10 Care Home Activities to Boost Residents’ Happiness

Creating moments of joy, one activity at a time.

Caring for residents isn’t just about providing comfort and safety. It’s about bringing happiness into their daily lives. A well-planned care home activities programme helps residents stay active, social, and fulfilled, improving both mood and wellbeing.

Whether you’re a care home activity coordinator or part of a caring team looking for new activity ideas, we’ve rounded up ten tried-and-tested favourites from our Birchall Care Home Activity Pack. Each one is simple to organise, inclusive, and designed to make residents smile.

If you’d like to learn more about how Birchall Foodservice could support your care home, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. We offer a range of extra services, including dysphagia training, waste oil collection and more.

1. Afternoon Tea with Loved Ones ☕

Nothing lifts spirits quite like a proper cuppa and a slice of cake. Hosting a Mother’s Day-style afternoon tea gives residents a chance to reconnect with family and friends in a relaxed, homely setting

Lay out a spread of finger sandwiches, scones, and mini cakes (our Country Range Mini Cake Assortment always goes down a treat). Add soft music, fresh flowers, and a few vintage teapots for that extra touch of nostalgia.

Why it works: Shared meals spark conversation, build community, and help residents feel cherished.

2. Decorating Sweet Treats 🍪

For a fun, hands-on afternoon, invite residents to decorate cupcakes or cookies using icing, sprinkles, and fondant shapes. It’s a creative outlet that encourages self-expression, and there’s no wrong way to decorate dessert! To add purpose, you could even turn it into a “Bake and Donate” session, gifting the treats to visitors or local charities.

Benefits: Boosts fine motor skills, engages the senses, and sparks fond memories of baking at home.

3. Build Your Own Pizza Night 🍕

Perfect for social evenings, build-your-own pizza is a crowd-pleaser that combines fun and food. Set up a toppings station with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and a range of colourful veggies and meats. Residents can personalise their pizzas and enjoy them fresh from the oven.

Top tip: Play some Italian music and make it a “World on a Plate” night for an immersive experience.

Why it’s great: Promotes creativity, teamwork, and sensory stimulation. Not to mention the delicious results!

4. Biscuit Jenga 🍪🧱

Who said snack time can’t be playful? Biscuit Jenga turns teatime into a gentle competition. Stack biscuits (wrapped or unwrapped) into a tower. Just try not to eat them before it falls! It’s simple, funny, and ideal for all mobility levels.

Why it works: Encourages focus, laughter, and hand-eye coordination, while making snack time extra fun.

5. Food Bingo 🖍️

Everyone loves a bit of bingo, and Food Bingo adds a delicious twist. Use food-themed bingo cards (think cheese, beans, pancakes, and pie) and call out the items for players to cross off. Offer small prizes or a sweet treat for winners.

Why it’s brilliant: Supports memory and focus, builds community, and keeps everyone engaged.

6. World on a Plate: Around the World Food Experience 🌎

Take residents on a culinary journey without leaving the lounge! Choose a country, perhaps France, Mexico, or Italy,  and bring it to life with themed meals, decorations, and music. Encourage residents to share travel memories or colour in postcards from each country. You could even add a few fun facts or photos for conversation starters.

Why it works: Cultural activities stimulate curiosity and help residents reminisce about past holidays and adventures.

7. Mocktail Party 🍓

Staying hydrated doesn’t have to be boring. Mix things up (literally) with a mocktail afternoon. Create fruity blends using juices and Monin syrups, and let residents name their own signature drinks. Serve them in fancy glasses with colourful straws and music to match the mood. It’s a mini party that encourages fluid intake and socialising.

Why it’s perfect: Promotes hydration, social interaction, and a sense of celebration.

8. Colouring and Creativity 🎨

Colouring isn’t just for kids. It’s calming, mindful, and ideal for residents living with dementia. Provide themed pages (food, flowers, or landmarks) and a mix of colouring pencils. Encourage residents to share their artwork and display it proudly around the home.

Why it helps: Reduces stress, sparks creativity, and provides a gentle way to connect through shared activity.

9. “Guess the Drink” Game 🥤

This clever hydration game from our pack is easy to set up and guaranteed to raise smiles. Pour different drinks into opaque cups or bottles and challenge residents to identify the flavours. It’s a light-hearted sensory exercise that gets everyone talking…and drinking!

Why it’s clever: Encourages hydration and stimulates memory through taste and scent recognition.

10. Intergenerational Party 🎄

Bringing generations together is pure magic. Organise an intergenerational event, such as a Christmas or summer garden party, and invite local schools or youth groups. Children can sing, perform, or craft with residents, creating shared joy and connection.

Why it matters: Fosters purpose, reduces loneliness, and strengthens community bonds.

Wrapping Up: The Power of Play and Connection

From mocktail parties to biscuit Jenga, these activities aren’t just pastimes, they’re powerful tools to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and nurture joy. As every care home activity coordinator knows, happiness thrives in moments of laughter, creativity, and connection. So whether you’re planning next week’s activity schedule or looking for quick care home activity ideas, try a few of these and watch your residents light up.

💡 Quick Planning Tip

Pair each activity with themed snacks or music. For example, serve croissants during French Day or play 60s hits during your afternoon tea. It’s the little touches that turn simple activities into treasured memories.

At Birchall Foodservice, we’re proud to support care homes across the UK with quality products and inspiration to make every day brighter. For more activity ideas, explore our full Care Home Activity Pack or contact our team. We’re here to help you deliver a better experience.