Purposeful Programming in Assisted Living
Purposeful Programming in Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities
Programming plays such an important role in daily life within an assisted living or memory care community.
Most people who have gone through the senior living search and visited many communities will tell you that it’s not the building that makes a place stand out – it’s the people. Equally as important is what the people encourage you or your loved on to take part in.
Associates who work in the programming or engagement department get to know residents in a unique way. The care they provide may not include Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) but it is part of a well rounded approach to care – socialization, engagement and purpose.
At Northbridge we have 4 Pillars of Engagement – To Move, To Feel, To Learn, To Connect. All Northbridge communities will program monthly calendars to incorporate all 4 Pillars of Engagement on a daily basis.
In addition to the 4 Pillars of Engagement, Northbridge also offers Signature Programs, Artists in Residence, Cooking Up Memories, Senior Green, Eat Fresh, Eat Local and Join My Journey.
Artists in Residence – many residents find artistic talent later in life. Art provides a unique way to communicate that does not rely on the ability to recall words or phrases and pulls from a more creative part of the brain.
Cooking up Memories – smell is rooted in nostalgia and intense aroma’s like vanilla or cinnamon often bring up moments from younger years that encourage happy memories.
Senior Green – our Senior Green initiative encourages residents to leave the world a better place for generations to come. Our residents have developed recycling programs, created homemade treats for local animal shelters, collected food for local food pantry’s, incorporated rain barrels in gardens, and more all in an effort to reduce and reuse materials in a more sustainable way.
Eat Fresh, Eat Local – our residents enjoy this program when dining in our community dining rooms. Our chefs work with local vendors and farms to ensure that residents enjoy seasonal, fresh and delicious foods for all meals. Many communities combine Senior Green and Eat Fresh, Eat Local by using foods grown in community gardens for meals.
Join My Journey – at Northbridge we know that it’s not just the resident who becomes involved in our communities, it’s the families and associates as well. Join My Journey is a virtual dementia experience that allows participants to feel, hear, see and experience what someone living with memory impairment might on a daily basis. We offer this program to our associates as part of orientation, families and also the local community for anyone interested in learning more about the physical and emotional challenges of living with memory impairment. We’ve found great success working with local police and fire departments with Join My Journey.
A monthly calendar of engagement in assisted living should include a variety of programs like exercise, art, music, spirituality, reminiscing, creativity, and more!
As the world of assisted living has evolved, so has the programming. Programs are no longer recreational time fillers, they are purposeful activities to connect residents with each other and the community and world around them.
What’s the difference between programming and purposeful programming?
Programming is gathering a group of residents to paint birdhouses.
Purposeful Programming is realizing that the local park would benefit from a new picnic table, working with the town to purchase one, having residents who enjoy building and woodworking work together to sand it down and get it ready for painting, having residents who enjoy art come and paint the table, bringing all residents who participated to an event where the new table is brought to the park and they are recognized for their hard work.
So what’s the difference?
Purposeful programming allows residents to feel a purpose, what they are doing is providing something for someone else. It connects them to the local community where they see that their work and effort is still valued.
As we age, it’s easy to become isolated and lose the connection to your group of friends, and the greater community. Purposeful programming in assisted living offers the opportunity to maintain, and for some, discover those connections.
The other important part of purposeful programming is exercise. It becomes a little bit harder to skip the daily exercise class when all you have to do is walk downstairs to join it. Participating in regular exercise class is a great way to reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and diabetes. It’s also a great preventative measure for maintaining muscle and core strength as well as mobility.
Assisted Living communities not only offer exercise classes, but they are exercise classes tailored to seniors, their safety and what is important to them. At Northbridge we offer a variety of exercise classes, some of our most popular are Barre Balance and Tai Chi!
When first moving into an Assisted Living community, everything can seem overwhelming. Joining in on a program is a great way to meet new friends and find residents with common interests. At Northbridge we make sure to encourage new residents to join in on programs we think they’ll enjoy.
These residents are entering a new phase in their life and sometimes the comfort of a familiar hobby or interest is a great way to ease into the transition.
If you are considering senior living as the right choice for yourself or a loved one, we invite you to Find a Northbridge Community near you to learn more. We look forward to getting to know you!