Moving to an assisted living community doesn’t mean visits on the premises bind you or your family members. And even though you or your loved one may enjoy community activities such as game days, gentle exercise classes, and movie nights, it’s nice to get out and about occasionally. Some assisted living communities offer day trips you can take part in, while others encourage families to spend time together outside the community occasionally. Here are a few day trip ideas for seniors in assisted living communities:
Enjoy a Meal at a Restaurant
A lovely lunch at a local restaurant is a great way to spend time with family or friends. Plan to accommodate you or your loved one’s physical or mental challenges. Check for restaurants that are wheelchair or walker accessible if you have mobility issues, as well as seating where a senior would be comfortable sitting for an hour or two.
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Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and a menu that allows seniors to eat healthily are pluses. Family members should consider dietary restrictions such as sugar-regulated diets, low-fat diets, or low-sodium nutrition plans. If you’re unfamiliar with your loved one’s nutritional needs, ask staff at the assisted living community what kind of meals are OK to take part in during breakfast or lunch.
Visit a Museum
Museum floors can be hard on your feet, so plan accordingly.
Get a cultural fix by heading to a museum for a few hours. Local art museums, history museums, science museums, and aquariums are all great places to unite the family. If you have young children, you may want to head to a kids’ museum with learning opportunities or museums with kids’ areas where the little ones can stay entertained.
Museum floors can be hard on your feet, so plan accordingly. If you or your loved one sometimes uses a wheelchair, strongly consider bringing the wheelchair along on any visit outside the assisted living community so your loved one can relax while still taking in the sights.
If you or your family are overwhelmed by crowds or loud noises, try visiting cultural spots on weekdays or when the museum opens to avoid any hectic scenes.
Check out Local Libraries
Speaking of quiet atmospheres, visiting the library is a great way to explore the local area. Going to a library with a family member—this kind of outing is best with just one or two extra people—can be relaxing and fun. Libraries sometimes put on events that you can attend, or you can simply browse through the shelves looking for your next read.
You can also make going to the library a regular outing for seniors. Check out a few books and return a couple of weeks later to return them and check out new books or DVDs. Or, as an alternative, on their next regular visit, family members can pick up the books and drop them off on the seniors’ behalf. A quiet atmosphere that still feels social and different makes a library a perfect location for seniors to spend a few hours.
Local Bus Tours
If you or your family member haven’t been around town for a while, try a local bus tour to show you the sights. Even if you think you know your town or city well, seeing the sights through the eyes of a tourist can be fun and illuminating. You can choose from history tours to architecture tours, nature tours, and more. Sitting in a comfortable bus seat with temperature control is probably your best bet, so research before you climb aboard.
Leisure Activities
Relaxing activities are perfect for finding entertainment, and matinee movies can be enjoyable for seniors. Grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show.
A matinee play is another option that can be mentally stimulating without being physically challenging. Before you buy tickets, call the theater to make sure you can get an accessible seat if necessary. Plays, symphonies, or ballets are also an opportunity to bring the family together to enjoy a cultural experience and form bonding memories you’ll hold onto for years to come.
