When you think of assisted living communities, care usually comes to mind first, but people tend to overlook an exciting aspect—the activities programming. It’s just as important when it comes to choosing a community, because engaging activities help seniors lead a happier, more fulfilling lifestyle. Nowadays, seniors can expect a variety of assisted living activities to choose from—from exercise classes and art lessons to spiritual activities and holiday celebrations. Discover the benefits, variety of activities, and an example of an assisted living activity calendar below.
The Benefits of Activities in Assisted Living for Seniors
Assisted living activities help seniors thrive and maintain their health and overall well-being. Older adults who participate in activities they enjoy as they age can reap many benefits of assisted living activities, according to the National Institute on Aging, such as:
- Improved physical health: Regular participation in hobbies and social activities can increase one’s lifespan and lower the risk of some health problems, like dementia, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
- Improved mobility: Physical exercise can help improve balance and strength, which can reduce risk of falls and fractures, according to research on the effects of physical exercise on older people.
- Enhanced emotional well-being: Staying active and involved with loved ones and in their community can help seniors form friendships, reduce feelings of isolation, and feel happier.
- Enhanced brain function: Some creative, mentally stimulating and physical activities can help improve memory and potentially delay cognitive decline.
Assisted Living Activities Catered to Residents’ Interests
To accommodate various lifestyles, abilities, and hobbies, communities often cater assisted living activities to their resident population. Upon move-in, residents and their families may be asked to complete interest forms, which can help assisted living activities directors create a diverse activity calendar that’s informed by residents.
Activity calendars vary between communities, but they try to target the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of residents with activities in each of the following categories.
Fitness
To help residents maintain an active lifestyle, daily movement is incorporated in a variety of ways. Some of the most common fitness activities in assisted living include:
- Aerobics classes: Low-impact exercises focused on improving cardiovascular health, flexibility, and strength, while minimizing stress on joints.
- Sports: Some communities offer tennis and pickleball courts, or even a bowling lane or two, so residents can enjoy their favorite activities on-site.
- Strength training: To help prevent weak muscles and joint pain, residents can sign up for assisted strength training lessons.
- Swimming: Some assisted living communities offer pools, enabling residents to swim laps or engage in other water exercises.
- Tai chi: This gentle, meditative exercise helps seniors improve balance and flexibility.
- Walking clubs: Many assisted living residents form a club and go on daily walks together to hold each other accountable and socialize at the same time. Communities often have walking paths or take residents out to local parks.
- Water aerobics: Like regular aerobics, it’s great for muscle strength and flexibility, but being in water lessens stress on joints and muscles.
- Yoga or chair yoga: Helps build strength and relaxation for seniors with varying levels of mobility.
- Zumba: This fun fitness program incorporates music and dance to promote social interaction and improve balance, coordination, and flexibility.
In Sunrise communities, residents are encouraged to stay active. Our Live With Action programming offers daily walking clubs, group fitness classes, and strength training to help residents stay in shape.
Creative Arts
A common concern for older adults moving into senior living is losing their independence and sense of self. To help combat those feelings, several activities for assisted living include the following to help residents express themselves creatively:
- Art classes: Many communities host painting or drawing classes where residents can freely draw or paint or follow along as a teacher instructs.
- Crafting with paper: Scrapbooking and paper crafts like origami engage fine motor skills and boost creativity. Residents might gather on their own to craft items for others or to decorate certain rooms in the community.
- Cooking: Some communities offer a communal kitchen for cooking lessons or baking classes. Or they may offer outings to cooking workshops.
- Dancing: Dancing is a unique activity that doubles as a creative outlet and a physical exercise. Common dance activities for seniors in assisted living may include line, square, swing, or ballroom dancing.
- Poetry: Poetry slams or readings can help spark up interesting discussions and serve as a method of self-expression.
- Woodworking or ceramics: Some communities offer classes or a studio to help residents create something they can keep and use.
- Writing workshops: For residents who enjoy writing, a workshop can encourage them to write about a significant moment in their lives, short stories or poems, or letters to loved ones.
To promote creativity, Sunrise communities offer Live With Artistry programming, which offers activities like drawing, painting, sculpting, and learning more about art through social clubs and groups.
Music
Musical events are one of the more social activities for seniors in assisted living facilities. There’s nothing like a good beat or buttery voice that draws in crowds. Some musical activities in assisted living may include:
- Choir club: Residents might start up a choir club. It’s a great way to get involved and put yourself out there. Some communities may even help residents set up performances at local events.
- Concerts: One of the most lively activities for assisted living residents include concerts. Whether it’s a small local concert hosted at the community or an outing to a show in the city, there are many great ways for residents to enjoy live music.
- Karaoke: An open mic karaoke night is ideal for residents who enjoy singing and sharing their talents.
- Music lessons: For residents who play instruments or are interested in learning, some communities bring in local music teachers. There may even be an on-site piano where residents can gather and play on their own.
- Sing-alongs: Singing alongside others may be a better activity for assisted living residents who are too shy for karaoke but still love singing.
Music is an important pillar in our Sunrise communities. Our Live With Melody programming aims to help residents reap the benefits of music through singing, dancing, and live performances.
Social Events and Clubs
Assisted living communities are huge on promoting resident well-being and socialization among seniors. The following activities for seniors in assisted living help residents get to know one another and create lasting bonds:
- Happy hours: Many communities get residents to mingle by hosting happy hours filled with engaging activities, fun cocktails and mocktails, and delicious appetizers.
- Movie nights: A great way for residents to come together is watching classic or new movies over some popcorn and fizzy drinks.
- Resident outings: To help residents explore their interests and feel like a part of their community, most communities plan resident outings. Outings vary depending on residents’ interests, but may include trips to local zoos, gardens, or diners.
- Social clubs: Communities help facilitate clubs based on residents’ interests so they can get together and enjoy their hobbies alongside others. Some common ones include book clubs, gardening clubs, and walking clubs. Activities directors will often help residents start new clubs.
- Sporting events: Some communities will take residents out to see their favorite professional teams play or to see games at local schools.
- Talent shows: Communities may put together something fun to help residents come together and show off a range of talents—from piano recitals to stand-up comedy.
- Volunteer projects: Many assisted living residents love to stay involved in the local community by giving back. Some communities host events where residents can help create care packages for those in need or fundraisers to raise money for a cause that matters to the resident population.
- Watch parties: Activities directors can help residents set up a watch party for residents who want to come together to watch sporting events, awards shows, or anything of their choosing.
In Sunrise communities, our assisted living activities directors do their best to facilitate social events and new clubs, so all residents feel like a part of the community. For example, many of our communities hosted a “Yappy Hour” where residents and community members came together to enjoy drinks and snacks while playing with puppies from local animal shelters.
Sunrise offers Live With Generosity programming, which enables our residents to participate in community service projects and fundraisers. Residents can also give back by sharing their wisdom with the younger generation through our Live With Legacy programming.
Games
Many activities directors add a variety of games into activity calendars. Some of the following games make a great icebreaker and stir up some friendly competition in assisted living:
- Bingo: Known as one of the most classic retirement activities in assisted living, this social game is tried-and-true. Residents love coming together for some witty banter and fun prizes.
- Board and card games: Whether it’s gathering in a common space or game room to play classic games like rummy, Yahtzee, or Scrabble or joining a social game night to play Pictionary, there is no shortage of games in assisted living.
- Chess club: Lots of assisted living residents start a chess club to bond over their love of the game while competing with one another.
- Outdoor games: Residents can also enjoy some interactive outdoor activities like cornhole, ring toss, bocce ball, or a nature scavenger hunt.
- Puzzles: Communities often provide a variety of puzzles in their game rooms for those who want to relax or enjoy a good challenge. Residents may also gather to do a word search, crossword, or jigsaw puzzle.
- Trivia: A fun trivia night can help residents engage their brain, stir up some friendly competition, and form connections.
- Virtual simulators: With new technologies on the rise, communities are starting to incorporate virtual reality. Residents can play virtual games or visit reminiscent destinations without stepping a foot outside.
Our Sunrise residents love to gather and play games—some of the most popular options include mahjong, canasta, and bridge.
Lifelong Learning
Continuous learning later in life has been proven to improve cognitive function in seniors over time, according to research on the impact of later-life learning. That’s why many assisted living activities encourage residents to engage their brain through lifelong learning activities like the following:
- Current events club: Residents who love to keep up with current news and happenings in the world may form a club to stay up to date and spark stimulating discussions.
- Guest lectures: Some communities host local professors or subject matter experts to help residents learn more about topics they’re interested in—be it art, history, or science.
- In-person classes: Communities sometimes partner with local community colleges or learning institutes that offer senior courses.
- Workshops: To keep residents up to date, some communities will offer workshops such as classes on learning new technologies, scam prevention, finance tips, or health education.
At Sunrise, our communities offer a Live With Learning program. Depending on the community, residents can join one another for on-site book clubs, round-table discussions, guest lectures, and MasterClass courses.
Spirituality and Mindfulness
To help reduce stress and promote a happier, calm state, assisted living activities that promote mindfulness are extremely important. Here are some of the most popular mindfulness exercises for the elderly:
- Coloring: The repetitive nature of the activity and the simple concentration of choosing a color can help seniors relax and engage their fine motor skills.
- Gardening: This peaceful pastime can promote a sense of calm as well as a sense of accomplishment.
- Listening to music: Listening to soothing nature sounds or instrumental music can help residents focus on breathing and release tension.
- Meditation: Communities may offer meditation circles and reflection opportunities to reduce stress and anxiety and promote happiness and better sleep.
- Religious events: Many communities offer an on-site chapel or sacred space to practice their own religious or spiritual beliefs.
At Sunrise, our communities offer several opportunities for residents to practice mindfulness with activities like gardening, meditation, and reflection. Sunrise communities also offer a Live With Reflection program to encourage residents to continue practicing their religious and spiritual beliefs in a safe space.
Holiday and Special Occasion Celebrations
Families and seniors may feel like they’re losing the joy of celebrating holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions when moving into an assisted living community, but that’s far from true.
It’s common for communities to help residents continue celebrating holidays and special occasions by incorporating some of these festive activities:
- Barbecues or picnics: When the weather’s warm, communities may host outdoor events with games, refreshing drinks, and classic BBQ food. They may also take residents out to parks for a picnic.
- Birthday celebrations: Many communities host birthday parties and provide special meals and treats to help residents celebrate. Residents are also welcome to invite family and friends to join in on the fun or ask for a more private celebration if that’s what they prefer.
- National Day celebrations: To keep things fresh and exciting, communities might add in some national days to the activity calendar. For example, hosting an ice cream social on National Ice Cream Day or a book signing for National Book Lovers Day.
- Seasonal or holiday parties: Communities help residents celebrate holidays with themed parties, activities, and events. This may look like an Independence Day barbecue, Christmas party, or Thanksgiving dinner.
- Service recognition: To honor veterans and others’ service and sacrifices, many communities host events on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and more. Some communities even have a veteran wall to showcase their service year-round.
- Special occasions: To show appreciation for certain residents, like retired healthcare workers or teachers, communities may also host events to honor them and help them reminisce.
Sunrise communities offer Live With Anticipation programming, which celebrates residents’ accomplishments, encourages them to share their talents, and enables them to pursue new goals and dreams.
What to Expect from an Assisted Living Activity Calendar
To accommodate residents’ varying interests and mobility levels, communities strive to create a diverse assisted living calendar of activities. Communities usually appoint an assisted living activities director to help ensure that each residents’ needs and preferences are met.
In most communities, residents can expect to receive a monthly assisted living activity calendar with dates and times listing out all the activities catered to the resident population. Residents can then plan based on their interests.
How Sunrise Communities Curate Activity Calendars in Assisted Living
Sunrise communities offer Live With Purpose™ programming, which enables residents to enjoy their favorite hobbies and pastimes while still exploring new interests. Our activities directors strive to keep things exciting and enjoyable for residents with new and resident-led ideas. View our sample assisted living calendar of activities to get an idea of what a day looks like in our assisted living communities.
Our communities are known for going above and beyond with events that bring the entire community together. A few examples include themed happy hours, seasonal celebrations, and lively brunches.
If you or a senior loved one are considering assisted living, find a Sunrise community near you to learn more. Our team members are happy to answer your questions about assisted living at Sunrise. Whether you’re inquiring about our fun activities programming, care services, or unique dining program, a friendly face is ready to help.
This blog was expertly reviewed by Caitlin Rogers, Vice President of Dining & Programming Services at Sunrise Senior Living, to help ensure accuracy and relevance.
References
[1] National Institute on Aging. National Institutes of Health. (2022, March 28). Participating in activities as you age.
[2] Papalia, G. F., Papalia, R., Diaz Balzani, L. A., Torre, G., Zampogna, B., Vasta, S., Fossati, C., Alifano, A. M., & Denaro, V. (2020, August 11). The effects of physical exercise on balance and prevention of falls in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
[3] Wang, N., Xu, H., Dhingra, R., Xian, Y., McConnell, E. S., Wu, B., & Dupre, M. E. (2025, February 27). The impact of later-life learning on trajectories of cognitive function among U.S. older adults. Innovation in Aging.