Not every resident wants a packed social calendar.
Some people feel energized by lively group activities. Others may find group settings overwhelming, and prefer quieter activities like a thoughtful conversation with one or two people, a relaxed project alongside others, or time alone with a meaningful pursuit.
Even when residents prefer smaller groups or even solitude, it’s still critical to ensure they’re still engaged. Our recent joint Social Wellness report with Argentum highlights the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness on older adults’ health, including increased risk of depression, premature cognitive decline, and even mortality.
How do you accommodate residents’ social preferences, ensuring everyone experiences connection and purpose?
Creating more inclusive engagement requires expanding the definition of participation and giving residents more than one way to connect.
Start with the person, not the program
Learn about the resident’s interests, routines, skills, and preferences during intake—and keep learning after move-in. Ask specific questions rather than simply asking, “What activities do you like?”
Consider questions such as:
These conversations can uncover opportunities tied to identity and purpose—not just entertainment. Federal guidance on person-centered activities likewise emphasizes residents’ longstanding interests, customary routines, abilities, and preferences for group, one-to-one, or self-directed participation.
The importance of personalization was illustrated in our Senior Living Heroes series, when Ashlea Smalley of Grace Management shared the story of an introverted resident who rediscovered purpose by becoming the community gardener. He still didn’t attend traditional group programs—but he became happier, more engaged, and proud of the role he played.
Watch Ashlea share the resident’s story: https://lifeloop.com/olia/senior-living-heroes
His story is an important reminder: Participation and engagement are not always the same thing. Attendance asks whether a resident showed up. Engagement asks whether something captured their attention, reflected who they are, or gave them a reason to contribute.
Offer invitations without pressure
Introverted residents should still know what is available. Include small-group activities into the calendar and make sure they have easy access to it, especially soon after move-in. In the calendar activity description, make sure to share what the experience will be like: how many people usually attend, whether conversation is expected, and how long it lasts.
Make the environment easier to enter
Small changes can reduce the social effort required to participate:
Look beyond the community calendar
Some of the most meaningful engagement may never appear as a large scheduled event. Staff can reserve a room for quiet creative time, set up supplies for independent use, or build recurring one-to-one check-ins into the week.
They can also make self-directed options visible on the calendar or daily schedule. A posted “open art studio,” “quiet reading hour,” or “garden time” lets residents plan around an opportunity without turning it into a highly facilitated social event.
Create roles, not just activities
Purpose often grows when a resident is needed, not merely occupied. Invite residents to care for plants, organize the library, select music for dinner, proofread the newsletter, photograph community events, prepare supplies, welcome a new neighbor one-to-one, advise staff on an area of expertise, or even lead their own activities.
Notice changes, not just low attendance
Some residents will always choose fewer group activities. What matters is whether their pattern changes or other signs of disengagement appear.
If a resident stops pursuing favorite interests, withdraws from familiar people, or shows a marked change in mood or routine, staff can check in to understand what has changed. Barriers may include grief, depression, hearing or vision loss, pain, fatigue, cognitive changes, transportation needs, or simply a mismatch between available programs and the resident’s interests.
Data can help teams spot a change, but it should begin a conversation—not make the conclusion for them. As Ashlea put it, every data point is connected to “a living, breathing person.”
Small groups create space for meaningful interaction without the stimulation or conversational demands of a large gathering. Consider capping attendance and using a predictable format so residents know what to expect.
“Parallel play” describes the concept, but side-by-side activities may feel like more respectful language when talking about older adults. These programs let residents enjoy the presence of others while focusing on their own task. Connection can emerge naturally, without being demanded.
Independent activities can be deeply engaging when they reflect a resident’s interests and are supported with the right materials, setup, and follow-through.
An inclusive activity program is not measured only by how many residents gather in one room. It also considers whether residents have meaningful choices, whether their strengths are recognized, and whether they can connect and contribute in ways that fit who they are.
For an introverted resident, engagement may look like discussing a novel with three neighbors. It may look like painting quietly near another artist. Or it may look like tending a garden independently, then sharing the harvest with the entire community.
The format matters less than the outcome: a resident who feels known, supported, and connected to something meaningful.