The Thirwood Difference: Activities and Culture

Busy Residents are Happy Residents

Did you know that one of the keys to staying healthy as time goes on is staying social?! It’s so easy to forget how much social activities and human interaction can impact our mental and physical health.

According to, Amit A. Shah, M.D., a geriatrician, and internist at Mayo Clinic. “It’s the quality, duration and nature of your relationships that seem to matter most,” he says. “We hear so much about the risks of obesity and smoking, but loneliness and social isolation are just as much of a health risk,” Dr. Shah explains.

The Freedom you Want with the Care you Need

At Thirwood Place, you have the freedom to do what you want with your days. That being said, we still have an incredibly talented activities coordinator, Erin Gorgone, who keeps our residents entertained and engaged every week. She truly understands our residents and what activities work best and which don’t. That way our residents have access to things they enjoy. Not to mention incredibly cool and unique entertainment like axe throwing. (Don’t worry, the axes were plastic.) Axe throwing aside, we offer everything from pool activities to movie screenings on the weekends.

It’s also important to note that we have such a wide variety of activities because we know how personal a hobby can be. When a new resident arrives at Thirwood Place we already have an understanding of their background and personal interests. That way we can make suggestions regarding activities to do or other residents to meet who are like-minded. We strive to cultivate an environment where fun can be had, and friends can be made. The health benefits to this kind of fun are endless as well.

Activities Provide for a Healthier Lifestyle

According to the National Institute on Aging, “research has shown that engaging in productive activities you enjoy will make you less likely to develop certain diseases, have a longer lifespan, are better prepared to cope, and may be able to improve their thinking abilities.” Our residents have an immense impact on the culture at Thirwood Place, simply by joining a group or regularly attending a certain activity. Not only do these provide a sense of purpose and routine but they allow for relationship building too.

A perfect example of this is the comradery we see in our Thirwood Singers. The Thirwood Singers are a group of our residents who have a passion for all things music and singing. Together they form a wonderful choir led by Lisa Platanitis. They commit to rehearsing for two hours each week which culminates in a live showcase. We all have special talents and hobbies and the Thirwood Singers have found a wonderful way to tap into theirs.

Additionally, our unique location on the Cape makes our excursions that more exciting. The scenic views, salty ocean air and picturesque local shopping allow for a calm and enjoyable outing. Whether we’re taking our residents for lunch in P-town, shopping in Chatham, or even a trip to the Cape Symphony, we make sure the events are designed for our residents so that they will be enjoyed by all.

Maybe you’re shyer and aren’t necessarily ready to dive into a new social setting. That’s completely fine too! No one at Thirwood is here to force you to socialize but we do our best as a team to guide you towards the things at Thirwood Place that will provide you with a full and healthy life.

 

Here are some examples of the activities we offer at Thirwood Place:

• Aqua Aerobics and Open Swim
• Yoga and Chair Yoga
• Various Fitness Classes
• Bingo
• Live Entertainment
• Dance Class
• Movie Screenings
• Computer Class
• Walking Group
• Church Services
• Arts and Crafts
• Book Club
• Excursions of all kinds

You can also find a detailed monthly activities calendar on our website.