gina

Hi Debber, Welcome to the site! :-) I have a great idea for your carnival, How about a balloon pop booth? All you need is blown up balloons with a piece of paper in the balloon with a prize on it,example:a small stuffed animal,tattoos,stickers,candy,and the larger prize could be c.ds,or posters.First off get a large piece of wood and attach the balloons with a staple gun(on the tied part of the balloon)to the wood,then have the "customers"get three darts for$.50-$1.00,then let them try to pop the balloons,if they pop it look inside to see what they won.Or try a Ping Pong toss:get small glass dishes,ashtrays or jars and put them all very close to each other and let "customers"try to throw the ping pong ball into the dishes,if they do they get a prize.(this game is fun because the balls bounce off the glasses .) Or if funds are very tight,paint a bunch of soda cans,let dry.then add a tennis ball and instant carnival game-put four cans on the bottom row,three on top of that row,then two cans on top of that and one on the very top,let "customers"try to knock off all the cans. I hope these help. :-) gina

Hi All! I came across this idea from a craft store site,I tried it and they looked so Cute !! You will need: 3 inch styrofoam balls Bunches of fake sunflowers(try different colors,red,yellow and orange look good) Directions: Cut the flowers to about a two inch stem then start pushing them into the ball,put them in very close to each other so that none of the styrofoam is visable.Keep doing this until the ball is covered.Then you can place in a small basket or tray. This craft is fairly inexpensive enough to make for all your ladies for Mother's Day or make enough to put on the tables for special occassions. ;-) gina

Dear Margi, What a great idea!I know that there are alot of soldiers over there(my step-brother being one :-( )That would love to get mail and make new friends,and what a great way kept our residents in touch with whats going on in the world. I hope some of the Activity Professionals on the site will take advantage of this idea! :-) gina

Thank you Pennie! :-) That is a great form. gina

Hey Everyone, Pat8231 just got a new job!!!!! :-D Congratulations Pat!!!! Have fun with your new residents! ;-) gina

Hi Karen,Karrie and Pennie, I too have always opted for a short note for quarterly notes. I have found that it is more personal and the state likes that too,also I think that although it might take a little more time you will remember that resident more easily than if you just checked boxes on a form(and when you have 100-200 res.its easy to forget each residents charting-lol ). Whatever works for each Director is all that matters. ;-) gina

Hi Everyone ! I know that alot Activity Departments are on a very tight budget, so here are a few ideas that have worked for me: * Save your old salad dressing bottles-they are great for vases,get some tissue paper and tear into small pieces and use starch and put different color tissue paper all over the bottle.let dry and fill with fake flowers.Or get stincils of hearts or flowers and have residents paint/stincil all over the bottle. * Baby food jars-Great for snow globes,put little figures/items on the inside of the jar lid and glue.let dry.then fill the jar with water and glitter and close lid,turn over and shake. * Applesauce/fruitcups plastic containers-clean out and use for arts and crafts class-these are good for paints or glue,they are small enough to use and not waste alot of paint or glue. * Small milk cartons( the paper kind)- Clean out and let dry.Then you can use for candles-you will need crayons,heatable plastic bags,ice,candle wicks.Cut the top of the carton so it looks like a box,then break up crayons into small pieces and place into the plastic bag and close and place slowly into a pot of hot boiling water,let the bag of crayons melt,meanwhile put crushed ice and a candle wick into the milkcartons,then carefully pour the melted crayons into the milk carton with the ice.let sit until wax is hardened ,then peel away the carton from the wax. * Small pieces of fabric or felt-Make pillows-Have residents sew by hand all the way around two pieces of fabric or felt,leave enough room to fit stuffing into the pillow,the finish sewing closed. * Brown paper bags-Have residents paint the bags anyway they like add beads or glitter.Let dry.Use as gift bags. Be creative,you can find a use for almost everything that we use day to day. Have fun! :-)

Hi Karen, Well,when i worked at a snf we used to have resident rights bingo every week,and we also had Adult Ed. from one local college( the college had four different people in the gereontology courses that came out once a week and one did an exercise class,one did an arts and crafts class,one read poems and such to the residents and the other person had a singalong with the residents).Check with your local colleges because if you are lucky enough to have a college that offers adult ed.take them up on it,it really frees you up to do other things. At a assisted living I worked at we had different topics each week for our residents. I had a Dr.come in to talk about Arthritis and new pain meds available,a rep. from the alzheimers association to talk about signs of Alzheimers,a rep. from a popular hearing aid company as well as a local eyeglass company,we also had a health club worker come in and talk about the benifits of exercise,I had a local baker come out to teach cake decorating.What i did was look in my local yellow pages and called people that sounded interesting. Whatever you choose,I'm sure your residents will enjoy it.Have fun! :-) gina

Pretty Napkin Holders These are easy to make,and will look pretty for your Mother's Day celebration or any time. You will need: Paper towel or tolet paper rolls(the part left after the paper is gone) Paints Glitter Beads Glue Paint Brushes Directions: Cut the paper rolls into small sections(about 2 inches high).Let your residents paint the holder any way they like.Let dry.Then let resident put beads or glitter on it.Then put over a fabric napkin and set on your table.

To Leanetta, Welcome to the site! This site is great for all of us to share and gather new info.,ideas and just to chat. :-) Sorry to hear about losing your job.I'm sure you'll be back to work soon, meanwhile keep gathering new ideas from this site and others to use when you are back at work.Take care. :-D gina

:hammer: Grapevine Wreaths You will need: Grapevine wreath(available at craft stores or walmart) Fake flowers Ribbon Hot glue gun Glue sticks Scissors or wire cutters Directions: Have resident cut the flowers off the stems(leave about 1-2 inches of the stem on ) then put glue on the flower stem and poke into the grapevine wreath,put as many or as few flowers as desired.Let dry.Then wrap a ribbon around the wreath. Hang in the residents room. :-)

:idea: Sunflower Wind Chime: You will need: Lots of colorful buttons Paper plates Yellow construction paper Glue Fishing wire Small gold color bells Yellow ribbon Directions: Give each resident a paper plate and a handful of buttons.Put a layer of glue on the plate and then let resident place buttons all over the plate in a circle shape,cover the whole plate.Let dry.Then cut small triangles of yellow construction paper and place around the plate in the back of the plate with glue(these are the petals).Let dry.Then give residents a handful of bells and let them try to string the bells on the fishing wire.You will need three strings of bells for each sunflower. Turn the sunflower over and glue the bell strings on the back of the bottom of the plate.Let dry.Then hang outside with the ribbon(punch a hole with a hole puncher and put the yellow ribbon thru)and listen to the bells chime.Happy Spring!!! :-)

Hi Mawbell, I once made a really pretty sun with a round piece of styrofoam(at most craft stores)and a box of brown sugar ice cream cones.Take a cone and put crafters glue on the edge of it(the round part,where u would scoop the ice cream into it),then gently push the cones around the styrofoam piece to look like a sun.Then you spray paint it yellow.If you want to make it fancy,paint glue all over the styrofoam and cones,then sprinkle with corse salt,let dry.Then paint yellow. It sounds kinda hard but it really is easy to make. For the clouds,I used cotton stuffing(in the sewing section of wal mart or crafts stores) and sprinkle with glitter. Try this, it really looks pretty. :-) gina

To humor/dmdonald? Hi, I got your personal email but erased it I think(by accident). You wanted to know about certification in Texas? Email Pennie,she is from Texas and may know exactly where to send ya. :-) gina

Hi Marion, I've been working with Alzheimers residents for over 19 years(when i first started in the biz. the residents were known as having Organic Brain Syndrom/Dementia),not alot was known about Alzheimers or what to do with the residents.Now we are so lucky to have the internet and classes and workshops :-) . I know that the job that we do everyday is so challenging and draining,but also so rewarding.Have you tried a walking group?We had a few residents that were always crying/yelling out and we would take them out and walk around the block and come back and then listen to soft music.We also had a lady come in to volunteer and she would dance for and with the residents,the residents LOVED it. Also,have you tried animals( I think always- fun mentioned this too)We had two white rabbits that the residents could take out and pet anytime,they really responded to the rabbits.Lastly,have your residents been checked lately for a uti (urinary tract infection)?I've noticed that alot of dementia/Alzheimers residents that cant really make their needs known tend to get infections and often it goes unnoticed till it is painful for them,and since they cant make their needs known they just cry or yell out.Well, just remember that what worked one day,may not work the next.And have fun,We have the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD!!!!!! :-D gina

Hi Robin, How ya doing today.I just read your post regarding Family Council and I hear ya when you talk about family involvement being limited to "once a year" at Christmas time.At a facility i once worked at we used to hold a free Family Dinner/Family Council night once a month,we would offer the families a nice dinner and then right after dinner we would have Family Council,we also would have different speakers come in to discuss different topics,i.e:Pharmasist to discuss the effects of certain drugs and herbs on seniors,A Dr. to discuss certain topics,a rep.from the local Alzheimers association to discuss signs of Alzheimers,Me(ADC)to discuss the importance of our daily recreation program and its effects on on residents.etc.We had a pretty good turn out 20-30 residents families out of 90-99 residents.anyways,good luck to you.I hope you get a good response in whatever you choose to do. :-) gina

Hey Everyone, Lynn56 needs your help!!! I tried to do what I could but I'm in Calif. and the info. that I found is not useful to her.Are there any Directors from Indiana?Soxx71 are you out there?Someone,help her,she wants to start working in this field and has some questions......gina :-)

Hey Stacy, Good recipe... We made those once for Halloween,yum!

:hammer: Spring has sprung party Since spring is here,why not have a party. Have your party outdoors,if weather permits. Send each resident an invitation with a colorful flower on the front and have it say "Spring has Sprung,Come have some fun"!! For your activity you could transfers small plants into painted terra cotta pots,or you could decorate inexpensive plastic gardening visors with fabric paint and glitter.Give each resident a visor to decorate anyway they want. For a snack,serve this easy to make cake.You could even make it during your party with your residents help. Sunny Sunflower Cake: 1 baked 9-inch round cake(ask your dietary dept. to make before hand for you) 16 Twinkies 1 tub yellow frosting about 10-15 Hersheys Kisses Place the twinkies along the outer edge of the round cake(like the petals) frost the whole cake and petals with the yellow frosting.Dot the center of the cake with the kisses to look like the "seeds". While your residents are eating,play this game.Write Springtime on a chalkboard. Have your residents come up with different words out of that word. examples:ring,tie,prime,sing,mine,pit,etc. Have fun! :-) gina

Maracas/Music time You will need: cleaned out soda cans foil tape rice paints-red,white,green Mexican Music C.D. C.D.player Directions: Start by putting the rice into the soda can,then tape the hole at the top closed. Wrap the can with the foil,then have your resident paint it anyway they like.Let dry. Then put on the music and let your resident use their new maraca. :-) gina

Cinco de Mayo game Pictionary You will need: Chalkboard Chalk Eraser Papers with Cinco de Mayo/Mexican objects written on them Brown paper bag Timer/stop watch Directions: Before your game,get the small pieces of paper and write Mexican stuff on each piece of paper(examples:Sombrero,Mexico,Donkey,Tacos,Guacamole,Jalapeno, Beans,Mariachi Band,Morracas,Castenetts,etc.) Put the pieces into a brown bag and shake up. Then split your group in two. Then the first person goes to the chalkboard,then picks a paper from the brown paper bag,and then tries to write it on the board and let his/her group guess what it is that they picked before the time is up(give them 2-3 minutes each group). If the group picks right,they get a point.Give small prizes to the winners. :-) gina

How many beans?Game for Cinco de Mayo You will need: Large glass jar Pinto Beans small pieces of paper pencils glue Directions: Fill the jar with the beans to the top and glue shut. (count the beans while you are adding to the jar,write how many there are on a piece of paper and put in a safe place). Put the jar in the lobby or a public place,leave the papers and pencils so that the residents can guess how many beans are in the jar.Give the winner a small prize. :-) gina

Yarn Craft: You will need: 2 popsicle sticks/craft sticks per person Yarn-red,white and green scissors glue Directions: Glue the sticks together in a cross. Take the red yarn and start wrapping it around the sticks,over and around one stick,then the next,and so on for a few turns around the sticks,then tie a knot in the red yarn,and start with the white and do the same,then the green yarn and do the same.When your done it should look like an eye in the middle.Even if your residents do this project wrong it is good exercise for their hands. Gina

Hi Donna, It sounds like your gonna have a fun day with your Mother's Day Fashion Show. I've never had a Fashion show,but I was thinking since your doing a "Hollywood"theme,What about getting some pictures of the old Hollywood stars like Greta Garbo,Rudolf Valentino,Kathrine Hepburn,Clark Gable,etc.and hanging them in the room you are using?(you can find pictures of the old stars on the internet and print them out, or check out local video stores,maybe?)For the Centerpieces,get foam stars(available at craft stores)and paint them gold,let dry,then put a picture of an old star on them.Or,you could get clear glass bowls and fill with water,put some gold glitter in the water,and then get gold or yellow star shaped floater candles and place in bowl and put one on each table. .Place Gold and Black Balloons everywhere,and Gold and Black streamers on tables.Then,just a thought,but maybe get a bunch of fake roses and separate and put clear wrap around each one with a gold and black ribbon,make up some little tags for each rose and attachto the rose(examples of sayings to put on roses:"If Mothers were flowers,I'd pick you" or "To the Prettiest Rose in the room",you get the idea)and have your fashion show men hand them out to your Ladies on Mothers Day when they come off the "stage".Well,Good Luck,and have fun!!!!Gina :-)

Memorial Day is May 31st. Here is a cute and very easy tabletop centerpiece for your residents to make. You will need: Tall vase/or glass jar Red,White,and Blue sand (available at craft stores or Wal-mart) Star Garland(available at party supply stores) Directions: Give each resident a jar or tall vase.Let them put a layer of red sand,then white sand,then blue sand and keep doing it up to the top of the vase(leave about an inch at the top),then wrap the garland around the vase.thats it. I would not have these on the tables at alzheimers/dementia units(the residents might eat the sand.)Gina :-) P.S-If you want to get fancy,add glitter to the sand.