gina

Craft Faire I've had a Craft Faire every year in November,and it is always a big success. Starting in Sept./Oct. I start handing out fliers throughout the community announcing the craft faire and its need for booth rentals,we provide a space for the person to sell their craft items,but they have to bring their own tables & (tarps if they want).We usually charge$25.00 per space,they can share a space with their family/friends for the same $25.00.We have usually around 20 spaces that are rented.($25.00x20=$500). We specify that the renters only sale items that are hand crafted- candles,jellies,fruit stand,gift baskets,sewing items,painted projects,quilting,christmas items,etc. Then in October the residents and I start working on our booth items,we usually make book markers(very easy to make)and plan a bake sale.The residents sit at their own booths. We also have a snack stand at the Faire,with a hot dog,chips,and soda combo for $2.00. This project is a great way for your facility to bond with the community and make some good money while having a great time....Gina

Hi Kelly, Have you asked for help from the families of your residents or from a local school or church?I know that I have had good volunteer turn out from both of these places, make up fliers asking for volunteers( alot of schools will give the high school students credits for volunteering).Anyway,as for ideas for Senior Olympics, how about bowling?Pick up a cheap bowling toy set at walmart and put residents in "bowling leagues"that way you don't have to do alot to help them on that particular game.Also, try floor basketball,get a swimming pool basketball hoop(it has wheels/floaters on the bottom for easy movement).Good luck,sounds like you'll have you hands full !Gina

Easy Easter Bunny Pins This activity is so easy. You will need: 1 bag of white pom-poms or cotton balls sqiggley eyes glue gun glue sticks 1 sheet of pink foam or pink felt 1 bag of pin backings(or saftey pins,but the pin backings last longer) Directions: Take two pom-poms or cotton balls and glue one on top of another(for the body). Let dry.Then glue the eyes on the top cotton ball for the face and make small bunny ears of of the pink felt or foam and glue onto top of head.Then glue pin backing onto the back and let dry.These are so easy that most of your higher funtioning residents can make a few each and then you can pass out to all the residents to wear in April to celebrate Easter.

hey pat, there is a law in florida about smoking in common areas such as walkways, but it does not specify a distance. go to:http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/abt/rules-statutes/amendment6-faq.pdf go to page 5, then go down to#30.It will let you print it out if you need to.bye.Gina :-P

Hi Pat, Have you tried : www.hhs.gov/policies/index.shtml This is the site for the United States Health and Human Services. I dont know what you are looking for but this site has alot of regs./policies info. I could not find anything for florida alone. I hope this helps.Gina

Hi Rich, Here are a few ideas for assisted living mens groups: Blackjack Nite- Poker nite- Small Wood working projects Car talk -get different car magazines and chat about the new cars vs. the old cars. Golf- if possible install a small putting green on a portion of your outside area. Horse shoes- if possible install a horse shoe ring outside or purchase an inside horseshoe game. Basketball-get a swimming pool basketball hoop game,it works well indoors on the floor. Horseracing-Get an old racing form from an old race and find out the winners and have residents place bets(with fake money) then payout fake money to the winners. Bowling-Get a bowling set(pins and ball) and set at the end of a hallway in the facility,then have a men against women bowling game,from the other end of the hallway. Shopping trip-Take the men out to Walmart or other store to get toletries and other private stuff. Chess club- Checkers club- Exercise club-Get some small weights(2-5 lbs) and let men work out Dominoes club- Yahtzee Club-

Crayon sun catcher: you will need: crayons handheld pencil sharpener waxed paper wood cutting board oven mit glue construction paper kitchen towel hot iron Directions: Twist crayons into sharpener to make shavings(watch your residents so they dont eat the crayons or shavings).spread shavings onto waxed paper,and place another piece of waxed paper on top of that.place the kitchen towel over the waxed paper and rub the hot iron over the paper to melt the crayons.let picture cool down then cut off excess wax paper and make a frame around your picture out of construction paper.hang in a bright sunny window,the colors are beautiful....

In room Visits: Ice cream sundae social I worked at a facility that had a rehab.and high percentage of room visit residents. This activity was great because the residents always looked forward to it each week. Just make up a cart from the kitchen and put ice cream,syrups,bananas,nuts,whipped cream,and cherries.you will also need a scooper,knife,spoons,napkins and small paper bowls. Go to each room and make individual sundaes for each resident,while your making them take time to chat about their day and anything new thats going on. Then when your done with the room visit residents go to the main activity room and hold your Ice Cream Sundae social for the rest of your residents. You can make it fun by giving "ice cream vouchers" during the week before each social as prizes for bingo or other games,pass out to your room visit residents for participating in other room visit programs.

Bread Making and Hunt See if you can get a family member to donate a Bread making machine or go ahead and purchase one(you can get a nice one for about $40.00). Buy different types of boxed bread mix-rye,wheat,cheese,jalapeno,white,sourdough,honey berry,tomato& cheese Gather your residents around and put the bread mix in the maker and start the bread maker(depending on the type of bread,it usually takes 2-3 hours for the program to end).While you wait for the bread to bake, get different magazines and have your residents look for different items from the magazines.Look for different types of breads,cakes,pies,cookies,muffins,ect. Make up a list before hand and let them find everything on the list.Then have residents cut out the pictures and paste onto a large construction paper to make a collage. Example list: "Today we are making Blueberry bread" Look for and cut out pictures of: eggs butter milk flour oil blueberries muffin pan oven sugar Later on when your bread is done,let your residents enjoy a piece with butter. This activity is great because it lets off the baking bread aroma throughout the facility.

Shinning Star Program recognition of star workers Make up a bunch of stars out of yellow construction paper and cover with glitter in advance and pass out to your residents and dept.heads in your facility to give to your staff when you see them doing something kind or for going the extra mile with your residents.Then at your monthly staff meeting or at your in-services hold a raffle and put all the stars with the persons name on the back of the star into a box and pick three winners.First prize could be a gift certificate to a local restaurant(go around town and explain what you are doing and alot of times you can get it donated).Second prize could be a $10.00 gift certificate to a local grocery store.Third prize could be a video rental and popcorn from a local video store. Use your imagination on the prizes and get the help of your administrator or Director.Really promote this idea,it gets moral up and is fun for your residents as well.good luck. :-)

Sand"stained glass"vases You will need: newspaper tacky glue plastic cups paint brushes clean glass bottles(different sizes,shapes) spoons colored sand-pink,green,blue,purple,red,orange,yellow (sold at craft stores) Directions: Put newspaper all over your workspace. Start by having each person choose a glass bottle. Put glue in plastic cups and pass out paint brushes. Have each person cover their glass bottle with glue,a thin coat. Then let each person start putting spoonfuls of sand on the layer of glue,they can choose to put one color on the bottle or layers of different colors. Let dry completley. Then fill with fresh or fake flowers and put in a sunny window. This activity is so easy and alot of fun!!

I am interested in finding out how much actual time is spent on paper work(mds,attendance records,care plans,etc)by Activity Directors in an average day.

Easy Easter Craft Idea: Easter Candy Carrots You will need: Disposable clear plastic cake-decorating icing bags (sold where cake decorating items are sold) Orange Jelly Beans Scissors Green Tissue Paper Twist ties Directions: Fill an icing bag with orange jelly beans,leaving some room at the top of the bag. Cut out two -8 inch squares of green tissue paper,and place one on top of the other,then place on top of the icing bag and twist the tissue paper and tie with the twist tie,if done correctly,this will look like a carrot. These make cute center pieces for Easter......