kittygrl00

Thank you! I have been slowly integrating new activities and they seem to be catching on. Thanks again! :-)

Thank you so much everyone! Part of the difficulty I am having is that my budget is ridiculously low because the facility is renovating. The bus that we currently have, does work, but the owner let the registration expire. So, I am waiting for that to be done. Activities just doesn't seem to be a priority to the owners. Fremontca - If you could post the names of the music artists you have had success with, that would be great. Thank you. I was thinking of starting a soldier writing thing. I don't know how well that will go over though. I keep getting frustrated and then I don't even want to try anything new with them. I know that isn't good and I am trying to get out of that, but it is hard when I get shot down so much. Thank you again everyone!

I tried hangman and a spelling bee...they weren't fond of either. I thought of name that tune, but I don't know how to actually get it going. Do you just play a song and start and stop it for them?

Thank you for the suggestions! Robin, we only have about 27 residents right now. When the construction is finished we will house around 80. I ended up in the position just by chance. I came in to fill out an application for an activity assistant and somehow ended up director. I know I need to give it some time, but I am the kind of person that hates doing things so-so. And I feel like that is what I am doing, not by fault of my own, but more due to situation. I guess I just need to keep trying my hardest. I really just need ideas on things to try. I tried arts and crafts, but they all wanted to know what they were supposed to do with the craft after they made it. I guess they didn't see the point. Besides bingo and triva, I reallly don't know what to try. Does anyone have any idea on how I can play Wheel of Fortune without using the board game? None of the residents can see those little letters. I tried writing it on a dry erase, but that didn't seem to be as much fun. Thanks again...I need all the help I can get!

Hello everyone - My name is Tania and I am an activities director at an ALF in Florida. I just graduated from college and this is my first 'out of school' job. I never thought that activity planning would be so hard! I am in a situation where the residents are not used to having any activities because the facility has gone through a number of different activity people in the past few months. So, it has been difficult to get them involved. I have been here about three weeks, and a handful of them are starting to get used to the schedule. The main problem I am having is that they don't like to do anything! They like one word game, bingo, trivia, a name that person type game, and entertainers. Unfortunatley I can only afford to have two different entertainers a month. The facility is remodeling, so money will be tight for a little while. I have no idea what to do with the residents. Any suggestions would be greatly apprectiated! Tania