The Art Of Living Well – Five ways how to inspire and empower residents 

With work done, and children flown to their own respective nests, a person’s later years can be a time for rest and enjoyment. But for many, illness and cognitive decline put a damper on the golden years. However, research has shown that keeping both the mind and body active can help to slow the advance of existing conditions and reduce the chances of new ones emerging.

One such initiative has been the FINGER Study – or the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability.

Undertaken initially in 2009 and replicated across the world, the study uses an interventionist lifestyle approach on a group of ageing individuals who are showing cognitive impairment. Efforts are focused primarily on changing the diet of research subjects and introducing them to physical activity and cognitive training.

After two years the results show a marked improvement in these individuals, with improved cognitive performance and the risk for cognitive decline lowered.

Short of creating your own study, here are five creative and research-led ways to help improve residents’ lives by keeping them thinking, participating, moving and socialising.

Challenge the brain.

The sheer novelty offered by computer games – as well as the need for quick response times – has been shown to help seniors stay sharp.

A research paper published in Behavioural Brain Research in association with the USA’s National Institute on Ageing found that, after just two weeks of playing Super Mario, elderly participants returned improved recognition memory results. This was compared with a control group who spent the same amount of time playing Solitaire, with the card game players showing lower improvement rates. This is thought to be due to the 3D immersive nature of the game, its novelty factor and need for fast decision making and movement.

Other studies have shown that playing specialised computer games that test cognitive function and response times resulted in participants being more confident and safer on the roads, meaning older drivers are more likely to keep their licences for longer.

Whether it’s a virtual reality experience or a round of Mario Kart, introducing computer games to your care facility could be advantageous. Equally, hosting regular board game and card game events (and providing independently completed puzzles such as Sudoku and crosswords) can also be great ways to keep the brain ticking over.

Import some inspiration.

Older people often live for visits from family – but in between, why not provide inspiration for thought and creativity through visiting speakers and workshops?

This could be a local writer or artist who brings in their work and does a reading or leads a creative exercise. Canvassing the residents for ideas will ensure these visitors are relevant and interesting, although for many, it can be the novelty factor that sparks inspiration.

It’s important to make the process a two-way street. Visiting artists and experts should be comfortable talking ‘with’ rather than ‘at’ residents, to ensure engagement. Hands-on activities and presentations that require responses and interaction from the audience will help to make the most of the visit, as will a Q&A at the end.

Create some beauty.

For residents stuck indoors for long periods the decor can be an important factor in keeping morale high and brains engaged. Leave the hospital green and fifty shades of beige behind and instead opt for bold patterns and uplifting colours for bedding, furnishings and wall coverings.

Our Dreamticket Coral Fleeces come in a variety of bright colours, making them as eye-catching as they are warm and soft. Similarly, there is a wide variety of patterns and colours to be seen in the our range of occasional chairs, making them bright (and incredibly comfortable) additions to resident rooms or living spaces.

There are other cool ways to bring beauty to your buildings. Communal areas can be given a new lease on life with a painted mural – and the creation of this mural will also be an intriguing process for residents to watch. Engaging a local artist to talk over their plans with residents, taking suggestions and then working in-house will make for an excellent long-term project and talking point.

Grow up and chow down.

The art of gardening is experiencing a renaissance, with younger generations recognising it as a good way of becoming self-sustainable in an uncertain world. For many older folk, this is not news.

Decades of gardening expertise and wisdom can be garnered from those who grew up in the time before supermarkets and imported produce. Many residents will be happy to relay some of that wisdom and, if able, demonstrate the extent of their green thumbs too.

Creating and tending to gardens can be an engaging and mindful way for residents to spend time, resulting in a steady flow of fresh vegetables and fruit to help keep diets healthy also. Residents may enjoy using their produce independently or it can be used for communal cooking, resulting in a feeling of accomplishment, worthiness and contribution.

Build a community.

It is purported that, when asked what the best part of being 100 was, comedian Bob Hope answered “less peer pressure”. Whether true or not, sometimes a little gentle motivation from those close to you can actually be a good thing. 

Creating opportunities for socialising will help those who are less inclined to join a Bridge club or spark up a conversation to gain some face time with people, something that is a proven necessity for a good life.

In his famous Ted Talk entitled ‘What makes a good life’, psychiatrist Robert Waldinger spoke about his work with the Harvard Study on Adult Development. This followed a group of men over 75 years to see how lives unfolded differently depending on circumstance, personality and experience.

A key insight learned from this study was that relationships are the backbone of a happy life. Those who were the happiest in retirement were those who had actively looked for new friends when work friends and family responsibilities fell away. Social connections help foster physical health and lengthen lives, while also delaying decline in brain function.

While physical disabilities can be hard to bear, it is cognitive impairments such as memory loss and confusion that can really suck the goodness out of the later years. The antidote to such decline is to stay active – socially, physically and mentally. Aged care providers can help to make this happen.

If you’d like to know more about bringing colour to a room, get in touch with an account manager at [email protected] or check out our Facebook page for more news and tips.