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Send your cards to Village at Sugar Land 140 Eldridge Suite H Sugar land Texas 77478 They will make sure they get passed out and distributed to the community.

View this email in your browser In honor of diversity, I wish to introduce you to one of the world's most memorable Christmas characters, Caga Tio (pronounce Cacka-tee-oh). Caga Tio hails from Spain and carries Christmas cheer with him...that is until he poops it out on Christmas! Let me explain. Tio means uncle or log and Caga means poo. So, Caga Tio is essentially a Poo-Log! Kids in Spain begin caring for their Caga Tio December 8th (the day of the immaculate conception) by covering him with a blanket each night and feeding him orange peel and tarron. The better they take care of him and feed him, the more presents he will poop out for Christmas. The fun doesn't stop there either. On Christmas eve the children get sticks and beat Caga Tio while singing the Caga Tio song. Afterwards they run away and hide while their parents hide presents under Caga Tio's blanket. When the kids return they find what Caga Tio has pooped out for them! You just can't make this stuff up, but you can have residents make their very on Caga Tio to send to their grandchildren with a small explanation of how to care for him. How to Create Your Own Caga Tio: Find a small log and glue two twigs on the front to act as front legs. Place a red Christmas style hat (known as a Red Barretina cap) on his head and add eyes, a nose that sticks out and a beaming smile. You can add other elements if you wish, such a a pipe. In Spain, parents generally make several of them in ascending size to replace when the children are asleep to show how big Caga Tio is getting from being cared for. The better care that is taken, the bigger Caga Tio gets and the more presents he can eventually poop! Source: https://corinnabsworld.com/2017/12/christmas-catalonia-caga-tio.html https://www.barcelonayellow.com/barcelona-christmas-articles/625-caga-tio-christmas-log-tradition-and-song Many of our facilities are full of diversity, culture and various traditions important to each resident. Christmas is no different. While many cultures may utilize a Christmas tree in their celebrations, the decorations and even size of the tree itself, varies based on location. How about setting up different tress, decorated according to country, around your facility to help celebrate our diversity? If you have residents from other pats of the world, enlist their help in setting up the tee that represents their country. This is a beautiful way to help bring residents and staff together at a time when we all desperately need one another for a little moral support. Below is a summary of Christmas Tree protocol from around the world. Click the button below the article to read the full article. Mexico In most Mexican homes the principal holiday adornment is el Nacimiento (Nativity scene). However, a decorated Christmas tree may be incorporated in the Nacimiento or set up elsewhere in the home. As purchase of a natural pine represents a luxury commodity to most Mexican families, the typical arbolito (little tree) is often an artificial one, a bare branch cut from a copal tree (Bursera microphylla) or some type of shrub collected from the countryside. Greenland Christmas trees are imported, as no trees live this far north. They are decorated with candles and bright ornaments. Brazil Although Christmas falls during the summer in Brazil, sometimes pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton that represent falling snow. Sweden Evergreen trees are decorated with stars, sunbursts, and snowflakes made from straw. Other decorations include colorful wooden animals and straw centerpieces. Norway When Christmas Eve arrives, there is the decorating of the tree, usually done by the parents behind the closed doors of the living room, while the children wait with excitement outside. A Norwegian ritual known as “circling the Christmas tree” follows, where everyone joins hands to form a ring around the tree and then walk around it singing carols. Afterwards, gifts are distributed. Spain A popular Christmas custom is Catalonia, a lucky strike game. A tree trunk is filled with goodies and children hit at the trunk trying to knock out the hazel nuts, almonds, toffee, and other treats. Italy In Italy, the presepio (manger or crib) represents in miniature the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families. Guests kneel before it and musicians sing before it. The presepio figures are usually hand-carved and very detailed in features and dress. The scene is often set out in the shape of a triangle. It provides the base of a pyramid-like structure called the ceppo. This is a wooden frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet high. Several tiers of thin shelves are supported by this frame. It is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones, and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star or small doll is hung at the apex of the triangular sides. The shelves above the manger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy, and presents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light tradition which became the Christmas tree in other countries. Some houses even have a ceppo for each child in the family. Germany Many Christmas traditions practiced around the world today started in Germany...legend says that in the early 16th century, people in Germany combined two customs that had been practiced in different countries around the globe. The Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Christmas Light, a small, pyramid-like frame, usually decorated with glass balls, tinsel and a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the World. Changing the tree’s apples to tinsel balls and cookies and combining this new tree with the light placed on top, the Germans created the tree that many of us know today. Modern Tannenbaum (Christmas trees) are traditionally decorated in secret with lights, tinsel and ornaments by parents and then lit and revealed on Christmas Eve with cookies, nuts and gifts under its branches. South Africa Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Although Christmas trees are not common, windows are often draped with sparkling cotton wool and tinsel. Saudi Arabia Christian Americans, Europeans, Indians, Filipinos, and others living here have to celebrate Christmas privately in their homes. Christmas lights are generally not tolerated. Most families place their Christmas trees somewhere inconspicuous. Philippines Fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, so handmade trees in an array of colors and sizes are often used. Star lanterns, or parol, appear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane, and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the Star of Bethlehem. China Of the small percentage of Chinese who do celebrate Christmas, most erect artificial trees decorated with spangles and paper chains, flowers, and lanterns. Christmas trees are called “trees of light.” Japan For most of the Japanese who celebrate Christmas, it’s purely a secular holiday devoted to the love of their children. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, and wind chimes. Miniature candles are also put among the tree branches. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children have exchanged thousands of folded paper “birds of peace” with young people all over the world as a pledge that war must not happen again. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees Read Full Article The Chocolate Salami is a Christmas staple in Italy. Don't be fooled by the name, though. There is no meat in this recipe! Chocolate Dessert Salami By: The Food Network Yield:6-8 Servings Ingredients 1/2 cup slivered almonds (2 1/2 ounces) 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (2 1/2 ounces) Two 5 inch long plain biscotti, coarsely crushed 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature One 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips, such as Ghirardelli 1/4 cup brewed coffee 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (about 1/2 medium orange) 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar Directions Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds, walnuts and crushed biscotti in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are lightly toasted, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof medium bowl and place the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, about 6 minutes. Stir in the coffee until smooth. Add the almonds, walnuts, biscotti pieces and orange zest, and stir until combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until firm but moldable, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Divide the chocolate mixture in half. Place half of the mixture in the center of an 18-inch-long piece of plastic wrap. Using a spatula, form the mixture into a log, about 7 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Roll up the log in the plastic and twist the ends to seal. Roll back and forth on a work surface a few times to make the log evenly round. Repeat with the remaining chocolate mixture. Refrigerate the logs until firm, about 1 hour. Spread the confectioners' sugar on a dinner plate. Remove the plastic wrap from the logs, then roll them in the sugar until coated. Using a pastry brush, brush away the excess sugar. Let the logs sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve. Cook's Note: The dessert can be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature for 25 minutes before slicing. Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chocolate-dessert-salami-recipe-2107416 Noma Lights Ad Circa 1940 Enroll Now! NAPT Certification Classes start December 1st Visit ActivityDirector.org to Enroll! Over 310 New AD's This Year! ENROLL NOW! Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

Celebrate Christmas Card Day December 9th This is the day to get all those Christmas cards sent off into the world to spread good cheer! You may need to host an activity prior to this to make sure each resident has Christmas cards to send or help them get their cards ordered or purchased. Spend December 9th helping residents fill out, address and mail off their cards. Play Christmas carols, serve a warm festive beverage and Christmas treats, and make a day of it! 48-Pack Christmas Card Bulk Box Set – Holiday Greeting Cards in 6 Cozy Christmas Season’s Greetings Designs with Kraft Envelopes, 4 x 6 Inches Amazon $11.99 Celebrate National Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 16th Time to load up your cart with the good stuff! Everyone loves chocolate, so why not have a little fun with it? On National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, you can create a cart with many food items dipped in chocolate. This works perfectly for food items that you may already have on hand. Below is list of possibilities. Pick what makes the most sense for you, your residents, your budget and your setup. Be sure you serve some milk on the side! Chocolate Covered Possibilities: Peanut Butter Crackers Nutter Butters Oreos Apple Wedges Sweet Potato Chips Strawberries Banana Slice Nuts Churros Pretzels Popcorn Candied Fruit Waffles Variations*: If you have adventurous residents, you may want to create a cart full of unusual chocolate covered food items from around the world. Check out the paraphrased article below for some wacky ideas. 20 Most Unusual Chocolate-Covered Foods From Around The World By Joey Haverford Aug 09, 2018 Source: TheTravel.Com 20. Squid- Chocolate and salty seafood is a tough sell, but it sells just the same! 19. Worms- Served in quite a few places around the world. 18. Onions- Served in Philadelphia candy shops. 17. Slim Jims- This has a small following, mostly limited to Slim Jim aficionados. 16. Lemons- Cherries and strawberries are among the most popular chocolate covered foods int eh world. Lemon is considered one of the most bizarre fruits to dip. 15. Cheerios- One of the tastier options on the list. 14. Chickpeas- This chocolate covered healthy snack is fast becoming more and more popular around the world. 13. Seaweed- This is sold in Korea, but isn't very popular other places. 12. Mushrooms- Created by Justin Cournoyer, a Toronto chef. 11. Bacon- Chocolate covered bacon is one of the top unique food items offered. 10. Carrots- Carrots are on the sweeter side, making them a better fit than most other veggies. 9. Scorpions- Multiple places all over the world serves these as an unusual snack. 8. Edamame- This snack is growing in popularity among healthy eaters. 7. Pickles- Typically on a stick while dipped into chocolate and covered with sprinkles. 6. Potato Chips- Seems like a snack food match made in heaven. 5. Crickets- Believed to be a great source of protein more sustainable than beef or pork. Like scorpions, these are eaten around the world. 4. Broccoli- Broccoli is often being coated in things to make it tastier. Chocolate is one of the wildest ideas out there for it. 3. Cheetos- May not be a huge hit, but recipes are out there for the creative food types. 2. Jalapenos- A combination of a super spicy item and a super sweet item could lead to a horrible result. Proceed with cation. 1. Corn dogs- Likely invented at a carnival or fair. Read Full Article Borden's Egg Nog Ad Circa December 28th, 1954 Celebrate National Egg Nog Day December 24th Enroll Now! ENROLL NOW! Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

View this email in your browser There is a good chance that your facility will be hosting a very different Thanksgiving this year. Perhaps visitation is completely out the window all together. This means your residents are going to be feeling incredibly lonely this year. We all are, really. By now, we are all pretty well versed in utilizing online video conferencing platforms to reach out and make connections and Thanksgiving is likely going to test your endurance if this is the only means of connecting your residents with their families. If Zoom Thanksgiving is on your schedule this year, I have found some tips that you can provide to your resident's families to help make the idea of a virtual meal less intimidating and more exciting and structured. A couple of tips from ConnecticutChildrens.Org are, "Try a new twist on a pot luck. Since you’ll all be dining as separate households, a traditional pot luck is out the window. But you can still ask every person to “bring” something to contribute – like a brief toast or favorite family photo to share virtually... Try a gratitude bowl. Have all the households in your extended family start this process a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Each day, each person writes something they’re grateful for on a slip of paper and adds it to their household bowl. During your Thanksgiving virtual event, take turns reading aloud." This adds some tradition to the meal and helps keep things flowing. Aside from the conversation topics, the experience can be tied together using shared visceral experiences. Real Simple suggests, "Coordinate your menus- Work with the hosts of each household to plan at least a few similar dishes on each family’s menu, so you can all enjoy the same appetizers, your family’s secret stuffing recipe, or a slice of apple pie for dessert. Try to coordinate the same dinnertime, so you can “sit down” to dinner together... Create a decorating scheme- Look for ways to make it feel like you’re all in the same space. Order the same flowers from sites like The Bouqs Co. or UrbanStems so you can all enjoy the same centerpiece. If you really want to get matchy-matchy, you can rent the same table settings from sites like Social Studies, which rent out fun tablescapes (including napkins and centerpieces)—you simply return them the day after your party (so you’ll have less clean-up, too)." While it may not be feasible for most all of us to order fancy flower or plate settings, I love the idea of having the resident’s family members drop off a special family dish that all members will be eating as well. A plate setting from the family collection might be able to be provided. Perhaps everyone could swap pictures of their settings to see who took it to the next level. This will give everyone the extra motivation needed to decorate with the same pizazz for a table of four as they did previously for a table of 25. A good way to wrap up the festivities comes by way of a suggestion from OprahMag.Com, "Organize an ornament exchange.- When Santa's sleigh appears at the end of the Macy's Parade, the festive holiday season officially begins. For those who celebrate Christmas, invite each Thanksgiving guest to bring an ornament to exchange to kick-off the holidays and keep the joy going through December." Plan ahead and stay in close communication with staff members, residents and family members. It is going to take a substantial amount of extra work on your part to make this holiday season as special as it can be. Reach out for help. Family members are sitting at home, ready and willing to pitch in however they can. Thank you for all of your hard work making the lives of those you serve special. What you do matters very, very much. https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/coronavirus/8-ways-to-celebrate-a-virtual-thanksgiving-during-covid-19/ https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/thanksgiving/how-to-host-thanksgiving-during-coronavirus https://www.oprahmag.com/life/g29343132/thanksgiving-traditions/?slide=8 Some would argue that pit is the perfect Thanksgiving food and I would be hard pressed to throw up much of an argument. Pie is consumed on Thanksgiving like cake at parties. The Thanksgiving table can often be seen decorated with decadent chocolate, banana, and coconut cream pies, traditional chess and buttermilk pies, all centered around the classic pecan and pumpkin pies. The good news about this, is that you can create a Pie Cart that looks as fancy as a window in a Parisian bakery with relative ease. The secret is the presentation. Visit your local grocery store and purchase as many pies as you think you will need to serve your residents. I recommend buying a a small circular cut out and and stamping out as many circular pie portion as you can get per pie. This will allow you to fit a sampling of pies on a smaller plate for your residents, while also stretching how far your pie goes and setting it up for the toppings that will make it reminiscent of homemade. How to Make Store-Bought Pies Better 10 Ways to Jazz Up Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Pecan Pie and More Written by Stephanie Gallagher Source: The Spruce Eats Have to make a pie for a holiday or special occasion and don't have time? No problem. Here's how to take a store-bought pie and doctor it up to make it look and taste homemade. Start with a good-quality store-bought pie. Even supermarket bakeries have great pies these days. Try to look for one that doesn't have a frozen crust. That too-perfect, cookie-cutter imprinted crimping is a dead giveaway that the pie isn't homemade. Then, all you have to do is get creative with toppings. Maple Whipped Cream This topping is perfect for pumpkin pies and apple pies, but also works with any kind of spiced dessert. Pour 2 cups of cold heavy cream into a chilled glass or stainless steel bowl (it has to be heavy cream; half and half or light cream won't have enough fat in it to whip properly). Beat with an electric mixer or wire whisk until it is almost the consistency of whipped cream. Add 1/4 cup maple syrup. Continue beating until the mixture becomes the consistency of whipped cream. Spoon over the pie and dust with ground cinnamon. Cinnamon Spice Whipped Cream Stir 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves into store-bought whipped cream. Spoon over pumpkin pie, apple pie or pecan pie. Caramel Sauce Drizzle a good-quality store-bought caramel sauce over apple pie. Chocolate Sauce Drizzle store-bought or homemade chocolate sauce over pumpkin pie, pecan pie or apple pie. Candied Pecans Sprinkle candied pecans over apple pie or pumpkin pie. Toasted Caramel Walnuts Spread 1 cup of chopped walnuts onto a jellyroll pan or a cookie sheet that has sides. Toast in a 350-degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring several times, until golden brown. Watch the nuts carefully! They can burn easily. Bring 1 cup of pure maple syrup to boil over medium heat. Let the syrup boil for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter, 1/3 cup cream, the walnuts, and 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Coconut-Pecan Topping Mix 6 tablespoons melted butter with 1/4 cup firmly-packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 2/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut and 1/4 cup half-and-half. Sprinkle over pumpkin or chocolate pie and broil for 3 minutes until golden. Sour Cream Topping Whisk together 1 1/2 cups sour cream and 2 tablespoons sugar until smooth. Spoon over pumpkin pie, and bake for 5 minutes at 350 F. Chocolate Cookie Topping Spread store-bought or homemade whipped cream over pumpkin pie, pecan pie or chocolate pudding pie. Sprinkle with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies. Chopped Peanuts and Caramel Sauce Stir 2 tablespoons chopped salted peanuts into 1 cup store-bought caramel sauce. Spoon over apple pie or pumpkin pie. https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-ways-to-doctor-up-store-bought-pies-2098510 The following is a form for your residents to fill out prior to Thanksgiving so that it can be shared with their family members. This helps keep your resident and their lives intertwined with the lives of their descendants. Family member's could also use the responses as clues to help them make this year more special for them. All members could even fill out this questionnaire and the answers could be discussed over Zoom or copies could be mailed. Incorporating smaller traditions and activities will help fill all the gaps created by the quarantine. This Thanksgiving may not be the same as before,but it can still be a memorable one. Print Form Vintage Westclox Ad Circa Thanksgiving 1942 ENROLL NOW! Enroll Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 7735

Top 5 Stress Relief Games in 2020 Posted by Yana Yelina | Apr 15, 2020 Source: Mental Health Matters You certainly feel stressed from time to time: negative emotions and fatigue quite often come while you’re at work, and it seems really difficult to get rid of them, distract, and relax a little bit. To provide some examples, 80% of workers are stressed while managing their daily activities (especially those in the USA and China), and almost half admits they need aid in reducing stress and anxiety. Beyond that, according to the statistics, 75% of adults encounter moderate or high levels of stress during few months, with 1 out of 75 persons experiencing panic disorder. Stress is also a top health concern for US and Australian teens. There are several ways to cope with stress from reading a book to yoga. This article explains how you can use stress relief games to help manage your stress. 1. Bubble Wrap Bubble Wrap is a great game for reducing stress. Bubble wrap popping beloved by many people is now available virtually. Just press the bubbles with fingers and make them explode, thus, getting rid of destructive emotions. This free mobile app is also a time killer: you can play it while waiting in a queue or during a long and tiring trip. There’s an option to pop bubbles as long as you desire, or opt for a mini-game (Blitz Pop: the number of bubbles popped within a minute; Pop 500: the speed at which you pop 500 bubbles; Pop All: how fast you’ll be able to pop the whole sheet that includes 2,000 bubbles). The app offers a range of colors, pleasant sounds and allows users to change the bubble size. 2. Color Break Color Break grants a marvelous opportunity to relax and make fun. Try digital painting using your fingertips or stylus and relish an amazing variety of patterns. This app will help to encourage your creativity and forget about a tough day. This stress reliever game boasts an unlimited number of colors and lets users share finished works with friends via emails. This is a great “quiet” game that you can play at work without drawing too much attention your way! 3. Personal Zen Personal Zen is another game for handling stress and anxiety. The app was created with the assistance of neuroscientists, and it’s clinically proven to help people to battle painful emotions and exercise the brain for better wellness. Researchers say it is a bright idea to play Personal Zen a couple of times a week for about 5-10 minutes. However, the longer you play, the better influence on your well-being you experience. Furthermore, the game trains your brain so that you can concentrate on positive things in your life and throw away negatives. Just accurately follow the path of a friendly sprite on the screen without allowing the evil one to distract you. Mediavine 4. Paper Toss Paper Toss is a nice app to use during a break at work. Whenever you feel exhausted and need to relax, take a crumpled piece of paper to make it in a trash basket on your mobile phone. The game offers an automatic count of balls that reached the target, 7 levels of difficulty, stunning graphics, great flick control, natural sounds at the office with comments from angry co-workers, varying speed of the paper flight, and more. So, feel free to have a short break and rest with the Paper Toss app. 5. Relaxing Puzzler Relaxing Puzzler represents a meditative puzzle game with which you’ll be able to take your time and have a rest. Hypnotic soundtracks by Winterpark will give you an opportunity to meditate and reach the state of serenity without noticing the change. The app, inspired by meditative art styles, is easy to use: you just guide the energy by moving rocks around the mystic garden and relax to the full. Read Full Article This pandemic has been incredibly hard for our world. It hit like a ton of bricks and has lasted a great deal of time. It may even seem to most of us that it will never end. The truth is, our world has survived many events that were similar in a lot of ways. In this case, the 1918 Pandemic parallels the struggles that we are facing now. Thankfully, we have made great advancements in our knowledge, skill and understanding and that offers us some relief and tools that were not present in 1918. However, the fear, emotion and disbelief were the same for the people experiencing these events as they are for us. We are never alone in our experiences the way we tend to sometimes feel. The NY Times gathered some excerpts from survivors of the 1918 Pandemic and their insights and thoughts echo much of what can be heard today during this Covid 19 Pandemic. While it is devastating to endure, perhaps we can take heart in the fact that others have gone before us and have come out the other side. Things are ever changing and while this may feel permanent, it will eventually morph into something different. Things will eventfully settle and security will return one day. Below are some of the excerpts from the NY TImes article for you to read and even share with your residents. The full article is linked below it. Memories of the 1918 Pandemic From Those Who Survived Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/spanish-flu-oral-history.html Nearly everyone who survived the 1918 flu pandemic, which claimed at least half a million American lives, has since died. But their memories, preserved in oral history interviews, shed light on its indelible impact. Bustling major cities and rural towns were brought to their knees, as transportation, law enforcement, commerce and civic life were wiped out. On the scale of death “They were stacked up in the cemetery and they couldn’t bury them. I was living on 31st Street. then. And that was a two-way street then, you know, and it’s one-way now. But people that died over this way had to be buried over this way and they used to have a funeral procession coming this way. And they used to be crossing. You had, they had to come to this bridge, coming one way or the other. And people would be there. And I would be laying in there and I says, I looked out the window and says, ‘There are two funeral processions. One going one way and one going the other way meeting like that.’ And that’s the way it was. There wasn’t a lot of comforts in those days. But it didn’t worry me. I was taking care of myself. What I mean, I wasn’t thinking about it. I wasn’t knowing whether I was going to die or what. I was just figuring it’s got me, and everything else is going on.” — Clifford Adams, Philadelphia, 1984 On fear of the contagion “That was the roughest time ever. Like I say, people would come up and look in your window and holler and see if you was still alive, is about all. They wouldn’t come in.” — Glenn Holler, Conover, N.C., 1980 On the human cost “They were dying — many families losing one or more in their family. It was getting so bad, the deaths, they even, they had to use wagons drawn by two horses to carry people to the grave. I remember seeing them past the house, seems like to me now it was every day. … At that time, when the phone would ring, when my mother or my father wanted to listen in, and they would turn to us, and they would name the person they just heard had died. It was night and day that you would hear about these people dying. My father never got the flu but he would go to town and buy groceries for the neighbors and take it to the front porch. And we didn’t get the flu at all in our family, but it was terrible.” — Robert McKinney Martin Jr., 1996 Read Full Article You are what you eat. Scientists have fast been connecting nutritional intake and food sensitivities with mental illnesses and behavioral issues. There is no way around it, what you fuel your body with needs to be clean and recognized as real food. This is especially important during times of great stress or when a strong immune system is pertinent. If stress is not managed, it may wreck havoc on your health down the road in the form of physical symptoms. According to Eating Well, there are a several foods you should consider throwing into your diet, and perhaps your food cart, that can specifically help with stress relief. 7 Foods for Stress Relief Source: Eating Well Stress can take a toll on your body’s natural defenses, but eating the right foods can offer relief. 1. Snack on Nuts 2. Add in Red Peppers 3. Serve Salmon Twice a Week 4. Bust Out the Spinach 5. Fill Up on Oatmeal 6. Indulge in Dark Chocolate 7. Sip Tea Read Full Article Activity Starter Create a Tea Cart with a variety of stress relieving teas and some dark chocolate. Pick approximately 3 different tea types and provide disposable cups, hot water, honey and lemon slices. Some good stress relieving teas are: Chamomile Lavender Peppermint *Kava (*this one has one of the strongest sedative effects.) Passionflower The Stress Diet This diet is designed to help you cope with the stress that builds during the day. Breakfast ½ grapefruit 1 slice whole wheat toast (dry) 8 oz. skim milk Lunch 4 oz. lean broiled chicken breast 1 c. steamed spinach 1 c. herb tea 1 Oreo cookie Mid-afternoon snack Rest of Oreos in the package 2 pints Rocky Road ice cream 1 jar hot fudge sauce Nuts, cherries, whipped cream Dinner 2 loaves Garlic Bread with cheese Large deluxe pizza 1 large pitcher of Beer 3 Milky Way candy bars Late evening snack Entire frozen cheesecake (eaten from freezer) Rules for this Diet: If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy are cancelled out by the diet soda When you eat with someone else, calories don’t count, if you don’t eat more than they do. Food used for medicinal purposes never count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and cheesecake. If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner. Movie-related foods, such as Milk Duds, buttered popcorn, Junior mints, Red Hots, and Tootsie Rolls, do not have additional calories because they are part of the entire entertainment package and are not part of one’s personal fuel. Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breakage causes calorie leakage. Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something. Foods that are the same color have the same number of calories, Examples: spinach and pistachio ice cream; mushrooms and white chocolate. Note: chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color. - Author Unknown Courtesy of: Allison Bennett, AD-TXC Enroll Now Over 90 Graduates last Month - NAAPCC.net "The Most Trusted Credentialing Body in the Industry." Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

The Introduction- Meeting Your Resident There is a skill in the art of introducing oneself and every healthcare professional must possess well practiced expertise in this area. The very essence of successful wellness care relies on this ability. This first meet and greet frequently establishes the baseline from which “trust” is built and that’s a seriously powerful tool for those wishing to care for others. You will find yourself doing this introduction repeatedly throughout your workday, and this one action will either hamper your relationship with those you serve or greatly lead to open and trusting exchange. Here are a few reminders about how to introduce yourself to your resident. Use your first and last name. You may wear a name badge to help participants remember your name until they become familiar with you. Even if your resident has short-term-memory issues, he/she will understand and appreciate this small formality. Call your resident by Mr./Mrs. and their last name as well. Those wishing you to use their first names or last name only will tell you so or may announce a preferred nickname. Endearing terms are NOT permissible. Avoid using terms like “sweetie” or “dear” remind yourself that these are very grown up adults; such terms are offensive and patronizing. Use a relaxed and friendly tone of voice. This will help establish a relaxed conversation. In addition, a relaxed tone will also serve to increase the residents’ confidence in your abilities. Keep the volume of your voice at a regular level unless it becomes evident that he/she is having difficulty hearing you. Remember that your “body language” will say more than words. Body language is the physical clue that we use often without thinking. Some examples of positive body language are smiling, a touch, nodding and making eye contact with the person who is talking. Examples of body language that express displeasure are frowning, raising an eyebrow and folding our arms over our chest. Body language should match what you are saying. Even people with severe memory problems who have difficulty understanding what you say, can still “read” your body language. Establish eye contact. This means looking at the person to whom you are talking. Eye contact tells the other person you are listening and that you mean what you are saying. Directly face the resident when you speak and get to his/her level (if they are sitting, sit down next to them). Keep in mind, however, and respect different cultural backgrounds and the possibility that they may interpret direct eye contact differently. It can be viewed as confrontational or authoritative posture – know this about your resident. Many older people have difficulty hearing and unconsciously rely on “lip-reading” to understand what others are saying. Never shout; it raises the pitch of your voice. Many older people lose the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. That is why many older people tell you they can understand a man’s voice better than a woman’s voice. Listening is extremely important. It is often more important to “zip your lip” and focus on what the other person is trying to tell you than it is to speak. It takes older people longer to react than the younger ones. Give older people plenty of time to respond to your questions/comments, never make them feel that time is of the essence. Communication is important in all interactions and it is the bridge to successfully learning the wants and needs of your resident. From introductions to day-to-day communication, you will establish a trusting relationship with each resident that forms mutual respect that dissipates the residents’ hesitation and opens the door for you to become his/her champion. Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org Enroll Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

View this email in your browser Halloween, like the rest of the year, is going to be a bit different than usual. As an Activity Director, you are use to making the best of things and this Halloween is no exception. Halloween is known for its mask wearing vibes and it feeds right into our mask wearing quarantine restrictions. Creative shops everywhere are churning out fun and festive masks perfect for Halloween. Just add some eye makeup and your costume is done. You could even take your regular cloth masks and add fun appliques to wear leading up to the big day. Consider having a Halloween mask decorating contest and see who can come up with the most creative mask! Below are some examples to get your wheels turning. Don't forget to decorate some masks for your pumpkin friends! This is a simple activity that all your residents can participate in while adhering to quarantine guidelines. You could even take it room to room for the residents that are unable to leave their rooms. Consider creating two of them.One for staff members and one for your residents. Fill it with all your favorite Halloween treats and provide slips for participants to write their guess on and collect them all in a collection box. Place the candy filled jar out one week prior to Halloween to give everyone a chance to guess. On Halloween, announce the winner! Note: Be sure and have extras in case there are multiple correct guesses. Now comes the fun part! Your Halloween Food Cart! Sure, you could fill it with beautiful jars of colorful candy and cute little cupcake that look like baby pumpkins. Or.... you could get a little dirty this year! Why not load your cart with some super creepy, extra weird, not sure if I can eat that kind of stuff? It will certainly have your whole facility buzzing about it and sneaking over to take a peek. Check out some of the "gross" options below. I tried to pick some simple ones so that you can have as many options as possible on your cart. Share your creations on Facebook! Circa 1960 Curtiss Candy Company Enroll Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

Celebrate National Candy Corn Day on October 30th! Hedgehog Pumpkins Source: Better Homes and Garden Chocolate candy corn glued around a cute felt face creates an adorable hedgehog pumpkin! These easy no-carve pumpkins come alive in a snap. We'll show you how to perfectly frame the face and keep the candy spaced evenly to form the cutest pumpkin creature. Supplies Needed Faux pumpkin Chocolate candy corn Felt in pink, gray, and burgundy Painters tape Scissors Hot-glue gun and sticks Click button below for full directions! Hedgehog Pumpkins Observe World Mental Heath Day on October 10th Sometimes it can be easier to see what is physically ailing someone more easily then what may be mentally ailing them. This is especially true within our elderly population as they have likely mastered hiding certain aspects of it and symptoms of mental imbalance can often be attributed to ageing in general. The added barrier is that our residents come from a generation that was likely not comfortable expressing mental concerns as their generation tends to see them as weaknesses. In order to overcome this, it needs to be openly discussed and embraced. Your residents need to know that these issues are common and they do not have to just suffer through them. Help them to feel that it is okay to work on their mental health and to reach out if they they need more help. Below is a free, downloadable Daily Mood Tracker from Rose-Minded.Com. Visit the link to see their 7 different tracker styles and print out the one you like the best for your residents. Have those that are interested take the time to fill it out and discuss some of their answers if they feel comfortable doing so. It is incredibly important to help them practice taking steps to manage their mental health and self care needs. This will not only improve their quality of life, but it could also help them to extend it. Daily Mood Tracker Worksheet Celebrate International Day of the Nacho on October 21st! Crockpot Nacho Cheese Dip Source: PrincessPinkyGirl.Com Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 4 hours Servings: 8 Ingredients 1 green pepper (chopped) 1 bunch scallions (tops only, chopped) 1 10.5 oz can cream of celery soup 1 15.5 oz jar mild salsa 1 16 oz box Velveeta cheese 1 lb ground hamburger Click the button below for the full recipe! Get Full Recipe HERE Circa 1952 Woman's Home Companion Magazine Enroll Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351 Want to change how you receive these emails?

The time we have all been waiting for has finally arrived…..I Love Lucy Day is near. October 15th is a time for Lucy lovers everywhere to come together and show their appreciation for the original queen of comedy, the glass ceiling shattering, the studio owning, the great, the one and the only Lucille Ball! This Activity Corner is dedicated to all things Lucy. Prepare events to accompany an I Love Lucy Watch-A-Thon at your facility. Each activity suggestion can be incorporated throughout the day. If you really wanted to sell it, you could wear a Lucy costume. It will be Halloween time after all. 1" Bottlecap Template Printable Crossword Theme Music Which of your residents are Lucy’s #1 Fan? Many of us have seen the episodes so many times we could recite the script word for word. couldn’t we? Below is the actual script from Season 1, Episode 1 - The Girls Want to Go to the Nightclub. You use this script in a couple of ways. You can either print it out and mark out some of the lines and hand copies out to your residents. Allow them time to fill in what lines they think are missing. The one with the most correct/closest answers wins! Or you could re-enact a scene over the loudspeaker radio show style, in honor of I Love Lucy’s roots. Below is the beginning of the script. Click the button below to see the full script. (I Love Lucy theme music plays) (theme song ending) Here, you missed something on this one. That's the design. It is? Sure, can't you see? Flowers against a background of...gravy. I've been meaning to talk to you about Monday night. We want you and Ricky to help us celebrate. It's our wedding anniversary. Oh, yours and Fred's? No, me and Gregory Peck. We've been married for 18 years and I vowed that at least once before I died, Fred was going to take me to a nightclub on our wedding anniversary. Well, that sounds reasonable. Now, this is my plan. We'll go in there and I'll say: "I know what let's do next Monday night. Let's go to a nightclub." And you second the motion. Then Ricky will bound to his feet and say "That's great." Then Fred will have to take me because if... Ricky bounds to his feet and says, "That's great"? Right. Wrong. Ricky hates nightclubs. But he works in one. Your life should be just one gay round of nightclubs. Yeah, that's what I thought when I married a bandleader, but ever since we said "I do", there are so many things we don't. Full Script Fill your cart up with Cuban specialties in honor of the main fella in Lucy’s life, Ricky Ricardo. These appetizers are simple and easy to serve in disposable containers. Serve along with Mariquitas, plantain chips, a Cuban tradition. Cuban Sandwich On A Stick Appetizer Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 24 Author: Katie Crenshaw Ingredients 6 slices of ham 24 swiss cheese cubes 24 mini dill pickles or cornichons 2 tbs whole grain mustard 24 to toothpicks Get Full Recipe HERE Circa 1950's Second Honeymoon Enroll Now Over a 100 Students graduating this session. Come Join In., It Starts Tomorrow. NAPT Activity Training Course for NAAPCC National Association of Activity Professionals Credentialing Center is the Most Highly Respected Certifying Body in the United States. Members in Good Standing with the NCCA "National Commission for Certifying Agencies" since 2011 View the requirements , NAAPCC Certification Standards Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Tool for Nursing Homes Preparing for COVID-19 There is never an issue of too much information or repeated redundancy of information when it comes to the current pandemic [COVID-19]. Take a moment to review these CDC overview guidance published May 8, 2020. CDC provides the much needed up to date research and educational materials on the topic – visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/assessment-tool-for-nursing-homes.html CDC’s COVID-19 Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) tool was developed to help nursing homes prepare for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can take steps to assess and improve their preparedness for responding to COVID-19. This ICAR tool should be used as one tool to develop a comprehensive COVID-19 response plan. This tool may also contain content relevant for assisted living facilities. Health departments can use this tool to assess infection prevention practices and guide quality improvement activities (e.g., by addressing identified gaps). This tool may be used for remote (e.g., by telephone or video chat) or onsite assessment. This tool may also be used by healthcare facilities to conduct internal quality improvement audits. ICAR Items assessed in the ICAR support the key strategies of: Keeping COVID-19 out of the facility Identifying infections as early as possible Preventing spread of COVID-19 in the facility Assessing and optimizing personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies Identifying and managing severe illness in residents with COVID-19 Areas assessed in the ICAR include: Visitor restriction (HCP)[ 1 ]Education, monitoring, and screening of healthcare personnel Education, monitoring, and screening of residents Ensuring availability of PPE and other supplies Ensuring adherence to recommended infection prevention and control (IPC) practices Communicating with the health department and other healthcare facilities Health care personnel (HCP) are defined as paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. The following link takes you to CDC published guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Tool. This is an infection control assessment and response tool (ICAR) that can be used to help nursing homes prepare for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This tool may also contain content relevant for assisted living facilities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/hcp/assessment-tool-nursing-homes.pdf We wish to thank you for caring for our elderly population and for unselfishly dedicating yourself as essential personnel on the front lines each and every day, particularly during today’s current challenges - you are truly making a “world” of difference. . . With heartfelt gratitude from all those you serve and their loved ones! Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org This course will provide the Activity Director with the reasons that fostering inter-generational relationships are so beneficial for both younger and older populations. At one time families lived close to one another and developed deep relationships. In this course I will provide background on family traditions and help you to understand the importance of keeping younger and older people connected. Spending time with each other, being involved with each other’s activities, and showing love for one another gives each group a reason to live more fulfilling lives. Small children bring joy and delight to the elderly just by being in their presence. When teens and young adults listen to and appreciate the elderly reminiscing about life experiences it gives the elderly a feeling of significance. Many examples of existing intergenerational programs, ideas for group activities, 1-to-1 activities including family history discussion questions, arts and crafts projects, and educational activities are included in this course. Just remember we walk along the path of life together and that is what we want our younger and older population to do. Workshop Objectives: Upon completion the student will understand how intergenerational relationships benefit both young and old. The student will understand the importance of implementing programming that creates social connections between residents and children, teens, and young adults through activities. Upon completion the student will have many new ideas that will inspire them to start their own intergenerational program in their facility or in the community. The student will have a variety of activities, projects, and educational materials that may be incorporated directly into their activity programming. Workshop Content: Family Traditions of the Past Where We are Today Preschools within Nursing Homes Intergenerational Programs for Nursing Homes Intergenerational Programs in the Community Group Activities 1-to-1 Activities Arts and Crafts Projects Educational Activities Resources ENROLL Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

Click on the word Community on the black bar above and then on Downloads, there are forms in the download area that might help. There are a couple of participation forms.

Stamped Clay Bowls Source: Gathering Beauty Materials Air Dry Clay Selection of Stamps or anything else you could use to make an impression Ink Pad Set of Small Bowls Rolling Pin Craft Knife Sandpaper Directions 1. Take your air dry clay and knead until soft. Roll your clay out to about 3mm thick. 2. Ink up your stamp and press firmly onto the clay. Repeat until you have covered the clay with your stamped design.... Full Directions HERE Our imaginations are colored with our own experiences, visions and thoughts. When something is verbally descried, there could be a myriad of different pictures that pop into each individual's mindscape. Wouldn't' it be interesting to see how we all mentally interpret the same thing, but in different ways? This activity allows you to do just that! Complete this activity with your residents and then create a display to help symbolize the importance of individuality and perception. The Eye of the Beholder Materials Paper Paint/Colored Pencils Miscellaneous Art Supplies (see below) Directions Type up a description of something. For example: Their is an older man sitting and waiting for his grandchildren to come visit him. Hand this written description to participants and ask them to interpret it through art in some way. They could do a collage, an abstract, a painting, sketch, a musical piece, a sculpture, etc. Whatever they are inspired to create based on this description. Create a display with the written description in the center and post the artwork around it. Title the display "The Eye of the Beholder". You could have others vote on them if you like and include the winners in your newsletter. Under the Sea Graham Crackers Source: The First Year Blog Total Time: 20 minutes https://thefirstyearblog.com/under-the-sea-graham-crackers/ Ingredients Graham crackers Graham cracker crumbs, in bowl Gold fish crackers White ball sprinkles Green and red long sprinkles, or jimmies Round red sprinkles Blue buttercream 1 stick of butter, room temperature 1/2 cup vegetable shortening (can use butter instead) 2 cups powdered sugar teal or blue food coloring Get Full Recipe HERE Circa 1950's How much did you pay for your swimsuit? Enroll Now Over a 100 Graduates this session, Be a Nationally Certified Activity Director with NAAPCC . The Healthcare Front Lines need qualified personnel , the faster we get the work done, the faster we can get back to work! Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

https://nccdp.org/magazine/2020/summer/ The ICCDP / NCCDP Dementia / Memory Care Professionals Summer 2020 new is available to read online. The "Best Activity Cart on the Net Contest" winner is revealed! Activity Directors Network will soon be offering the NCCDP Certification Course taught by M. Celeste Chase AC-Edu-BC, ACC, CDP, CMDCP

Why ADLs and IADLs Matter These terms stand for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). They represent key life tasks that people need to manage, in order to live at home and be fully independent. Accurate assessment of the individuals “ADLs or IADLs” functionality are in great part essential information to planning facility programs that meet the needs of the resident population served. Difficulties with ADLs and IADLs often correspond to how much help, supervision, and hands-on care an older person needs. This can determine the cost of care and the level of care within a residential living facility. It also determines whether someone is considered “safe” to live at home or even whether a person meets eligibility requirements for certain long-term care services. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) These are the basic self-care tasks that we initially learn as very young children. They are sometimes referred to as “Basic Activities of Daily Living” (BADLs). They include: Walking, or otherwise getting around the home or outside. The technical term for this is “ambulating.” Feeding, as in being able to get food from a plate into one’s mouth. Dressing and grooming, as in selecting clothes, putting them on, and adequately managing one’s personal appearance. Toileting, which means getting to and from the toilet, using it appropriately, and cleaning oneself. Bathing, washing one’s face and body in the bath or shower. Transferring, which means being able to move from one body position to another. This includes being able to move from a bed to a chair, or into a wheelchair. This can also include the ability to stand up from a bed or chair in order to grasp a walker or other assistive device. For each ADL, people can vary from needing just a little help (such as a reminder or stand-by assist*) to full dependency, which requires others to do the task for them. *Stand-By Assistance refers to the need for someone to assist another individual performing activities that are basic to daily living. Unlike someone who needs continual supervision (i.e. all the time), a person who needs standby assistance has to have a caregiver within arm's reach of the individual at all times to prevent, by physical intervention as necessary, injury to the individual while the individual is performing the activity of daily living (ADL), for example, being ready to catch the individual if the individual falls while getting into or out of the bathtub or shower as part of bathing. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) These are the self-care tasks we usually learn as teenagers. They require more complex thinking skills, including organizational skills. They include: Managing finances, such as paying bills and managing financial assets. Managing transportation, either via driving or by organizing other means of transport. Shopping and meal preparation. This covers everything required to get a meal on the table. It also covers shopping for clothing and other items required for daily life. Housecleaning and home maintenance. This means cleaning kitchens after eating, keeping one’s living space reasonably clean and tidy, and keeping up with home maintenance. Managing communication, such as the telephone and mail. Managing medications, which covers obtaining medications and taking them as directed. Why ADLs and IADLs Matter Generally, older adults need to be able to manage ADLs and IADLs in order to live independently without the assistance of another person. It’s important to understand ADLs when determining the proper level of care for the individual resident. Some ADLs require minimal care while others, like toileting, require 24/7 care. Geriatricians assess ADLs and IADLs as part of assessing an older person’s “function.” Problems with ADLs and IADLs usually reflect problems with physical health and/or cognitive health. Identifying functional difficulties can help us diagnose and manage important health problems. Another crucial role ADLs play is in providing a standard that many insurance companies use to determine the level of coverage to provide. The number of ADLs a senior needs help with, will usually determine whether or not they qualify for assistance in paying for an assisted living home, a nursing home, or in-home care. For many long-term care insurance policies, the inability to perform two ADLs or more is the point where the insurance provider will start paying on the policy. https://www.pioneernetwork.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Definitions-of-Common-Terms-Used-in-Long-Term-Care-and-Culture-Change.pdf Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org Workshop Objectives: Upon completion the student will understand the concept of unconditional love between a pet therapy animal and a person. The student will know the different purposes of therapy pets. Upon completion the student will understand the many benefits of pet therapy. The student will read a wide variety of Teacher Tales to illustrate the benefits. The student will be given information on several national pet therapy organizations that they can draw from to get their own pet therapy program started. Workshop Content: Love—Our Basic Need What is Pet Therapy? Benefits--Importance of Pet Therapy Pet Therapy Visits In-House Therapy Pets Inviting A Team to Your Facility Resources Information and Sample Forms of National Organizations ENROLL Now Now Enrolling for the September 1st class - Visit ActivityDirector.org to enroll. 114 Graduates this month! NAAPCC.net Est. 2011 Members NCCA Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351

National Day of Prayer September 1st Celebrate by organizing a prayer circle. Get permission from residents who wish to participate to pass their prayer request to another resident, creating a prayer chain. Encourage participants to try organizing their prayers utilizing the ACTS of Prayer. Below is some guidance on this practice: “Do you ever sit down to pray and just not know what to say? ‘ACTS’ is a common acronym that Christians use for leading themselves through these moments. Using this well-known tool, you’ll first pray in “adoration” of God, then in “confession,” thanksgiving,” and supplication [petition].” It was used famously by Billy Graham. But it’s no modern fad, its oldest usage dating back to 1883. Many believers throughout the years, including me, have needed help knowing what to pray and how to pray it. I’m grateful that ACTS reminds us all to worship, repent, and express gratitude before we present our requests for help. It’s good practice in putting ourselves last, as Jesus would have us do (“So the last will be first…” Matthew 20:16).” Excerpt from Hosting a Bible Study by Allison Lewis Bennett, AD/TXC Source: Anchor Devotional by Haven Ministries. Oct 2016 Ed. Now is the time to connect more than ever and we are forced to make those connections using technology. Add some variety and intimacy to the interactions by panning this heartwarming activity for September. Have your interested residents record themselves reading one of their favorite stories on a video for their grandchildren. Many books can be found for free online or accessed through a Kindle Unlimited account. The other option is to have the child’s parent use a book the child already owns and loves. The resident could read the transcribed words while the parent follows along at home, showing the child the pictures. Be sure and have the family members records the video for a special memory. NOTE: These videos are for personal use only. Special permissions are generally needed for reading an author’s work in a public video, for example your facility’s website. Free Queso Day September 17th The Queso Cart Celebrate Free Queso Day by setting up a Queso Cart! It flows right off the tongue, right! I included a recipe below that should be flexible enough to suit all tastes, provided you exclude or reduce some of the hotter components depending. Click the button below the ingredients list to read the full directions and there is even a video you can click on if you prefer to watch the directions. Serve in a single serve disposable cup with a small bag of chips or other cheese carrier. Topping Suggestions Pico Avocado Jalapenos Ground beef Lime wedge Drink Suggestion Limeade Crockpot Queso Total Time: 1 hour Servings: 16 people Author: Becky Hardin - The Cookie Rookie Ingredients 2 14.5 ounce cans Fire-Roasted Tomatoes with Green Chilies Rotel-style 2 12 ounce cans whole fat evaporated milk Juice of 1-2 limes 1 pound white American block cheese, cubed or thinly sliced and chopped 1 pound yellow American block cheese, cubed or thinly sliced and chopped 1 pound Velveeta Queso Blanco cheese, cubed 1 7.06 package shredded Supremo Mexican Blend cheese ½ bunch cilantro chopped 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil 2-3 jalapeno peppers seeded & ribs removed, diced ½ medium yellow onion diced 1 teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon chili powder optional Get Full Recipe HERE National One-Hit Wonder Day September 25th Play some of these songs for your residents and see if they remember any of them. Which ones were their favorites? One Hit Wonders from the 50’s The Silhouettes – "Get a Job" (1957) Ronald & Ruby – "Lollipop" (1958) Bobby Day – "Rockin' Robin" (1958) The Monotones – "The Book of Love" (1958) Laurie London – "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (1958) The Jamies - "Summertime, Summertime" (1958) Frankie Ford – "Sea Cruise" (1959) The Mystics – “Hushabye” (1959) Larry Hall – "Sandy" (1959) Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_one-hit_wonders_in_the_United_States Enroll Now Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2020 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351