The Rykka Care Centre, named after Ben’s daughter Rykka, is based in Ontario and has been operating for more than 12 years. Rykka Care Centre’s leading mission has been to maintain ownership in long-term care facilities.

25 Positive Activities to Promote Mental and Physical Health

Running a long-term care facility or nursing home requires knowing what effect staying there will have on your clients. You need to know what activities to promote mental and physical health you should provide to keep your client’s brains stimulated and keep them healthy as well. Friedman and Rykka Care Centre are dedicated to promoting the wellness and health of residents living in long-term care facilities, like those under Rykka’s management:

Dancing – There are several dance styles out there that include lots of moves that anyone can perform. Aside from being fun, dancing also provides great social opportunities and counts as exercise.

Whether an entire group of people surrounds you it’s listening to it in the car or dancing during a party, music is a communication method that virtually everyone can understand. Not only does it allow expression, but it also allows you to connect with those around you. When all you have is a pair of headphones in a dark room, music can create the illusion that you’re surrounded by an entire group of people. The above example illustrates how vital it is to expose everyone to the power of music.

Games – A long-term care facility offers lots of activities and games. Everyone is welcome to take part in these activities. Examples of some of the games traditionally played in these facilities include:

  • Bingo
  • Card games
  • Board games
  • Trivia

Playing video games – Most video game consoles come with motion sensor controls, so you can exercise while playing. The video games they play also allow them to decide whether they want to play alone or with other players. Playing video games are excellent activities to promote mental and physical health and are a wonderful way to learn a variety of skills. The following systems offer simple, stimulating games:

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PlayStation 4
  • XBOX 360

Brain-Boosting Games – These games are usually paper-based and are available as logic puzzles or individual books. Examples are:

  • Sudoku
  • Crosswords
  • Word searches

Field Trips – Everyone enjoys spending some time outdoors, and what better way to get everyone out in the open air with the rest of the public? Almost every possible location for a field trip offers activities to promote mental and physical health producing a stimulating experience. Additionally, a field trip provides a sense of normalcy and makes the patients feel like valued members of society. Among the best places to take these patients are:

  • Museum
  • Mall
  • Concert
  • Movie theatre
  • Sports event

Outdoor Adventures – Being outdoors has a great effect on your mental health, as it allows you to breathe and take a moment to yourself. You can’t escape nature’s pull to slow down, stop, ground yourself, and take it all in. Good places for enjoying nature include:

  • Parks
  • Picnics
  • Nature trails
  • Farmers’ markets

Exercising is not only good for your physical health but is also known to improve your mental health. Essentially, it pumps up your endorphins, which act as happy hormones. Here are some of the best exercise activities that you can introduce in a long-term care facility:

  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Swimming
  • Tai chi
  • Zumba
  • Spin class

Author Bio

Ben Friedman introduces a wide variety of activities to his long-term care facilities to ensure each resident gets a healthy amount of stimulation daily. This encourages healthy living and offers social opportunities to the facility’s residents. Furthermore, Friedman knows which activities to promote mental and physical health outlined above because they have been shown to improve mental and physical health.

Ben Friedman is Canada’s expert on long-term care facilities. If the facility you placed your loved ones in lacks the stimulation and activities that promote healthy movement among the residents, consider finding a more fun and active environment for them.  It’ll be worth it in the long run.