lllangel

What about dominoes or trivial pursuit?

What about this idea for Senior Olympics. Is anyone using the WII Games with their residents? We are and have had great results! The easiest game for them seems to be bowling, but they can also play golf, tennis and baseball. The baseball is a little harder for them because they have to both pitch and bat. Anyway, just curious if anyone is using this. Linda

I just joined this board today and am really excited about sharing ideas! I am an Activities Director (or Healthy Lifestyles Director, is what we are called) in Tennessee, and I love my job! I have been doing it for a little more than a year and only work part-time. I share the load with another AD who also works part time (our hours add up to a 40-hour week) and we are both very different from each other. So, it works out great for the residents because they really get a good variety of activities. I'm glad I found this board. Linda

I am new to this board and am an Activities Director (or Healthy Lifestyles Director) in Tennessee. I am really interested in the music discussion because I have a music degree and, since I have been working at my facility for the past year, I have included a great variety of music into the activities. I feel this is very important in their lives. The residents relate to the music and I can relate to them with my music. I am starting a "music therapy" activitiy in September where I will either play the piano or keyboard (I brought in my own keyboard) and play cd's that are very soothing. I am not sure how to include the deep breathing exercises into the music, but I will figure it out before then. I also sing (my major is voice) quite a bit. I have a very low alto voice that I have found is more soothing than a high soprano voice. We have two other good singers on staff and one of them plays the guitar. So we have put together a trio and everyone loves it. When we practice, we let the residents hear us (we do it in the living room) and they all enjoy it, even when we make mistakes. We just laugh and then they all laugh. We also have a resident who is very sick and is in bed most of the time now. So, I will go in and sing in a very low tone some of her favorite hymns and she seems to relax. That's what her sitters say, anyway. I hope it is helping her. I used to sing like that for my grandson when he was a baby, and he would stop crying, so I thought it should work with the residents, also. I think that "live" music should be used more and more in assisted living facilities. I will get everyone together and have them come down to the living room when I have a few minutes either before lunch or before dinner and just play the piano. It's not a scheduled activity--just at that moment. When I stop playing, they say, "keep playing", so they must enjoy it. I have to tell them to go eat--they just keep sitting there. It's not that I'm so good (because I make mistakes when I play), but I just think they really enjoy listening. Anyway, I think the use of music in assisted living facilities should be explored more. Does anyone else have any experiences similar to mine? Thanks for reading, Linda