LakeHouse Kalamazoo: How Seniors Stay Curious and Mentally Engaged Through Spring

Seniors living at LakeHouse Kalamazoo find plenty of engaging things to do during the spring season. This includes indoor activities such as arts and crafts, playing music, and cooking, along with outdoor activities such as birdwatching and photography.

Staying curious and participating in engaging activities can be a great help to seniors in the fight against cognitive decline, according to the National Institute on Aging. Seniors living in Kalamazoo, located just an hour from Lake Michigan in the southwest of the state of the same name, find that spring is a great time to increase activity and engage with new hobbies and interests.

What Are Some Creative Hobbies for Seniors?

Seniors who are looking for ways to stay curious should consider taking the first steps toward learning a new hobby or diving back into one that they already love. Here are some great senior brain engagement activities for seniors to enjoy during the spring.

Getting Crafty

There are plenty of great arts and crafts to enjoy in the spring season, and each can help a senior stay curious, explore their creativity, and have a lot of fun. Some artsy spring enrichment ideas to consider include:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Knitting
• Sewing
• Making jewelry

These are just a few of the many crafty options that are available to seniors who are ready to express themselves and experience the joy of creation.

Learning Photography

Taking photographs well requires a lot more than just pointing and shooting. There's an art to photography that's not too different from painting or drawing a beautiful scene. Learning about and practicing photography techniques and methods can be a great way to increase mental stimulation for seniors and is a hobby that's well worth trying, especially when the flowers start to bloom in the spring.

Making and Enjoying Music

Both listening to music and taking a more hands-on approach and learning an instrument can be very beneficial for seniors, according to the University of Michigan. Engaging with music can help with mental stimulation for older adults while also serving as a great tool for relieving stress and improving emotional health.

Cooking

Cooking can serve as a form of mental engagement just as well as any other art can, and for those who make it a priority, the rewards are obvious. Not only can cooking help seniors stay active and curious, but it can also be enjoyable to indulge in the end results.

Join a Book Club

Joining a book club is another great way for seniors to stay curious and engaged in senior living. Making a habit of reading is rewarding all on its own, but by joining a book club, it will become a social activity that's even more enjoyable.

Independent Learning

Spending time engaging with a particular subject of interest independently can also be a great choice for those who are interested in lifelong learning in aging. A senior may want to spend time reading books and watching movies on a particular time period, learning a new language, or digging deep into another interesting subject to stay engaged during the spring.

Birdwatching

Spring is a great time to do some birdwatching, so seniors may want to get out the binoculars and see how many species they can spot during this time of the year. According to the Michigan Audubon Society, there are over 450 different species of birds in Michigan, so seniors will have plenty to keep an eye out for.

What Games Are Good For Assisted Living Residents?

Staying mentally engaged doesn't have to feel like a chore or relate to creative expression. Simply playing some fun, mentally stimulating games can also be worthwhile for cognitive stimulation.

Certain games can do a great job of helping seniors learn new things, while others can help seniors develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Here are a few games that senior assisted living residents may want to enjoy during the spring season:

• Trivia
• Board games
• Chess
• Mahjong
• Card games
• Brain games such as Sudoku and crossword puzzles
• Completing jigsaw puzzles
• Bingo

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can Bored Seniors Do Alone?

Although socializing can be a lot of fun when participating in interesting spring activities, bored seniors can also find plenty of fun things to do alone. Working on hobbies such as music, writing, or painting can be great solitary activities. In the outdoors, seniors may want to spend some time gardening, birdwatching, or going on walks to enjoy some time to themselves.

What Can Lonely Seniors Do?

Lonely seniors should look for opportunities to interact with others. Reaching out to family members or reconnecting with old friends can help seniors combat loneliness and can be worth the effort.

Working to meet new people can also be a good idea, and this is something that's very easy to do in a retirement community. Seniors who are experiencing loneliness should consider attending a social group or activity that aligns with their interests and working to meet others through them. Socializing in common spaces and over meals is also a great idea. For seniors who are suffering from significant mental health issues such as loneliness and depression, it may also be worth seeing a professional for further guidance.

How Can You Recognize When an Elderly Mind Is Declining?

There are some clear signs to look for to recognize whether a senior has been experiencing a decline in cognitive wellness. Here are some of the top things to look for:

• Commonly getting confused
• Problems with language and communication
• Poor decision-making
• Problems handling daily tasks and activities
• Mood shifts and severe personality changes
• Withdrawal from social activities

Enjoying Springtime At LakeHouse Kalamazoo

At LakeHouse Kalamazoo, seniors find that there's no shortage of interesting things to do throughout the year. In the spring, seniors may want to participate in arts and crafts, enjoy music, join a book club, or try some birdwatching.

LakeHouse Kalamazoo is a great choice for seniors in need of assisted living in Michigan. With excellent floor plans and amenities including chef-prepared dining, an in-house hair salon, and a full calendar of enriching activities, seniors have a great time living in our senior community.

Ready to make the move to assisted living in Kalamazoo, MI? Learn more about our senior living community by reaching out to us today.