mamaweg

Tiff, Will you share the poem with us? Thanks

We just had a mock survey where the ED, DON and ACU director from another facility spent the day with us and wrote out tags they found. I got my first tag ever. It seems my more cognitive residents complained that I wasn't offering activities at their higher cognitive level. I ask them at Resident Council all the time what they want and I get nothing. The last meeting the president said she would like to see more bible study. They agreed they would like to hear about St. Valentine. I did my research and not a one of them would come. For SuperBowl we have a large screen tv, I bought NA beer, chip, popcorn, peanuts etc. I put the sign out using a 'higher cognitive' resident's name as the host. No one showed up. I'm at a loss as what to do. They won't tell me or what they do tell me they don't come to. Any ideas???? I'd love copies of other facilities calendars to get new ideas or show my ED that I'm not that out of line from what other places do. Dianne_Wegner@beverlycares.com Thanks for any help!!!

Volunteer Appreciation is sneaking up. What do you give your volunteers as gifts? For the past two years we have done a brunch with muffins, coffee cakes, fresh fruits. I made candy trees in little terra cotta pots last year. The year before they got a candle and a keychain. I invite at least 30 people and my monthly budget is $50. So I'm looking for inexpensive ideas that the volunteers will like and use. Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Dianne

www.thenaap.com

Last year we got t-shirts, I work for Beverly Healthcare and they have great promotional items to choose from. Dietary bought the mix to make Margaretas and made the virgin variety and had frozen pizza with chips and salsa. There are only two of us in activities so I haven't decided what to do this year. I usually do a bulletin board with a poem or something. A Tribute to Activity Professionals! Thank You! Thank you for all that you do to improve the quality of life for those who matter the most, your residents! They appreciate it! Thank you for all your creativity. The residents are thankful. Thank you for the extra effort you put into each day. Thank you for helping out in the dining rooms for meal programs. They need you! The nursing staff does appreciate it! Thank you for all the special trips and community events. They love being a part of the community. Thank you for all the effort you put into your volunteer program, it definitely does not happen without you! Thank you for smiling even when you don't feel like it. Thank you for spending time with those residents who can not come out of their rooms. They especially appreciate the pet visits. Thank you for a great survey. It takes your entire team and a dynamic program. Thank you for giving all of your self. Thank you for filling the resident's days with meaningful activities. Thank you for pushing so hard to get extra special programs approved. The extra effort paid off! Thank you for all the extra hours you put into planning and implementing elaborate events. It was appreciated! Thank you for attending seminars and association meetings, even when sometimes you have to use vacation days. Thank you for supporting other activity professionals. Thank you for taking a chance and trying something new. Thank you for dressing up for all those holidays. Thank you for all the hugs and love you give to them. Thank you for developing all the children's programs. Thank you for all the spiritual programs, because it means more to them at this point in their life. But most of all Thank You for dedicating your life to this very special profession, Activity Professionals! We can't imagine any facility without you! by: Sandra Stimson, Executive Director Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care

www.activityconnection.com is a nice resource.

Little House on the Prarie series, Guideposts, Reader's Digest

When I'm in the nursing home I will be hooked up to the internet and always have a box of wine in my mini fridge. The CNAs will be able to set up my favorite songs on my ipod :-P

Talk to your residents at council. What do they want? I have independant activities scheduled on Saturdays....outdoor time, gardening, puzzles, old movies on the big screen. I have things available but don't have to be there. On Sundays there is church at 2:00pm and coffee at 3:00 the kitchen sets up the coffee as they need a scheduled snack. I would start with your 'complainers' What do they want? Can you pair them with another resident? I have three ladies who play dominos. Can you get an individual activity for them?....word search, cross word, movies, large print books etc. Can you get restorative involved? They have to work with many of our residents six days per week. So we have an exercise group and both get to count it.

I made up a backdrop with watermelon cutouts and then put "You're One in a Melon" The residents each sat in front of it and had their pictures taken. I did this two years ago and there are still pictures on bulletin boards in some rooms. We guessed the weight of a watermelon and the winner got the melon.

This is a fun one Clap your hands and stomp your feet Get on with the 'facility' beat. Reach you hands up to the skies Turn and look you neighbor in the eye. Put your arms over and touch each ear Wiggle your bottom to get it into gear. One leg up and the other leg down Then move your arms like you're going to town. Flap your arms like a bird in wing See you can do most anything Now reach on over and shake your neighbors hand Then bow from the waist as you know you can. Pound the table to get your meal, to let the kitchen know just how you feel. Hands on your hips, hands on your knees, Put them behind you if you please. Touch your shoulders, touch your nose, Touch your ear touch your toes. Raise your hands high in the air At your sides, on your hair. Raise you hands as before, While you clap 1234. My hands upon my head I place, On my shoulders, on my face. Then I raise them up on high, And make my fingers quickly fly. Then I put them in front of me, and gently clap 123. Turn you head first to the right, Make a fist and fight, fight, fight. Turn your head the other way, Make your body swing and sway. Make your arms go round and round, Touch your shoulders, they can be found. Put your right arm way way out, Put your left one way out too, Pull back and forth The best you can do. Reach over to the side, way up high, To the other side, and back up high Mak your feet march along, Kick your legs to make them strong. Put your head up and down Roll your head up and down Roll your left to right Makde your eyes look side to side Then close your eyes cause the lights to bright. Open your eyes and stretch and yawn, Start the mower and mow the lawn Walk your butt in your chair Now walk as though you're a old black bear. Wiggle all your fingers, then wiggle your nois, Wiggle your butt, wiggle your toes. Make your ankles go round and round. Tap your toes and bounce your feet Tighten your stomach muscles nice and neat, Lift your feet up off the floor Reach on over and open the door. Look over your shoulder, look up and down. Make your face do a big, big frown. Clap your hands back and forth Turn and smile at your neighbor to the North. Pitch some hay and milk the cow, Sweep the floor real clean right now. Sake the rug, clean the dust, Wash the clothes, it is a must. Raise the flag, blow a balloon, Play a trombone at the crack of noon. Swat the flies and hammer a nail Row the boat, then raise the sail. Type a letter, ride your bike You can do that better. Smile real big, be real mad We're all done so don't be sad.

Have you tried the crafts in Oriental Trading? They have a lot of foam kits you can use glue or double sided tape. Most are already cut out so you don't need scissors. :-)

I've done two different activities that have worked well. I bought banana boat dishes from DQ (inexpensive) and we made banana sundaes with all the toppings. I also bought a rain gutter and my maintenance man put caps on the ends for me then we had a five foot sundae. The residents loved it. I invited the press for marketing.