Hovi Care has experience in organizing activities for seniors and people with special needs since 1989. Over the years, we have gathered best practices for senior activities from our operating units in Finland, Singapore, and Indonesia, and based on these, we have formed an understanding of what are the best assisted living activities for seniors.
In the article below, we share our observations and experiences on activities for assisted living residents:
Hovi Care’s care philosophy is based on the findings of the Finnish FINGER study. The study investigated how the progression of memory disorders can be slowed down or perhaps even stopped. All our activities are based on the results of this study, so that every day includes:
Activities play an important role in assisted living, as our goal is always to make every day meaningful for our clients. Being together also creates a sense of safety and trust, which are important for the well-being of the elderly.
Also, making our activities transparent on social media also plays an important role in building trust with our clients’ families and loved ones. When relatives see that our clients are happy with us, they can entrust their loved ones to our care with confidence.
Boredom can easily surface when daily routines become repetitive. At Hovi Care, we believe the best way to prevent this is by offering meaningful activities for elderly that gently activate, inspire, and bring joy to our senior clients. To do this well, we take the time and effort to learn each person’s preferences, strengths, and life story using the Own your Life -storybook, because truly motivating activities always begin with understanding the individual.
We have noticed, that shared experiences often encourage participation more naturally than the solitary ones. That’s why our daily activity programs are designed to bring people together in ways that feel safe, enjoyable, and suitable for different levels of functional ability. Some clients may participate actively, while others might prefer to observe or listen. That is fine too. Every role is valuable, and every person is included.
Through our daily work, we have found that certain types of activities consistently create positive moments and are easy for older adults to join:
When activities are designed with care, empathy, and professional insight, they enrich everyday life. Our goal is always to support well-being, nurture social connections, and create moments that truly matter.
Based on our long history with eldercare, we have prepared a list for activities that the elderly like. Over the years, we have noticed that certain activities remain consistently popular and continue to bring joy and engagement. These include:
While familiar favorites in activities are important, variety also plays a key role in creating enriching daily life. Introducing occasional surprises helps prevent routines from becoming too predictable and keeps residents curious and inspired. From time to time, it is valuable to explore activities that fall outside the everyday program, such as:
At Hovi Care, we have a proud tradition of organizing at least one trip each year for our residents. Some journeys even take us abroad. Although these excursions require thoughtful planning and dedicated effort, they are immensely meaningful. Our clients look forward to them with great anticipation and continue to share memories of these experiences long after returning home.
Keeping a loved one active at home can sometimes feel more challenging than in a group setting. Unlike assisted living or day activity programs, where clients naturally encourage each other, home environments do not offer the same social motivation.
Still, home also provides unique advantages that can make activities easier and more enjoyable when approached thoughtfully.
At home, several factors create a comfortable foundation for meaningful activity:
These small advantages often make activity at home not only possible but deeply rewarding for both of you.
Below, we’ve gathered methods and tools that we have found particularly effective when engaging loved ones—especially when you participate together.
The most important step is selecting activities that match your loved one’s current functional ability. When a task feels too difficult, frustration can quickly replace motivation. When it feels achievable, even small successes build confidence and enjoyment.
Equally important is choosing activities that reflect the person behind the task:
Understanding these details helps create moments that are meaningful and supports rehabilitation and wellbeing.
Here are a few categories of activities to inspire ideas you can try together:
Some activities can certainly be enjoyed alone, but the most meaningful and uplifting moments often come from doing things together. Because loneliness is closely connected to a lack of social interaction, we especially encourage activities that create shared experiences and genuine connection.
Family members often play an important role in arranging activities, and their involvement is truly valuable. At the same time, it is equally important for older adults to have opportunities to spend time with peers, people who share similar life stages, memories, and perspectives. Conversations with others of the same age are different from those shared with family. Companionship with friends that is both comforting and enriching.
Unfortunately, many older adults have fewer chances for this kind of peer interaction, especially because lack of mobility makes visiting harder and for those, who live long, their friends might already be dead.
Creating opportunities to rebuild these old connections and create new ones supports social well-being, strengthens identity, and helps seniors feel seen, and part of a community.
Growing older should never mean enjoying life any less. In a nursing home environment, the responsibility for creating meaningful, enjoyable days naturally falls to the care team. Our role is to offer enriching experiences, encourage gentle activation, and ensure that every resident has the opportunity to participate in ways that feel comfortable to them.
A joyful old age is built on three foundations:
At Hovi Care nursing homes across Finland, residents are offered physical rehabilitation, cognitively and mentally stimulating programs and opportunities for social connection every day. Each activity program session is designed to support well-being and create moments that truly matter.
For activities to be successful and genuinely engaging, several elements are essential:
At Hovi Care, we believe every day holds the potential for joy, connection, and discovery. Our mission is to make those nursing home activities possible, one meaningful activity at a time but at least one every day.
Thoughtful planning and careful preparation form the foundation of all meaningful activities. At Hovi Care, this begins with a well-structured assisted living activity calendar that outlines daily programs and dedicated time slots, ensuring that residents always know what to expect and when and can look forward to upcoming moments of engagement.
In designing our activities, we follow the principles of the FINGER study, which highlights the importance of supporting three key areas: physical rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, and social well-being. When these elements are combined, research shows they can help slow, and in some cases even halt, the progression of memory disorders. This scientific grounding guides every aspect of our activity planning.
Over the years, we have identified several practices that help create a successful and predictable daily rhythm in our assisted living and nursing home units:
By combining evidence-based planning with a warm, personal approach, we create daily moments that support health, spark joy, and strengthen connection—one activity at a time.
