sparkle

Hi! I have a just been given a challange....whip our 30 bed Alzheimer's unit into shape with new and exciting activities! :pint: (this is keeping me up nights!) I'm looking for ideas on furniture arrangement and shelf/display, necessary activity items placement. I have been given two adjoining rooms (a wall separates them, door between). Each room is approximately 20' x 20', on the back wall each room has a large window which makes that wall obsolete. Figure two walls per room that are at least 14-16 feet long. I have access to some 6 foot rectangular tables and also a large 5' round table. I would like to have adequate "show" space and have activity items out for residents to enjoy. I need to purchase shelving or open storage. I also would like to have a small kitchen area (no water), where residents can put away groceries and dishes. I will have a microwave and small refrigerator. Does anyone have any ideas on what to use to decorate the walls? Would you suggest wallpaper? Cork boards? Resident art projects? Our residents are "walkie talkies" in mid-stages. Set one room up as a kitchen area and the other a "den" type setting??? Both rooms are carpeted. Has anyone tried some Montessori methods? Also, does anyone have any particular activity items that they just can't do without? I am looking for ideas and suggestions. My office will be located in one of these rooms, too, by the way. Okay enough questions, hopefully someone has had a similar experience with their unit and can offer some suggestions. Thanks! Love this site! Sparkle in FL

Thanks for all the WONDERFUL suggestions! I will certainly start working on implementing them right away! I knew you all could and would help me out! What a great site! Thanks oooooodles! Sparkle

Hi All! I am sure this is a problem that is not new to any of you, but it has really become a testy subject at my facility. I have a schedule with "personal needs time" built into the daily routine, but my activities are constantly being interrupted by staff to toilet residents, take them out for showers, administer meds, check bp, etc. This is so frustrating! Does anyone have any ideas on how I can approach staff and let them know that this is unsatisfactory? I need these folks to help me throughout the day, so I don't want to alienate them, but they are ruining my programs! :-( I have gone to my authority figure(!) and have gotten no help with this situation! HELP! Sparkle