You can't get better than spending time in the beautiful landscape of an area like Colonial Village. At the same time, with Texas's low prevalence of physical activity in seniors, according to the United Health Foundation, we understand how important it is to get those in our care engaged in bodily movement.
For this reason, we have a full calendar of tailored summer activities that we have designed to promote the "4 C's":
Read on to learn how we leverage Longview's warm East Texas climate to help build a set of activities for seniors to enjoy, promoting both gentle exercise and mental warm-weather engagement. Explore fitness classes, game nights, and even spiritual gatherings designed to support those in our care, providing them with the best possible life.
Our online calendar contains key details on all of the senior events in Longview that we engage in, and as you can see, almost every day starts with some kind of physical activity event, whether that be:
By offering these several days a week, we can help your loved one improve their circulation and joint mobility throughout their senior life. Our instructors can also use equipment to help them get the most out of these sessions.
These sessions make use of several different forms of movement, such as seated marches or side-step routines, to help encourage a healthy heart. Instructors may also use upbeat music to help seniors keep in time with the activity, even during tough sessions when residents want to push themselves.
For those who need specific modifications, our staff can help with things like balance issues and energy problems by encouraging the use of a back of a chair or other equipment as support.
These sessions last around half an hour and are often followed by a morning walk, so that residents can take a more calming amble after the intense movement session.
The exercises in these sessions are designed to engage both the upper and lower body, helping to boost strength and empower seniors to maintain their independence through improved dexterity and physical capabilities.
Some examples of the types of stretches one typically sees in such sessions include:
For individuals with specific physical needs, instructors can offer one-on-one guidance or adjustments to help them maintain proper form and prevent personal injury.
These are comfortable walks that do not take a rushed pace. They are suitable for seniors who can move around the area without overexertion, and occur long before the Texas midday sun prevents extensive time outside.
Our group leaders know how fast to go, and will support those they can see need water breaks or other support. Their goal is to boost cardiovascular health and encourage people to move as much as is comfortable for them as individuals.
On occasion, these walks also include nature discussion, as the changing seasons allow our community to enjoy the spring blooms or the fall changes in the plants around them.
The Colonial Village's range of activities offers residents the opportunity to experiment with various artistic pursuits, helping them express themselves emotionally. At the same time, we provide activities based on specific themes and artists, such as Van Gogh or flower arranging. Doing this helps keep the activity from becoming mundane and allows for both the learning and development of new skills at all ages.
These creations are then displayed throughout our community, and some, such as our banner painting efforts, are more prominent, helping residents feel a great sense of pride in what they have created.
Our staff possess a wide range of skills in arts and crafts. As such, they can demonstrate new techniques to those with us, helping to answer questions as they crop up and keep seniors engaged.
Our community hosts regular game nights to help create a sense of seasonal senior fun and competition among our residents. These activities offer key chances to boost a sense of community and give people stories and news they can discuss with one another and their family during visits.
By combining the themes of these activities, we can provide numerous opportunities to demonstrate how a resident excels in various forms of gaming, whether that be cognitively or physically. Some of the summer social ideas we encourage in the form of games include:
We also offer bingo sessions and other commonly played activities to keep participation low-cost and fun, while still fostering the mental agility of those taking part.
One of our more active games is a regular balloon volleyball event. The balloon reduces the impact and can extend rally times, allowing all participants to feel involved. It also helps those who cannot move quite so fast, and even promotes recollection of playing similar games as a child, or playing it with grandchildren or others.
We understand that, due to the summer heat, spending too much time outdoors is not always possible. As such, we promote active aging in the summer by encouraging our residents to enjoy the company of one another indoors with both "Coffee + Conversation" social hours, as well as themed movie nights, where we screen films for residents to talk about throughout the week.
We occasionally mix these up, too, with ice cream socials allowing residents to enjoy a sweet treat, which helps them even more in the sweltering Texas heat.
Summer activities at Colonial Village aim to blend fitness and creativity, along with a real sense of belonging in a safe Longview community. They allow our residents to form new friendships and are designed for people of all interests to participate in.
Our dedicated staff organizes these activities to ensure they run smoothly and that your loved one's life remains enriched throughout their time with us.
Discover how we can give your loved one the summer they deserve by contacting Colonial Village. Book a tour of our community and discuss our full activity schedule with us today.