50 Group Activity Ideas for Assisted Living Communities

As an activity director or senior living professional, you know the challenge: keeping residents engaged day after day, week after week. You need activities that work for diverse ability levels, that residents actually enjoy, and that you can realistically execute with your resources.

This comprehensive guide provides 50 proven group activity ideas organized by category, plus tips for adapting them to different cognitive levels and practical considerations for implementation.

Before You Plan: Key Principles

Know Your Population

Your residents aren't homogeneous. Consider:

1. Cognitive levels (from sharp to advanced dementia)
2. Physical abilities (mobile to wheelchair-bound)
3. Interests and backgrounds
4. Cultural considerations
5. Time of day energy levels

Plan for Different Engagement Levels

In any group activity, some residents will actively participate, some will observe, and some will come and go. All of these count as engagement.

Less Is More

One well-executed activity beats three rushed ones. Quality over quantity.

Document What Works

Track which activities get good turnout and engagement. Build on successes.

50 Group Activity Ideas

Games and Competition (Activities 1-10)

1. Classic Bingo

Still the most popular group activity in senior living for good reason—it's social, exciting, and works for various cognitive levels.

Tips: Use large-print cards, call slowly, have helpers assist residents who need it, vary the prizes.

CarePrints offers: Bingo sets ($17.99) with large-print cards and multiple themed variations. Facility subscribers get unlimited downloads for printing as many cards as needed.

2. Trivia Tournament

Weekly or monthly trivia sessions build anticipation and friendly competition.

Topics: Decades (50s, 60s, etc.), geography, music, movies, history, sports, food.

Format: Teams work better than individual competition—encourages socialization.

CarePrints offers: Trivia cards in our Premium Activities collection covering multiple decades and topics.

3. Wheel of Fortune

Create your own version with a spinning wheel and word puzzles.

How to adapt: Use large letter boards, familiar phrases, and simpler puzzles for memory care.

4. Name That Tune

Play brief clips of songs and have residents guess titles or artists.

Best songs: Music from the 1940s-1960s typically resonates best with current senior populations.

5. Card Game Clubs

Regular poker, bridge, or pinochle groups for card enthusiasts.

Adaptation: Simpler games like Go Fish or War work for memory care.

6. Word Game Hour

Group word searches, crossword solving, or word scrambles.

Format: Put puzzles on large screens or give individual copies.

CarePrints offers: Hundreds of word searches and crosswords at various difficulty levels. Facility subscriptions allow unlimited printing for group activities.

7. Bowling (Adapted)

Tabletop bowling or hallway bowling with lightweight pins.

8. Bean Bag Toss

Safe, accessible, and works for almost any ability level.

9. Horse Racing Game

Classic board-based horse racing game with betting (fake money) creates excitement.

10. Balloon Volleyball

Gentle, seated volleyball using balloons. Gets everyone moving safely.

Arts and Creative (Activities 11-20)

11. Group Coloring Sessions

Set up coloring stations with quality materials. Great drop-in activity.

Benefits: Calming, social without pressure, produces displayable art.

CarePrints offers: Over 1,700 coloring pages designed for seniors—enough variety for daily sessions without repetition.

12. Painting Class

Guided painting sessions where everyone creates the same image.

Tip: Use simple subjects, limited color palettes, and step-by-step instruction.

13. Craft of the Month

Seasonal or holiday crafts that result in take-home or display items.

CarePrints offers: 3D Creative Crafts ($4.99) with templates that fold into dimensional art—easy to facilitate for groups.

14. Collage Making

Cut images from magazines and create themed collages.

Themes: Dream vacations, favorite foods, memories, seasons.

15. Flower Arranging

Fresh or silk flower arranging—produces beautiful results and exercises creativity.

16. Jewelry Making

Simple beading projects create wearable gifts.

17. Scrapbooking

Create memory books using photos, paper, and embellishments.

18. Pottery Painting

Paint pre-made ceramic pieces. Many local pottery studios will fire finished pieces.

19. Card Making

Create greeting cards for holidays or to send to family.

CarePrints offers: Templates and designs that can be incorporated into handmade cards.

20. Knitting or Crochet Circle

For residents who already have these skills, a social crafting group.

Music and Entertainment (Activities 21-30)

21. Sing-Along Sessions

Group singing of familiar songs with lyrics provided.

Best choices: Hymns, patriotic songs, show tunes, popular songs from their era.

22. Live Music Performances

Local musicians, school groups, or church choirs.

Tip: Familiar, slower-paced music works better than contemporary selections.

23. Rhythm Band

Simple percussion instruments (shakers, tambourines, rhythm sticks) playing along to music.

24. Music Appreciation

Listen to and discuss specific albums, artists, or genres.

25. Dance Party

Seated or standing movement to music. Great for physical engagement.

26. Talent Show

Residents share talents—singing, poetry, storytelling, instrumental music.

27. Movie Afternoon

Classic films with popcorn and discussion afterward.

CarePrints tip: E-Tales can be read aloud as short story entertainment for smaller groups.

28. Karaoke

Modified karaoke with familiar songs and supportive atmosphere.

29. Musical Guest Series

Regular performers who become familiar faces residents look forward to.

30. Hymn Sing

For religious communities, regular hymn singing sessions.

Cognitive and Educational (Activities 31-40)

31. Current Events Discussion

Discuss news (non-controversial topics work best).

32. Book Club

Read and discuss books together—or read aloud and discuss.

CarePrints offers: E-Tales stories that can be read and discussed as a group.

33. History Lecture Series

Guest speakers or staff presentations on historical topics.

34. Armchair Travel

"Visit" different countries through videos, food, music, and activities.

CarePrints offers: Countries Adventure Pack featuring 9 different countries—activities, information, and coloring pages for armchair travel programs.

35. Brain Games Session

Dedicated cognitive exercise time with puzzles, riddles, and thinking challenges.

CarePrints offers: Premium Activities include brain games and cognitive exercises designed for seniors.

36. Reminiscence Groups

Structured memory sharing on specific topics.

Topics: School days, first jobs, wedding days, holidays growing up, favorite recipes.

CarePrints offers: Reminiscence prompt cards in our Premium Activities collection to guide meaningful group discussions.

37. Language Learning

Basic phrases in Spanish, French, or other languages—especially meaningful for diverse populations.

38. Tech Tutorial

Help residents learn to use tablets, video chat, or other technology.

39. Spelling Bee

Friendly spelling competition with appropriate difficulty.

40. Show and Tell

Residents share meaningful objects and their stories.

Social and Community (Activities 41-50)

41. Birthday Parties

Monthly celebration for all that month's birthdays.

42. Tea Party

Formal afternoon tea with nice china, light refreshments, and conversation.

43. Happy Hour (Non-Alcoholic or Light)

Social hour with beverages and appetizers.

44. Men's Club / Women's Group

Gender-specific gatherings for targeted socialization.

45. Intergenerational Programs

Visits from school children, scouts, or youth groups.

46. Pet Therapy

Regular visits from therapy animals.

47. Gardening Club

Indoor plants, raised beds, or garden planning sessions.

48. Cooking Demonstration

Watch cooking demonstrations and sample results.

49. Volunteer Opportunities

Simple tasks that help others (making cards for charities, folding newsletters).

50. Holiday Celebrations

Special events for every major holiday and cultural celebration.

CarePrints offers: Monthly Celebrations content with activities for every significant holiday throughout the year.

Adapting Activities for Memory Care

For residents with dementia, adapt activities:

Simplify: Reduce steps, options, and complexity.

Shorten: 15-20 minutes may be maximum attention span.

Support: More hands-on assistance, fewer verbal instructions.

Repeat: Familiar activities done regularly work better than constant novelty.

Focus on process: Enjoyment matters more than completion or correctness.

Sensory focus: When cognition is limited, sensory experiences still engage.

CarePrints offers: Activities across difficulty levels, including simple options suitable for memory care. Our Montessori-inspired activities in the Premium collection are specifically designed using evidence-based approaches for dementia engagement.

Monthly Programming Calendar Template

Staffing and Resource Considerations

Volunteer Integration

Many activities can be volunteer-led with staff supervision.

Activity Kits

Prepare kits with all supplies needed for each activity.

Print Ahead

For printable activities, batch print weekly.

CarePrints advantage: Facility subscription ($59/month) provides unlimited downloads—print what you need, when you need it, for as many residents as you have.

Documentation

Track attendance, engagement levels, and feedback for programming improvement.

Ready to Elevate Your Programming?

CarePrints provides the resources activity directors need to deliver engaging programming every day.

Why facilities choose CarePrints:

1. Unlimited downloads with Facility subscription ($59/month)
2. 18 types of activities for variety
3. 1,700+ coloring pages
4. Hundreds of puzzles and word games
5. Premium activities with evidence-based approaches
6. Monthly Celebrations content for holiday programming
7. Countries Adventure Pack for travel themes
8. Multiple difficulty levels for diverse populations

[Start Your Facility Subscription →] https://www.geriatriccaresolution.com/care-prints

Questions? Contact us at 1.888.896.8275 or careprints@gcaresolution.com