Activity ideas
Hi
I am the Activity Co-ordinator for a residential care home. We have residents with all stages of dementia and also nursing care. I plan my activities each month ahead and advertise them by posting them on the walls of the home so the resident can know what is going to be on and when. I agree it is a difficult job trying to find activities that will suit each person but I try to cater for everyone. I planned a 'War Theme' party/entertainment last November where I organised a group of singers dressed as soldiers who sang war time songs. Every resident were seated on one long table decked in red, white and blue cloths, we had an 'union jack' theme in cups and plates, buntings all around the ceiling and walls and the residents wore union jack party hats. We provided old fashioned food such as spam, cheese, soda bread, crackers etc, ginger beer, dandelion and burdock and cloudy lemonade to drink and as a souvenir I purchased replicas of a original Ration book with each of their names and date of birth on. It was a fantastic event and loved by all. At Christmas I organised a Christmas party for the residents where the staff came in fancy dress and did a 'cat walk' style for the residents to judge the best costume in the morning and the day ended in party games, dancing, raffle and lots of fun.
The day to day activities I put on include: Walks in the garden, Bingo/Quiz with prizes, gentle chair exercises, dance exercise (including the time warp) chit chat club, charades, hand massage and manicure, I spy, arts and crafts, flower arranging, indoor gardening, cookery, bringing in entertainers, "the price is right" game etc. Every 3 months I produce a resident newsletter for that season which includes historic facts, resident news, quiz and games and give them to each resident which has provided hours of entertainment. I also hold regular activity meetings for the residents.
This gives some idea on some of the things that I found that my residents love to do.
Hope this helps
Dawn
Hi
I am the Activity Co-ordinator for a residential care home. We have residents with all stages of dementia and also nursing care. I plan my activities each month ahead and advertise them by posting them on the walls of the home so the resident can know what is going to be on and when. I agree it is a difficult job trying to find activities that will suit each person but I try to cater for everyone. I planned a 'War Theme' party/entertainment last November where I organised a group of singers dressed as soldiers who sang war time songs. Every resident were seated on one long table decked in red, white and blue cloths, we had an 'union jack' theme in cups and plates, buntings all around the ceiling and walls and the residents wore union jack party hats. We provided old fashioned food such as spam, cheese, soda bread, crackers etc, ginger beer, dandelion and burdock and cloudy lemonade to drink and as a souvenir I purchased replicas of a original Ration book with each of their names and date of birth on. It was a fantastic event and loved by all. At Christmas I organised a Christmas party for the residents where the staff came in fancy dress and did a 'cat walk' style for the residents to judge the best costume in the morning and the day ended in party games, dancing, raffle and lots of fun.
The day to day activities I put on include: Walks in the garden, Bingo/Quiz with prizes, gentle chair exercises, dance exercise (including the time warp) chit chat club, charades, hand massage and manicure, I spy, arts and crafts, flower arranging, indoor gardening, cookery, bringing in entertainers, "the price is right" game etc. Every 3 months I produce a resident newsletter for that season which includes historic facts, resident news, quiz and games and give them to each resident which has provided hours of entertainment. I also hold regular activity meetings for the residents.
This gives some idea on some of the things that I found that my residents love to do.
Hope this helps
Dawn