While we love visiting with our loved ones, family members, and friends, interacting with individuals with later-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease can have its hurdles. When memories and speech skills are impaired, our loved one may have difficulty communicating with us in the same ways they used to. But there are still lots of ways you can make your time with your loved one meaningful, and ensure they have the best possible quality of life.
San Diego is an amazing city - and county - in Southern California with so much to see and do. From sunny weather to beautiful beaches, impressive restaurants and bars, and a wide range of attractions, “America’s Finest City” is a bustling hub of fun. We know how important it is that residents moving into Active 55+ and Independent Living communities are still able to stay connected to their city and community and enjoy sightseeing and all the attractions the area has to offer.
As we age, getting around can become more difficult, while some might opt to continue driving, many older adults decide to stop driving or give up their license for a variety of reasons - be it visibility, mobility issues, disabilities, or simply not wanting to deal with the upkeep and cost of a vehicle and the responsibilities that come with it.
But just because they no longer drive doesn’t mean they don’t want to be able to get around with ease. Ensuring our residents feel a strong sense of independence and freedom is important to us at Pacifica, and a core part of the services that we offer in our communities.
Playing games is a fun way to spend time, make friends, and engage with others, but they can also play an important role in the aging process. As we get older, it is important to keep our brains engaged and working on both cognitive and problem solving skills. Playing games is a great way to promote healthy brain activity and help stave off memory loss.
At Pacifica Senior Living, our communities have a wide range of weekly games and activities for residents to participate in. Here are some of the top games for seniors to help promote healthy brain activity, strengthen memory skills, and make connections with others.
Technology can be a great tool for connecting with families, friends and loved ones. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets have become a staple of many seniors’ lives, helping them access information, connect with friends, and stay up to date with family. It’s easier than ever to share pictures of you, your family and grandchildren, watch your favorite television show, or purchase a digital copy of your favorite book. There are so many ways to keep in touch with those you care about through technology through apps, platforms and online programs. You can learn how to protect yourself online by reading our tips on online safety here.
Crafting is something that many of us enjoy, regardless of age. Old and young alike, there is something wonderfully calming and nostalgic about sitting down with needles and yarn, paint and a brush, a little bit of clay, or even just some fabric remnants and letting your creative side take over. As we age, our mobility can become limited, so crafting also becomes one of the few activities in which seniors can actively participate as fully as younger folks, and it comes with a variety of health benefits that make it a meaningful way to spend an afternoon.
In 2020, it has become more apparent than ever, and more important than ever, that senior living takes a full-service approach to how modern technology is integrated into their communities and their care. For the Baby Boomer Generation—who represent the vast bulk of retirees these days—having a strong technological backbone to your community is becoming more a necessity than ever, and it’s something that Pacifica Senior Living has been aggressively working towards in recent years.