September 8th through 14th is National Assisted Living Week, an annual celebration of the quality care and programming offered in the more than 28,000 assisted living communities nationwide. To bring this year’s “A Spark of Creativity” theme to life, MBK Senior Living communities are showcasing the numerous artistic opportunities available to residents that inspire, engage and encourage an active lifestyle.
“Finding a creative outlet can be instrumental to mind, body and spirit—especially among older adults,” said Crystal Roberts, Corporate Director of Resident Enrichment for MBK Senior Living. “National Assisted Living Week emphasizes the role we as caregivers play to help residents find that spark, so they can live life to its fullest.”
“A Spark of Creativity” hopes to inspire assisted living residents to explore their creative side whether through the arts or beyond. Specifically, art therapy can offer many benefits to older adults, such as improving cognitive and sensory-motor functions, fostering self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivating emotional resilience, enhancing social skills, and reducing and resolving conflicts and distress, according to the American Art Therapy Association.
Additionally, the theme aims to inspire assisted living staff find creative ways to further person-centered care and improve each resident’s quality of life. Some of the activities offered this week at MBK Senior Living communities include:
- “Show and Tell” with resident artists as they share past and present creative accomplishments, including: paintings, ceramics, sculptures and photography.
- Residents in the Connections for Living memory care will let their inner artist shine in a group painting activity.
- Craft activities such as knitting and quilting will be hosted by residents’ clubs.
- Residents will express their artistic creativity with food by crafting sundaes with delightful “sparkling” toppings. • Resident dancers and musicians will perform.
- Outside entertainers, including a visiting magician, will put a sparkle in residents’ eyes with awe-inspiring tricks.
- Happy Hours will be creatively transformed to resemble colorful and fun-filled locations (e.g. Las Vegas).
- Showering caregivers and residents in gold confetti to celebrate the number of ways they “Spark Creativity” in MBK communities.
“Seniors and their families are welcome to visit a local MBK community for a National Assisted Living Week activity or to just learn more about the robust calendar of enriching activities and creative opportunities that are available to our residents,” said Roberts. “You never know what inspiration it may spark for you – or your loved one.”
ABOUT MBK SENIOR LIVING
Ranked among the Top 50 “Best Workplaces in Aging Services” by Fortune magazine, MBK Senior Living (MSL) owns, operates and develops Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care services senior living communities throughout the Western United States. Based in Irvine, CA, MBK Senior Living is a subsidiary of MBK Real Estate LLC which is supported by the vast financial strength and global resources of its parent company, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit the company’s website at mbkseniorliving.com.
ABOUT NALW
National Assisted Living Week was created by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) in 1995 to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. The annual observance inspires assisted living communities around the country to offer a variety of events and activities to celebrate the individuals they serve, as well as to help educate members of the public about this distinct aspect of long-term care. For more information on National Assisted Living Week, visit www.nalw.org.
