10 Care Home Activities for Physical and Mental Wellbeing at St. Michael’s Care
At St. Michael’s Care, a CQC ‘Good’ rated Nursing Home in Margate and a leading care home in Westgate-on-Sea, we understand that true quality care extends far beyond just meeting medical needs. It encompasses promoting independence, ensuring safety, and fostering a vibrant, engaging environment where residents can thrive. Our commitment to bespoke care, delivered by highly qualified and truly caring staff, means we tailor every aspect of our residential, nursing, and respite care to each individual. A cornerstone of this holistic approach is our diverse activities program, specifically designed to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing.
Life at St. Michael’s means enjoying the things you’ve always loved, and discovering new passions too. Our activities are an essential part of home life, encouraging socialisation, creativity, and a rich lifestyle. We carefully shortlist activities for both residential and nursing residents, ensuring every individual can participate in ways suited to their abilities. This focus on engagement is why we’ve put together a list of 10 care home activities for physical and mental wellbeing that truly make a difference in our residents’ lives.
The Power of Play: Unlocking Well-being Through Engagement
Engaging in stimulating activities is vital for older adults, providing purpose, combating isolation, and supporting overall health. Here are 10 care home activities for physical and mental wellbeing that we embrace at St. Michael’s Care:
1. Music and Sing-Alongs: There’s something universally uplifting about music. From our garden sing-alongs with instruments to enjoying the beautiful Li’anna singing a heart-warming array of songs from the golden era of films and musicals, music sessions are fantastic for mood elevation, memory recall, and encouraging gentle movement. Listening to favourite tunes can also provide a comforting connection to past memories.
2. Armchair Travel Adventures: Who says you can’t explore the world from the comfort of your chair? Our “Armchair Travel” sessions, like our recent trips to Kenya and Paris, offer incredible cognitive stimulation. Residents enjoy authentic food and drinks (Kenyan food and cocktails, French cheeses and wine), quizzes, cultural tours, and even share their own safari or holiday photos. This activity sparks conversation, broadens horizons, and triggers wonderful reminiscence.
3. Creative Arts & Crafts: Activities like painting sun catchers for rooms, as our residents recently enjoyed, provide a wonderful outlet for self-expression and fine motor skill practice. Engaging in creative arts reduces stress, boosts self-esteem, and offers a tangible sense of accomplishment. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or simple craft projects, the process is as valuable as the end result.
4. Gentle Exercise & Movement (e.g., Balloon Tennis): Maintaining physical mobility is key to independence. Activities like Balloon Tennis are fantastic for promoting gentle movement, coordination, and light cardiovascular activity in a fun, non-strenuous way. These sessions help maintain flexibility, improve circulation, and are often filled with laughter.
5. Reading and Book Clubs: Our residents love getting together to read and discuss their favourite books with tea and cake. This activity is a powerhouse for mental stimulation, encouraging critical thinking, improving verbal communication, and fostering a sense of shared intellectual interest. It’s a wonderful way to keep minds active and engaged.
6. Pet Therapy Visits: The joy that animals bring is immeasurable. Our residents absolutely adore visits from therapy animals like Bean the service dog. Interacting with friendly animals can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and provide immense comfort and companionship, particularly for dog-loving residents. This simple act of connection provides significant emotional benefits.
7. Intergenerational Activities (Nursery Visits): The visits from children at Manor House Nursery are truly special. The interaction between our residents and the children, whether playing in the sunshine, handing out biscuits, or singing together, creates heart-warming moments. These intergenerational connections foster joy, reduce feelings of isolation, and provide a unique form of mental and emotional stimulation for both generations.
8. Reminiscence Therapy: Integrated into many of our activities, such as our French Holiday reminiscence, this involves using props, photos, music, and conversation to help residents recall memories. Reminiscence therapy is excellent for cognitive engagement, validates life experiences, and can significantly improve mood and communication.
9. Social Games (e.g., Bingo): Our Friday Bingo afternoons are, as always, incredibly popular! Games like Bingo provide mental stimulation, encourage friendly competition, and are fantastic for social interaction and building camaraderie among residents. They offer a simple yet effective way to engage and enjoy time together.
10. Garden Time & Nature Connection: Our beautifully landscaped gardens offer a peaceful retreat and a place for gentle outdoor activities. Soaking up the sunshine while listening to music, as our residents recently did, or simply enjoying the fresh air, contributes significantly to overall well-being. Connecting with nature has proven benefits for mental health, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
At St. Michael’s Care in Thanet, we are committed to providing the highest quality residential, nursing, and respite care. Our comprehensive activity schedule, supported by our wonderful team of highly qualified and caring nurses and staff, ensures that we offer 10 care home activities for physical and mental wellbeing and many more, tailored to promote independence and uniqueness. We are proud of our CQC ‘Good’ rating and our recognition as a finalist for the Home Manager Award at The Great British Care Awards 2023. We invite you to request a tour or download our brochure to see how we enrich the lives of our residents every day. You can also get in touch with us to learn more about our commitment to 10 care home activities for physical and mental wellbeing and our unique approach to care.
