There is a lot of talk about screen time these days and for good reason. But for many seniors, the pull of the screen is nothing new. Family members live far away, so video calls become a lifeline. Word games and online puzzles fill the gaps between activities. Social media keeps them in the loop.

Still, something shifts when seniors put the phone down, step outside or sit across from a friend at a card table. 

"There's just something about sunshine and socialization that really gets people together," says Karen B., national director of life enrichment with The Goodman Group. "It's important to remind people to just sort of put that down and go back to the old school ways."

The Classics Still Work

When it comes to offline activities that support cognitive health, the tried-and-true options hold up well. Crossword puzzles, word searches, jigsaw puzzles and card games offer great mental engagement. Research shows that activities like reading, playing checkers and doing puzzles can significantly reduce the risk of dementia in older adults.

Karen explains that at communities managed by The Goodman Group, trivia sessions are also designed to connect with one another. "We might ask what the first flower you see in spring is and then let's talk about who grew tulips, what kind did you plant, did you put them in the fall?" she says. "It becomes the conversation, the socialization, the interaction."

That engagement is important in memory care settings, where activities are thoughtfully scaled to different cognitive levels. Easier word searches, themed trivia and familiar topics help residents feel included and heard.

Getting Outside Changes Everything

Fresh air and movement are among the most impactful ways seniors can support their brain health. Research from the National Institute on Aging continues to reinforce the connection between physical activity, social engagement and healthy cognitive aging.

Karen points to community outings as some of the most meaningful experiences seniors can have. Trips to a local farmers market, music in the park and county fairs for example. "A lot of our residents have so many memories from those events," she says. "The conversations that surround those, the memories that are shared, is just really, really cool."

Before heading out, she recommends looking at accessibility. Checking a venue's website, calling ahead to ask about seating and thinking through parking and walking distance all go a long way toward making outings work for residents with different mobility needs.

Finding New Passions and Sharing Old Ones

In a senior living community, residents learn a lot from each other. Baking, gardening and travel stories can all be shared interests.

"Asking the residents what they like to do, or what they used to like to do, it becomes so much more engaging," Karen says. "Maybe I'm sharing it with someone who has not had that experience."

Gardening in particular has been a hit. "I think I was surprised at how much people wanted to just kind of get a little dirty," Karen laughs. The sensory experience, the knowledge sharing and the simple act of tending something living all contribute to a sense of purpose that screens cannot compete with.

Why It All Matters

At communities managed by The Goodman Group, programs like Lifelong U℠ bring regular speakers and learning opportunities to residents, building on the same principle that drives every offline activity, that staying curious, connected and engaged supports a better quality of life.

"Anytime we can create an event that's going to draw people out of their apartments, that's so important," Karen says. 

The goal, as Karen puts it, is to create a community where residents can share their lives with their neighbors, celebrate together and hold onto the things that have always made them who they are.

"They're living with curiosity. They're able to explore all of those things," she says.