dtown

Oh.. and cognivtive groups such as trivia, spelling bee, reminiscing, discussion, etc. that are delivered verbally are also very appropriate for the visually impaired.

Focus on adaptations for those who can successfully accomplish a task with, perhaps, a bingo card that has been blown up, etc. For those who are legally blind, try doing activities that stimulate the senses that are still intact. You could try dancing with someone who still has good hearing and is ambulatory. Hand massages with a lightly scented hand lotion provides touch therapy, improves circulation, aromatherapy. (Use strong scents carefully as perfumes can exacerbate COPD and other respiratory problems. Garrison Keeler is an excellent choice for audio books as his voice is soothing and easy to understand. Find out what your residents really enjoy and modify it to their level. Have some brain storming sessions with your staff...it is amazing what you can collectively come up with. Hope this helps:)

Minta I understand your concerns in regards to needing something fresh. I think we all feel that way from time to time, but we must remember that structure is very important for our dementia residents. I often use the same basic format for many activity games, but change them up to make them seasonal.For instance, a bean bag toss game can be changed from to an apple toss in September and a snowball toss in January. For the first, use plastic apples and gathering baskets for the "nets" and the second, styrofoam balls and an icy looking bucket. We change the bingo themes also, such as Reminiscing bingo. I created bingo cards comprised of yes's and no's, instead of numbers. Then we ask questions such as are found in the game Penne Ante. For each answer they then place a chip on the "yes" or "no". % in a row wins just like in regular bingo! This not only allows them to win regular bingo prizes but also provides an opportunity for reminiscing and discussion amongst the residents. Changing everything up with seasonal themes also provides reality orientation. Another game we created that works really well with ALL of my residents, (I cover 2 buildings and create 2 separate programs each month: assisted living and skilled care) is a color wheel. Create an old spinning color wheel like you would find at an old time carnival. Create playing boards with a color block to match each color on the wheel. Residents are each given a chip and at the beginning of each play they put their chip on the color they think it will stop on. Spin the wheel and the residents who chose the correct color get another chip. This game moves quickly, so I do not give a prize for each game. At the end of the playing time, I award a prize for every 5 chips earned. And of course a booby prize for anyone who did not have very good luck. Again, this game can be modified. You could use math equations, trivia, etc. Be creative and have fun! Your own enthusiasm will encourage your residents and staff! Hope this helps!