Diana 0 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Hello Everyone! Here's a question for everyone - What are some ideas that you folks have for activities in the dining area right before meals, when you have the majority of your residents available. This is the time of day when folks are gathering and yet just sitting and staring at one another or listening to music. These include residents who usually attend activities and those who only come out for lunch or dinner? Earlier Pennie posted one about an AD who played a table bingo (taking about 15 minutes) where she was able to involve residents who don't usually attend activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilkesrose 0 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Hello! I'm relatively new to the world of Activity Coordinator. I've given the subject of "dining room entertainment" some thought, and one of the things that I do is sing silly songs. Nothing new there! LOL How about a color game? Before the guests (our folks are referred to as guests, not residents) come to the dining room, hide an object on or around several of the tables and play "I Spy"; or maybe use cut outs from magazines, display them on the tables and ask guests to tell you what they have in front of them, or something along those lines. Sorry I couldn't be more help but I'm sure there are some folks here with more suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy 0 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I do trivia, exercise, table talk, and sensory stim on our alz floor. Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braydon 0 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 We also do trivia. Famous birthdays, weird facts, multiple choice silly questions. The residents really seem to like it, and almost all participate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pamula5681 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Prior to meals at our facility is when we do sensory stimulation with residents. We have 2 seatings for meals, the first seating is those who either need assistance to be fed or supervision and the 2nd seating is for those that are more independent. We do sensory stimulation with the first group, while the cna's are gathering up the residents. We usually have music playing in the background or a movie or video. Hope this helps, we have found it very beneficial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbkemp 0 Report Share Posted March 23, 2005 I had gotten this book for Christmas and it's really helped me(being new) to get to know the residents and they enjoy it very much. The book is called "The Fabulous book of questions" there is a section that is sex questions, but I steer clear of that and just ask the innocent ones. It's amazing the memories and conversations that these questions can start up. Even the staff enjoys asking the questions to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adcee 0 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Have you ever tried offering Puzzles & Such? or maybe playing one round of bingo with all tables having different cards? I Xerox copies of our large print cards, making only four copies of each card. All tables get different cards and the players at each table play and assist one another. The first table to call BINGO wins and all players at that table get a prize. We only play to the first bingo. It generally takes about 10-15 minutes which is perfect for a pre-meal activity. We use our bingo cage and balls for added excitement, and all players are given small golf pencils of colored pencils to mark with. Another new pre-meal activity that I've started is"What's Your Preference". It involves offering residents a taste between two or three items and we record their preference, then later hang the black board for all to see. We offer different items each time, and always take along a dietary listing to keep track of the residents dietary needs. Foods/drinks that are tasty, popular and that are not normally not offered are served. I also purchased a cute decorative blackboard to record the stated choices and we use colorful beverage napkins, extra small cups for tasting, small frilled toothpicks to serve, or tasting spoons (from an ice cream shop). This past week one of my residents asked if we could play Rainbow Bingo before lunch, but we had already played it the week before, so I created another game for her instead, we call it Pick Three, Match Two. It involves numbers. I printed out numbers one inch in size, zero to nine onto card stock, then cut apart and placed in a basket. Residents get three numbers and must match two of the three called. We played probably ten rounds before the meal was served. All that had a match hollered out and they received a prize. With these pre-meal activities, I get more residents to participate and several have ventured over to the activities room later on just to find out what other fun things we are doing! And have become regulars. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana 0 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Dee, thanks for those GREAT ideas - Thanks to everyone else as well! I like the idea of getting someone interested in group activites in a "tricky" way, so they don't think I am being pushy, and those are inventive ideas! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actpro 0 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 Hi, right before lunch, what works for my resident's. I put a CD on with Hands Up music. Most of my resident's like that, we wave our hands, and go back and forth with our hands and sing with the music. The cna's enjoy that too. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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