Ideas for engaging aged care activities

First published: September 2024

An important part of an aged care resident’s health and wellbeing includes lifestyle and leisure activities that call to their needs, interests and desires. The 13th recommendation in the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety report was ‘Embedding high quality aged care’, which includes supporting the resident to engage in recreational and social activities.

Aged care activities available for residents in homes can be there to stimulate the mind as well as the body, both in solo and group formats.

In this article, we cover:  

• Why are aged care activities important?
• Who organises aged care activities in a home?
• 10 activities your residents will enjoy
• Find out more about Sanctuary’s services

Why are aged care activities important in an aged care home?

Residents in aged care homes in Australia are from diverse cultural, ethical and linguistic diverse backgrounds. One size doesn’t fit all and ensuring that each person has the resources to engage mentally, emotionally and physically is indication of a fully functional aged care home. 

Aged care activities are part of a resident’s care plan. This document outlines the assessed needs and goals of each person and the methods in which the aged care provider will support them. Not only does it mean each resident is heard and fully understood, but it is also a government requirement included in the 8 Aged Care Quality Standards.  

Who organises aged care activities in an aged care home?

The aged care industry needs many different personnel to keep the home running, and to ensure a high-quality level of care is delivered to residents at all times. Alongside the clinical members of staff, non-clinical workers who provide direct and indirect care are essential to the smoothness of this delivery. 

Working in aged care, regardless of your role, means that you have resident satisfaction as your top priority. If you are someone whose interests lie in increasing personal satisfaction, care about tailoring lifestyle solutions and enjoy interacting with those from a range of cultural backgrounds, then the role of lifestyle and leisure officer could be for you. There are multiple pathways you can take that will put you on this career track: 

• Enter on a clinical level and then upskill – An entry level role in aged care as an assistant in nursing or personal care worker. This requires a Certificate III/IV in an aged care related course such as Individual Support (Ageing) or Health Services Assistance. After experiencing the aged care environment, you may consider taking a non-clinical pathway, which is what one of the members of our valued nursing team aspires to do in the future. 

• Obtain a relevant qualification – A Certificate IV in Leisure and Lifestyle meets the educational requirement for this role. Institutions such as TAFE offer this course, and this could be subsidised if you are eligible. 

• Traineeships – Some organisations offer you the opportunity to volunteer or engage via a traineeship program, which allows you to get paid for on the job training whilst obtaining a qualification. 

A lifestyle officer’s role within the home is to enhance the quality of life for the residents by incorporating activities into their routine that adhere to their care plan and ones that will be enjoyed by each individual. Regardless of whether your role is actively involved within lifestyle coordination or not, your duty as an aged care worker is to provide the best level of care to each resident, on a physical and emotional level, with a holistic approach.  

10 activities your residents in aged care will enjoy

1. Arts and crafts

Perfect for keeping the mind stimulated and to improve dexterity, crafty activities such as painting, jewellery making, and knitting can be done in a casual relaxed environment. Many find expressing themselves creatively to be very therapeutic, with the added benefits of improving memory loss and regaining passion for their hobbies. This can be done individually or in a group, giving the resident a chance to fulfill their social needs, in a capacity that suits them. 

2. Gardening

A hobby loved by many, gardening is great for getting people outdoors and keeping fit. Regaining connection with nature may uncover lost interests and encourage sharing of knowledge, increasing communication and socialisation. Having accessible, safe outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy is paramount for those who have gardening at the top of their interest list. Allowing residents to interact with nature through touch and smell helps to keep all of their senses stimulated. 

3. Music

A key topic of discussion at any age, music is a great way to give your residents a talking point to encourage social interaction. Music helps to express feelings, evoke memories, and is a fantastic tool for those with dementia. Considerations must be made to make it accessible for all – having adaptations for those who are hard of hearing, printed words in an acceptable reading size to aid with engagement and using visual aids to go along with the music so everyone can keep up. You can even organise a dance session for residents which is a great way for everyone to keep fit! 

4. Exercise

What is great about exercise is that it comes in so many forms. Catering to each resident’s need, you could organise a yoga session, hydrotherapy, stretching classes, walking groups, mobility exercises – the list goes on! Exercise has an abundance of benefits, and you can pick and choose ones that aid your residents physically and mentally, whilst adhering to their interests. 

5. Puzzles

Simple but effective, puzzles are fantastic for engagement and short-term memory. Offering a therapeutic and calming way to spend leisure time, they can be done alone or with others, which is a great way to develop social connections. Puzzles are always useful to have on hand, with games including chess and noughts and crosses being good options to trigger memories, increase concentration and promote problem-solving skills. 

6. Day trips

Getting everyone together for a day out is an excellent way for your residents to bond and form deep connections. Days out can be relatively local, such as going to the beach, the zoo, the shopping mall or even further afield. These are usually a regular fixture in a leisure and lifestyle program and are often the highlight of the week or month! 

7. Cultural holidays

The beauty of an aged care home is that your residents can be from a wide variety of backgrounds, both geographically and ethnically. Celebrating everyone’s culture and traditions is a fascinating way for residents to get to know each other on a deeper level, allowing for stories to be shared that may otherwise not have come up in conversation. 

8. Film showings

These can be both within the aged care home and incorporated into a day trip. Watching documentaries and films together make great conversation starters, a low intensity way to socialise, and can allow for memories to be recounted and newfound interests to develop. Regular viewings of fan favourite films are a great way to spend an afternoon, rain or shine. 

9. Book club

Reading is a strong passion for people of all ages, so this is a fantastic way for your residents to interact with the care staff. Reading their favourite book together or exploring new books in the genre that they enjoy is a great way to boost communication between residents and team members, as well as expanding vocabulary and worldly understanding. 

10. Pet therapy

Furry friends are well loved by families and individuals alike. Pets are used in many settings to relieve stress, release endorphins and boost overall happiness. Visits from friends and family pets can improve individuals’ health and wellbeing and increase general life satisfaction.   

Find out more about Sanctuary’s recruitment services

We recruit in the aged care industry across Australia on temporary, contract and permanent assignments. For a bespoke staffing solution that fits your needs, get in touch with our industry expert consultants today.