Lanorek

Hi Tammy, I am new to the MEPEP classes. I too am very excited about learning the ends and outs of activities with Seniors. Where I now serve our budget comes from the Admin office and is a monthly budget. It stays the same amount each month for the entire year. It is not enough to do all we would like but a nice budget none the less. We have support from several churches as you mention above and one local food organization that aid us in many ways. To avoid over spending I plan very closely many months in advance, do smart shopping for those items that go on sale especially holiday items and use our kitchen area to make food items myself which is cheaper than buying a lot of pre made items. It is also healthier. However, I am not serving at a normal long term care location but working with seniors (most with disabilities) still trying to live semi independently on their own therefore, I do not have some of the food rules and restrictions other centers would. The dollar store is a good friend of mine for the budget. However, I just find it is the littlest of things that make activities work not spending a great deal of money. Hope that helps! Kim L.

If the budget is gone how about contacting a local church and see if a group of adults or possibly the youth group would like to come an assist for the afternoon. I grew up Baptist and we did this type of outings at least 3 or 4 times a year to have our youth get closer to the elderly folks. Maybe the ladies of the church could make cupcakes, cookies and punch which would be a way to get the entire church involved (depending on the size of the church.) Usually churches have youth choirs who sing and play musical instruments. Maybe they could provide your patriotic music or even if it is just accapella lead a resident group sing-a-long. Our residents just love to sing the "oldies" but "goodies." Have a project table with red, white and blue construction paper with tape and glue and let the youth group assist the residents in making flags. Then several groups could go out and place a flag on each door of a resident that served in any branch of the military as a "Thank You for Serving Our County."