yrtype 0 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Hi. I am a veteran Activity Director of 30 years. Yes, it is true. There are still a few of us around that considered becoming an Activity Director a profession and not "just a job". Being in the field so many years and forever changing my activity calendar of events with new and fun programs, it is always nice to "lean on the creativity of others every once in a while". Mind you, I am not going thru burnout just would like to pick at your creative mind. I would like your sensory cart idea or what sensory activity you might offer your lower level and bed bound residents. Thanks for your idea. I have a few of my own that have been popular both my residents & was impressive to our friends the survey team. Yvonne R. Type, ADC Macclenny Nursing & Rehab Center, Macclenny, Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattyk 0 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Hi Yvonne , I'm still very new to this and love to hear ideas from others who've "been there and done that"! My clients love music (as do I) and there's something for everyone. They can listen to cd's or the radio, you can invite a local group in to sing or play music, you can bring simple musical instruments for them to play to music on the radio, my guys watch concert dvd's (I think Elvis is their favorite) and go to a dance twice a week where even the wheelchair bound shake their booties! One of my clients is a 50 something y/o mr man with autism...he was always very quiet at first but now that we offer more music therapy we've discovered that he loves to play instruments (several) and sing (has always loved to dance) and is very good at it! I would like to help him and one other gentleman practice a song to sing at church on Sunday with the Chapain, if that's what they decide they would like to do. Pattyk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanGuy23 2 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 Hi Yvonne ,I'm still very new to this and love to hear ideas from others who've "been there and done that"! My clients love music (as do I) and there's something for everyone. They can listen to cd's or the radio, you can invite a local group in to sing or play music, you can bring simple musical instruments for them to play to music on the radio, my guys watch concert dvd's (I think Elvis is their favorite) and go to a dance twice a week where even the wheelchair bound shake their booties! One of my clients is a 50 something y/o mr man with autism...he was always very quiet at first but now that we offer more music therapy we've discovered that he loves to play instruments (several) and sing (has always loved to dance) and is very good at it! I would like to help him and one other gentleman practice a song to sing at church on Sunday with the Chapain, if that's what they decide they would like to do. Pattyk Hi I think incorporating as many musical activities for our residents is great. Music can be so soothing and perfect for higher and lower functioning residents. You'd be surprised at how some residents w/alzheimers can react to music, they love it. I think Elvis would be number one, but also country western and gospel songs are favorites. OceanGuy23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel 0 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Yvonne I'd love to hear your items that have impressed surveyors! I have a couple things on our room visit cart that are sensory. I always change out the "touch" objects according to the time of year, for example around thanksgiving I had the dried ears of corn, some hay, and a gourd. Chritmas was a pine tree branch (good for smell as well!), a soft santa hat, and some fake ribbon candy. You get the idea. We also do lotion hand massages (with essential oil lotions!), and manicures (with paint and all). For smell I have essential oils, about 50+ that I also change out according to the season. I also have on of those scent stories by febreeze that play 5 different scents for 30 mins each and I rotate that from low functioning room to low functioning room. Sight is usually "everyday item cards" and little dancing things that sing. The little dancing things always make the residents laugh. Music is a given for sound, and I usually bring in my lap top and take it from room to room and let them pick a couple songs to listen to (if they are cognitive enough). I also try and do everyday sounds that they don't hear anymore being inside all day (cows mooing, car horns, airplanes, ect.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanGuy23 2 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hi Mel, I love your sensory ideas. Very nice sensory cart. When I do my in-room visits I do a lot of tactile therapy by having the residents feel certain textures of materials, like silk or felt, for example and then I have them tell me how the materials feel. I also massage our residents hands and arms with lotion or I paint our ladies nails. I also enjoy reading "Chicken Soup" book stories because of their encouragement and comfort to our residents and other times I show picture books to our residents with themes I know they will love, for example, babies, children, animals, scenic pictures, and so forth. Taking music to the rooms is always a plus too. OceanGuy23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tinki Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Here are some previous posts http://activitydirector.net/forum/index.ph...&hl=sensory http://activitydirector.net/forum/index.ph...&hl=sensory http://activitydirector.net/forum/index.ph...&hl=sensory http://activitydirector.net/forum/index.ph...08&hl=carts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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