Posted by Tracey (205.188.116.70) on August 26, 2004 at 21:33:29:
In Reply to: Re: Activities for Dementia Residents posted by marie johnson on August 24, 2004 at 10:41:19:
The IL residents are fine, but we have several border line AL residents with beginning alzheimer's and dementia. We read the paper, do trivia, word games, nail polishing. Hand Massage is good. We could easily do that while they are sitting in the lobby. Thanks!
: : : : : I work in IL and AL and have recently been asked to provide more activities for the dementia residents. However, I have to be careful so as not to offend or belittle the majority of the residents. We already do reminiscing, trivia, crossword puzzles, word games, bingo, nail polishing, etc. Guess I just don't know what else to do. Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful!
:
: hi
: If they are in IL and AL shouldn't they be a little higher functioning? Anyway, I used to do hand massages with a nice hand lotion
: To save money I used to dress up as a character (theme: statute of liberty, betsy ross, Elvis ) and do skits, informational and funny, Themes are good. For example: you could have done somethiing for the Olympics this monoth: Senior Olympics: Light exercises, walker races, hand out gold medals, play the American anthem.
: have fun, good luck
: : : : : Thanks!
: : : : i have worked with dementia residents for 9 years. they enjoy doing things that they had done at home. cooking, folding clothes, snapping beans, shucking corn etc... if they are "helping" they are usually happy. watch out for overstimulation with your dementia residents can cause some weird(?) behaviors. good luck
: : : Please do not call people who have dementia, "dementia residents." I know you mean no harm, but they are people first. It is our job to discover who each person is and address his/her individual needs. Changes are coming, and we must look at what we do through the eyes of the residents. Remember, each of us may become one of "them" one day.
: : : Cindee