Need Creative Ideas for Senior Citizen Program Space

[Azrael]

My brain has hit a wall. I need help desperately. I am in charge of coming up with programming ideas for not 1, not 2, but 3 different rooms all the same exact size at my retirement community. All rooms are the size of a den. They are completely empty and I need to come up with ways to fill them. Here is what I already have put in similar spaces-
1) painting room (drying racks, paint, canvas boards, etc)
2) puzzles and game room (shelves of games and puzzles and a big center table with chairs)

What else could be in a room that doesn't need much attention to, but that can be utilized by members of independent and assisted living folks?

I have waited and processed this for 48 hours and I'm not coming up with a single idea! Maybe there are some creative folks on this board who can help me.

Many thanks to all for reading/participating in this thread.

 

[MSSANDRA]

How about creating a snack food.? Maybe make your own trail mix with the foods in different bowls and a recipe to follow, or make their own yogurt or pudding dish, or decorate their own cookie or cupcake.

 

[powellrj]

What about a craft room. You could offer knitting, hand sewing projects, jewelry making, seasonal crafts like on pintress.

 

[Northstar]

A music room. Old piano and/or cheap electronic keyboard, karaoke machine with some oldies music, box of percussion instruments, singalong sheet music... I'm sure some musicians will have more suggestions!

 

[Azrael]

A music room. Old piano and/or cheap electronic keyboard, karaoke machine with some oldies music, box of percussion instruments, singalong sheet music... I'm sure some musicians will have more suggestions!

I really like this one. I had a similar idea in my head, but I wasn't sure if it would be too noisy because all of these rooms surround resident apartment/suites.
I was thinking of a record player with albums-along these lines. I will try to do one of the rooms with a music theme. Now I have 2 rooms left.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Reading corner--include some classics, magazines, newspapers.

I was also thinking music room.

 

[scrapquitler]

A music room. Old piano and/or cheap electronic keyboard, karaoke machine with some oldies music, box of percussion instruments, singalong sheet music... I'm sure some musicians will have more suggestions!

This. I'd definitely want some older music available for them to sing (and maybe even dance) along with.

 

[Azrael]

How about creating a snack food.? Maybe make your own trail mix with the foods in different bowls and a recipe to follow, or make their own yogurt or pudding dish, or decorate their own cookie or cupcake.

Great idea, but the room needs to be something that doesn't need much upkeep to it.

What about a craft room. You could offer knitting, hand sewing projects, jewelry making, seasonal crafts like on pintress.

There is a large craft room inside the community, so I don't want to duplicate it. They love crafts though!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This. I'd definitely want some older music available for them to sing (and maybe even dance) along with.

Our unit did an old time radio show. The girls voted it to be in the old style. My husband downloaded me a collection of 1930s, 1940s music from iTunes. We had that playing until it was time to start our show.

So OP--you could probably get some collections going. Lots out there. (I am not sure of licensing issues--but just wanted to offer the suggestion.)

 

[Northstar]

How about an art gallery? For all the paintings and crafts produced by residents?

They could sign up for a show. Take turns curating.

Or the local high school art department could do a show... the kids might like to have a chance to hang and display their work. Or maybe local artists or craftspeople might volunteer to do a show.

You could have a big guest book for people to leave comments in.

 

[barkley]

this may be way off base but-does your retirement community have a hair salon/barber area? the place mom/mil were at had an extra room that the management ended up offering up for very minimal rent to a licensed hair stylist/barber who used it 1 or 2 set days a week (by appointment) for the residents. it was a huge draw b/c allot of the seniors found it way more convenient getting those services on-sight vs. off (I know that getting regular pedicures saved my mom from having to go to her podiatrist as often).

another popular room was the 'lending library'-people would donate books, magazines and videos for the residents to borrow from. tabloid magazines were VERY popular and those who subscribed to them would put their already read copies on a designated rack (the national enquirer, people, reminisce and large print readers digests were always floating around).

 

[arminnie]

What about exercise oriented? There are routines that help even some of the oldest residents. Stretching, sit and be fit, etc.

Obviously no aerobics and not even machines. Chairs, stretchable bands. I have a friend almost 90 and on oxygen but there are things she can do that help her still be walking, etc.

 

[Happy Snowman]

When my mom passed away, she had a pretty extensive collection of VHS movies that she shared with other residents. They were thrilled when we left them in the lounge where they could watch movies with other residents, etc. I know they had movie parties and such worked into the recreation programs. Maybe a room with some comfortable chairs and a nice television for movies???

 

[barkley]

When my mom passed away, she had a pretty extensive collection of VHS movies that she shared with other residents. They were thrilled when we left them in the lounge where they could watch movies with other residents, etc. I know they had movie parties and such worked into the recreation programs. Maybe a room with some comfortable chairs and a nice television for movies???

one of the places my mom stayed at had a room that was referred to as the 'day room'. pretty non descript-it had a couple of small tables with 2 or 3 chairs and then 2 or three larger tables up against the walls (with some folding chairs by the walls as well). there was an old copy machine, some staplers, hole punches, tape...(very basic office supplies).

it was a multi purpose room-if a resident had a traveling notary (very popular) come by, they might meet in the residents unit but then go to the day room to make copies. during the holidays it wasn't unusual to see residents using the larger tables to wrap gifts, BUT the main purpose of the larger tables was for the use of family members who when their resident family member passed on had some chachkies, videos, books, kitchen items and such-family members could put these items out on the tables and residents could go through them to take for free (people did the same when they spring cleaned-the put the stuff that was good will appropriate in the collection boxes, but more usable stuff went on the tables and was up for grabs).

 

[HM]

For the game room, you'll actually want to have a few tables, not one big one.
That way one person can be working on a puzzle, a group can be playing bridge, and someone else could be playing solitaire. You could get tables that would fit together to make a larger table when the need arose.

 

[Azrael]

Thank you for your ideas. Please keep them coming. Maybe the long holiday weekend will bring about some creative inspiration.