Using Sensory-Focused Activities and Smart Aging™ to Support Connection
Summer offers a natural rhythm that works well in Memory Care—longer days, familiar sounds, and opportunities to slow down. Residents living with dementia often respond best to simple routines and sensory experiences that feel familiar and comforting. These programs don’t need to be complicated. What matters most is that they feel safe, gentle, and meaningful.
With Smart Aging™ AI from Go Icon, teams can plan these kinds of moments more effectively. By using resident preferences, activity trends, and personalized tools, staff can build programs that align with who each resident is and what helps them feel secure.
Here are seven summer activities that encourage calm and connection, each one enhanced with insights from Smart Aging™ AI.
Lemonade & Lavender Tasting Table
What to do: Set up a small table with lemonade in different flavors (lavender, mint, classic citrus). Include bowls of herbs, lemon slices, and chilled lavender-scented cloths for residents to hold or place on their necks.
Why it works: The aroma and temperature changes offer a calming experience and stimulate taste and smell.
Smart Aging™ Tip: Use Resident Insights to see who enjoys kitchen-based activities or calming sensory input. The Wellness Highlights feature can help you track if these sensory breaks reduce signs of stress or restlessness.
Petal Play: Flower Sensory Station
What to do: Offer a tray of real or silk flowers for residents to touch, smell, sort by color, or arrange in small vases. Include soft textures like lamb’s ear and floral scent bottles.
Why it works: Many residents remember flowers from their childhood homes or gardens. Touch and scent create comfort without requiring verbal engagement.
Smart Aging™ Tip: Review each resident’s Life Story Interview to recall any gardening experience or past hobbies. Tailor the flowers and setup to reflect those memories.
Popsicle Porch Chats
What to do: Serve familiar frozen treats outdoors or near an open window. Use the time to sit quietly or ask short questions like, “Did you have a porch swing growing up?”
Why it works: Taste, breeze, and sound all come together to create a moment that feels familiar and pleasant.
Smart Aging™ Tip: After the program, the Family Update feature can send an automatic summary to families, helping them stay connected to their loved one’s daily life without staff having to write individual reports.
Garden Walk & Touch Tour
What to do: Walk slowly through a secure outdoor area or enclosed garden. Encourage residents to touch leaves, smell herbs, or feel the warmth of a stone.
Why it works: Outdoor movement paired with tactile interaction helps with regulation and grounding. It also encourages physical engagement in a low-pressure way.
Smart Aging™ Tip: Use the Activity Idea Generator to find plant-themed talking points or mindfulness cues. You can also ask the Co-Pilot for seasonal scripts or nature-related sensory prompts.
Windchimes & Watercolors
What to do: Paint with soft watercolors while listening to windchimes or recorded nature sounds. Offer sponge brushes or thick-handled paintbrushes for easy grip.
Why it works: The combination of sound and creative expression supports emotional regulation. Watercolor’s gentle flow allows success without stress.
Smart Aging™ Tip: Pull Activity Insights to see which residents respond well to creative programs. Track what time of day works best and adjust based on real engagement, not guesswork.
Outdoor Poetry Listening Hour
What to do: Read short, sensory-rich poems outside in a shaded area. Pair each poem with a tactile item, such as a feather, shell, or leaf.
Why it works: Rhythmic language is soothing. The multi-sensory approach adds depth and makes the experience accessible even without strong language skills.
Smart Aging™ Tip: Use the Messaging Generator to create a brief announcement or invite families to contribute their loved one’s favorite poem. This adds a layer of personalization without extra prep work.
Scented Sensory Fans
What to do: Mist small handheld fans with essential oils and offer residents a gentle fanning experience. Ask, “Would you like peppermint or orange today?” and observe their response.
Why it works: A light breeze and scent can energize or relax, and the choice builds autonomy.
Smart Aging™ Tip: Ask the Smart Aging™ Co-Pilot for recommendations on scents that match wellness goals. You can also use it to design a full sensory cart for summer programming.
Why This Matters
These programs create moments of calm, connection, and familiarity. They do not rely on memory or cognition. Instead, they meet residents where they are—through senses, comfort, and simple pleasures. What used to take hours of planning can now be guided with confidence, using the right tools and data.
With Smart Aging™ AI, teams can:
- Identify what soothes or stimulates each resident
- Adjust activities based on participation patterns
- Communicate with families in meaningful ways
- Save time while increasing program quality
Small, intentional experiences are often the most effective. And now, they’re easier to deliver.