bjlady

I use Sentimental Reflections sing alongs. They are CD's with great backgrounds and themes also have the words along the bottom of the screen to folllow along with. My residents love activities using these CD's. Just go to Sentimentalonline.com or call 1-800-762-0338.

How about out to the park for maybe a pinic lunch. We do that alot in my facility and the residents enjoy it. We also go out to our local casino for a bit of gambling. Try a spa day at your local career center where they have cosmetology classes sometimes you can get hair cuts and nails done free. Both men and women enjoy this in our facility. Sometimes we just go out for a bus ride and maybe stop for an ice cream. Hope these ideas help some.

In my facility we do a Halloween parade for the residents who cant or dont want to leave their room. We end up in the dining room for a treat bag full of candy and snacks/drinks. The children and residents play a game of Halloween Bingo and receive prizes of small Halloween novelties ( like from Oriental Trading). The residents and the children seem to really enjoy this.

When I have larger events I go asking for donations from our local businesses. I just type up a letter of request and print it out on company letterhead. I personally go into each business and explain whats going on and ask...They can only say no...but most don't. I get good support from the businesses in my area. I also ask for donations from family members in my monthly newsletter and get good response there also...Good Luck

I just wanted to thank you Pennie for this virtual tour on dementia/alzheimers. I didnt know that some residents go through all of that. I have taken this to my D.O.N. and we are going to work on having this as a manditory inservice in my facility.

The way I do it is to alternate residents. We go on 4 outings a month (once a week) so there are plenty of oppertunities for the residents to choose. In the summer I do get alot of residents wanting to go but they do understand that we take turns. No one is allowed to go twice in a row. They sign up on the sheet in the Activity room and I choose who gets to go based on what outing they went on last. It works for us with no problem.