Page 44 - BusinessWest December 22, 2021
P. 44

  Business of Aging
‘We’re Like
 a Cruise Ship’
Activities Are a Critical Element of Life in Senior Communities
VBy Mark Morris
isit any senior-living commu-
nity and it’s easy to notice all the activities residents take part in. But there’s more to all that activity than just fun and games.
Indeed, while providing entertainment, activi- ties also contribute to the well-being of seniors in every setting, from independent living to assisted living and memory care, and even in skilled- nursing facilities.
It all begins with crafting an activities calen- dar. Sondra Jones, chief marketing officer for the Arbors Assisted Living communities in Amherst, Chicopee, Greenfield, and Westfield, said resi- dents have a full schedule of activities from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They can take part in anything from exercise sessions to religious services to food classes and lectures. On one sunny day in October, residents in Chicopee took part in an outdoor drumming circle. Calendar offerings change all the time based on the types of activi-
ties that interest residents the most.
“Because people live here, we’re in essence an
apartment building,” Jones said. “And in some ways, we’re like a cruise ship, because residents have all their meals and activities here, too.”
Even with nearly a dozen scheduled activities available each day, some residents might want to take part in something that’s not on the calendar. That’s OK with Cheryl Moran, executive director at the Atrium at Cardinal Drive in Agawam, who noted that this is their home and the staff are visitors in the home.
“One woman likes to spend her time doing crossword puzzles, and another just likes to paint because it makes her feel like an artist,” Moran said.
Heidi Cornwell, director of Marketing & Sales for Kimball Farms Life Care in Lenox, said most facilities make sure they cover five key areas when planning an activities calendar: gross motor skills, socialization, self-care, sensory, and memory. Specific activities are usually modi- fied to fit a particular setting to help everyone
“
residents take part
in are all geared to keeping these skills a part of their everyday life. When they begin to struggle with
a skill, we step in and help them find a different way to
”
The activities our
          succeed.
 Cheryl Moran supervises a balloon volleyball game
at the Atrium at Cardinal Drive.
  44 DECEMBER 22, 2021
BUSINESS OF AGING
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