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HI! I recently got the task of doing a program called tender heart. it is a program in the late afternoon for all the lower cognitive residents who sit around all day. and i am in need of some new things to do. they dont like to do much other than to look out the window and listen to cds. i need something that will get them excited! any ideas?

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Have you ever tried tossing a balloon around with them? I was pleasantly surprised that even my lowest functioning people could do that. The balloon is so light that even the weakest, most arthritic hands can make it move. And some residents who don't perk up for anything else will suddenly come alive when that bright yellow balloon lands in their lap. I've had more fun giggling sessions with them than I ever thought possible.

 

I've found this is a great thing to bring this Assisted Living resident along with me to. She's pretty confused most of the time, but loves other people and always wants to help, so she makes a great person to sit in the circle across from me and keep the balloon moving. You can put on some fun, upbeat music too.

 

Also, I do aromatherapy hand massages in the afternoons to service my lower functioning residents. I use lavender vanilla hand cream from Bath and Body Works, and just gently rub it into their hands while talking about how good it smells and what it is they're smelling.

 

Hope that helps!

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Maybe you can try a activity like matching/sorting,have the residents sort buttons,beads,ect.. to size or color. Try picking a subject like flowers,children,crafts have them look through magazines and pick out pictures they would like to have cut out for a book or collage they can help you make. My residents enjoy looking for pictures of food and we cut the recipes out with them,(for our own cookbook) My lower functioning residents also enjoy me bringing out the big book of Nursery Rhymes I will begin a sentence and see if they can finish it. Hope I have been some help to you. :P

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HI! I recently got the task of doing a program called tender heart. it is a program in the late afternoon for all the lower cognitive residents who sit around all day. and i am in need of some new things to do. they dont like to do much other than to look out the window and listen to cds. i need something that will get them excited! any ideas?

 

Hi andrea2k9 here,

I found the same problem, especially just before evening tea So I got some ballons (bright colours) and bubbles (bottle with plastic wand) it keeps the residents who are not mobile energised and awake and even gets the odd smile.

I know how hard it is to try new things in the Nursing Home, sometimes when you are left to do all the activity tasks on your own.

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HI! I recently got the task of doing a program called tender heart. it is a program in the late afternoon for all the lower cognitive residents who sit around all day. and i am in need of some new things to do. they dont like to do much other than to look out the window and listen to cds. i need something that will get them excited! any ideas?

 

Hello,have you ever tried showing them a box that i would call a sensation box?for example in a box could be textured objects such as cotton,treebark,silk,satin.or a variety of smells i use candles ,one of my favorite is my fruit basket an apple,banana,grapes,a candle that smells fruit and a cherry dum dum for taste(the fruit is plastic)..another fun thing that i present my residents with is a box filled with rice and sand they dig in the box and find things that i have hidden in it(this could be anything )when they pull out the object have them identify it...an example key chain, a bingo chip, a door hook, a super ball,and such..have fun.

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HI! I recently got the task of doing a program called tender heart. it is a program in the late afternoon for all the lower cognitive residents who sit around all day. and i am in need of some new things to do. they dont like to do much other than to look out the window and listen to cds. i need something that will get them excited! any ideas?

 

Try pet therapy. I've never seen a resident who didn't perk up when a pet came in. Also we have a church school across the street from our building and the children sometime come over just for visit and usually bring something they have colored or made for each resident. The residents love to listen to them read and sing also.

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HI! I recently got the task of doing a program called tender heart. it is a program in the late afternoon for all the lower cognitive residents who sit around all day. and i am in need of some new things to do. they dont like to do much other than to look out the window and listen to cds. i need something that will get them excited! any ideas?

 

 

Music is the best. Play popular songs and watch individual people for thier responce. Make individual cds for each individual to play and/or take with them to listen to. Individual tapes will get dimentia people happy every day.

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HI! I recently got the task of doing a program called tender heart. it is a program in the late afternoon for all the lower cognitive residents who sit around all day. and i am in need of some new things to do. they dont like to do much other than to look out the window and listen to cds. i need something that will get them excited! any ideas?

 

 

Lower congnitive residents are always a challenge! You can try ArmChair Cruises or Photo-ops from www.geriactivesllc.com. The base activity such as watching a DVD or having a photo taken with a famous person is prefect for lower functioning residents. The great thing about these activities is that the activity book also includes other items such as puzzles and games that match the theme of the activity so that you can use again for higher functioning residents. Use code NETWORK and save 10% on your first purchase! Best of Luck!

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  • 6 years later...
 

I am new in the activities field but I recently had a success with one of our dementia residents. We were watching the Ziegfeld Follies on youtube (we have a really big screen in our Activity Room), then moved on to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, all short clips. I was commenting on the beautiful and glamorous costumes, and the dancing. It really caught her attention, and she began commenting on what she was watching, with very appropriate commentary, like really tuned in - which is unusual for her. It somehow grabbed her, she latched on and could really talk about it on a reality level, and she thoroughly enjoyed it and told me afterwards it really brought back some old "friends" (I think she meant to say memories).

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