping with cooking and meals or keeping the plants watered, simple senior tasks are good for older adults.
As a leading provider of senior living homes, it’s our experience that people who stay active tend to be happier and healthier. And there is plenty of research to back up this observation. Whether that is participating in a book club, gardening with friends or enjoying a day or night out on the town. We’ve also found that adding a few small tasks to the regular activities can deliver an additional boost to their well-being.
Many older adults are accustomed to taking care of their homes and completing daily tasks. Continuing this activity when they move into a senior living community can provide a sense of normalcy, integrate them into the social engagement of the community and add physical activity and purpose to their days.
Benefits of Having Elders Take on Regular Tasks
While social interaction of any kind is good for older adults, having a few tasks on their daily or weekly to-do list is especially helpful. Senior tasks might include assisting with food preparation, setting the table for meals or other simple assignments around the community. These activities benefit residents in senior living homes in many ways, including that they provide:
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A regular physical and mental workout. Committing to a task produces a positive feeling of obligation that may keep an older adult more active than optional social events. Knowing others are counting on you adds a little incentive to get the job done.
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A sense of purpose. Having a to-do list provides a reason to get involved that is greater than themselves which is good for older adults both mentally and physically. We all like to know that the work we perform is helpful to others.
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A feeling of accomplishment. Completing even a small task produces an enjoyable sense of pride in the work they have done. The good feeling from accomplishing tasks has the opportunity to lift spirits and bring energy to the day.
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Inspiration to other residents. Residents who see the satisfaction their peers get from lending a helping hand are often motivated to get involved themselves.
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A source of stories. The tasks a senior takes on can be a great source for interesting and funny stories to share with other residents, staff and family members.
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Comfort to family and friends. Knowing that a loved one is an active participant in their community shows that they are engaged and involved which makes everyone feel more at ease knowing they are in a real community setting
An Environment of Ongoing Growth and Meaningful Lives
Young people or seniors, we all want our lives to have meaning. At Green House Homes, helping residents maintain their sense of purpose and contribution to the greater good is one of our primary goals. Learning about our residents with personal interactions helps us understand what activities might be appropriate and enjoyable for each person. With this knowledge, we can involve our residents in the many small tasks involved in keeping our community running smoothly. The result is a positive sense of participation that puts a smile on their face and on the faces of friends and loved ones who know how important this sense of connection is. It is a unique approach to senior care, and one that gets rave reviews from residents, staff and families alike.
