A Few Guidelines for a Structured Activity

[Guest Tinki]

This Article came from:

Keeping Busy.... A Handbook of Activities for Persons with Dementia

by James R. Dowling

The Johns Hopkins University Press

 

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1. Have all materials at hand when the program begins.

2. Use names as much as possible. It provides reassurance and helps individuals to maintain attentiveness.

3. Maintain eye contact (except, at times, during personal care)

4. Play dumb sometimes, "Gosh, I wonder..." can go a long way.

5. Ask universal questions: "How many people here have ever had a dog?" "Who likes apple pie?" "How many here ever went to school?" "How many ever rode in a car?"

6. Try to recall individuals interests, past achievements, abilities, etc."

7. Go with the flow. Itf a dog strolls into the group, shift the discussion: talk about it, emphasize its name and owner, perhaps sing Doggie in the Window.

8. Acknowledge all contributions ("Thank you for asking," "Thanks for adding that," etc).

9. Repeat what participants say, as much as possible "in their own words." This not only reinforces the value of an individual's contribution but also serves to amplify and translate, or interpret, if necessary, the statements for the rest of the group.

10. To maintain (or regain) control in a group, try speaking more slowly and more delibertely, with a deeper tone.

11. Have more material on hand than you can use (other options to fall back on)

12. If all else fails sing a song!

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