Senior Living Cedar Rapids: Explore Lifelong Learning This Spring
Prairie Hills at Cedar Rapids understands that senior living in Cedar Rapids requires the right lifelong learning opportunities, such as trivia games, journaling clubs, crafting projects, and socialization events. Without these activities, seniors often struggle with self-confidence, social interactions, and even cognitive decline.
To help seniors remain autonomous and optimistic during retirement, there should be a focus on learning new skills and expanding ideas.
At Prairie Hills at Cedar Rapids, only 15 minutes from Marion, we offer residents a variety of ways to engage in active aging and lifelong learning. We've put together this guide to help you understand why this is so important and how our community's activities focus on supporting seniors towards a better retirement.
Why Lifelong Learning Matters
As spring sweeps across the country, it's time for all of us to think about how to renew and better our lives. Lifelong learning is a meaningful way to benefit your life in a variety of ways, including:
- Strengthen memory
- Improve cognitive function
- Improve independence
- Improve communication
- Lower stress
- Increase confidence
- Prevent depression, loneliness, and cognitive decline
It's also a way for seniors to expand their world views and become better connected with younger generations. With so many benefits to be had, we at Prairie Hills at Cedar Rapids believe that every community should include a wealth of lifelong learning activities.
How to Achieve Lifelong Learning in Assisted Living
It can seem intimidating at first. The idea of trying to learn something new can be overwhelming, but it's often simpler than you might think. Joining expansive spring programs for seniors is one way to learn something new, but you can also take part in activities and events hosted by your local senior community.
Many of these activities aid in lifelong learning without ever feeling like a chore.
Mindful Gaming
One of the best ways to keep learning throughout your life is to participate in games. Some games include riddles that boost creative thinking and logic skills, while others tap into memory and strengthen recall. Sometimes it's a physical skill you're improving, such as hand-eye coordination or balance.
At Prairie Hills at Cedar Rapids, we have plenty of gaming opportunities for seniors to enjoy, including:
- Themed bingo
- Trivia
- Puzzles
- Brain teasers
- Balloon volleyball
- Pool
- Noodle ball
- Bean bag tic-tac-toe
These games keep residents physically and mentally active, all while bringing excitement and laughter to each day.
Creative Pursuits
Diving into creativity is a style of lifelong learning that also gives seniors an emotional outlet. This helps lower stress levels and strengthens emotional understanding.
Many creative activities can be done alone whenever you want quiet, but can also be a fun social event. Whether you decide to be creative with others or in the comfort of your senior apartments, being creative can be a relaxing way to find new meaning in retirement.
Our creative activity roster includes:
- Crafting
- Painting
- Journaling
- Cooking
- Musical expression
- Dancing
- Storytelling
Socialize
Lifelong learning often requires interaction with other people. Sometimes the best way to begin learning something new is to be guided by an expert. Chatting with another person can be enough to spark inspiration or help you break through a difficult concept.
Not only does socialization help you reach new learning goals, but it can also help you bond with other residents and improve your mental health.
Frequent socialization naturally improves cognitive function, which means you'll have an easier time learning a new skill if you keep your social calendar full. Socialization helps prime your brain for taking in new information.
If you ever feel like you've reached a stop in your lifelong learning goal, try taking a break and chatting with friends. It could make a positive difference when you next study or practice.
Attend Events and Programs
The good news is that Cedar Rapids and senior life are a harmonious combination. The local area works hard to offer seniors classes and seminars to help further lifelong learning.
Even if you prefer to stay within your senior community, make sure to reach out to the staff. Your community may have the capability to host smaller-scale events and programs that match your interests and could benefit the entire community as a whole.
If nothing else, you could gather other residents with similar interests and create a resident-led club where you all work together toward the same learning goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Principles of Lifelong Learning?
Senior enrichment ideas require individuals to be self-directed, even when learning in a group. If you don't challenge yourself, reaching your learning goals will be more difficult.
That's why it's a great idea to choose a learning subject or skill that you're passionate about. Staying on course will remain exciting and naturalif you love what you're learning.
What Are the Problems With Lifelong Learning?
Like most things in life, learning will have its ups and downs. It's when the learning becomes slower and harder that many learners will drop off.
You must find ways to push yourself to continue learning, even during those down times. It's often the case that, after pushing yourself past those lows, you'll enjoy a burst of confidence and gratitude that you continued.
What Motivates Lifelong Learners?
An end goal is a crucial tool for lifelong learners. Deciding to learn a new language is a good start, but it doesn't have a concrete goal.
Instead, pick something tangible to focus on for your goal.
For example, a concrete goal can be to learn Spanish to a B1 proficiency by the end of the year. This gives you a specific level to work towards and a date to help motivate you further.
Expand Your World With Prairie Hills Senior Living in Cedar Rapids
Even with the right mindset, achieving lifelong learning can be difficult if you don't have a supportive community to help you.
If you're looking for proactive senior living in Cedar Rapids, look no further than our Prairie Hills at Cedar Rapids community. We host a variety of brain-boosting events and activities every single day, while also assisting with housecleaning and maintenance, so that our residents can enjoy a fulfilling retirement free from unnecessary stress.
Let's work together to achieve your life learning goals. Contact us today to see our bustling Cedar Rapids community in person!