Solange

Hi Laura, visitation restrictions are one of the measures taken by many care facilities. Some are canceling group activities and communal dining, and observing residents and staff for fever and respiratory complaints. Others are screening (taking temperature) staff that works in various facilities before starting their shifts. Also, no greetings involving hand-shaking and kisses or embraces. Of course, there are exceptions for end-of-life visitors, doctor appointments, and other specific needs.

Hi, Dawn, you are quite right, many residents won’t be happy with the situation. Activities for them should be in line with ‘being helpful and needed’. Many residents are driven by a sense of solidarity and social feelings you can explore. Whatever you ask them to do, cooperate, or contribute can satisfy their feelings of belonging. You may have to explain to them that the situation is temporary. Here is some ‘food for thought’ activities that individuals may enjoy in the privacy of their bedrooms.
Time to support Spiritual Practice
Unraveling a wool sweater for recycling
Empowering arts ( modeling clay, drawings, colouring)
Fiddle Boxes
Untying knots (a dozen sailor's knots for them to untie)
Fabric Box (pieces of fabric to be folded and separated by colour)
Pairing and sorting activities: https://www.goldencarers.com/pairing-sorting/3777/
Making Pom-Poms for decorations
Colouring Easter eggs (boiled eggs, and colouring pencils)
Cutting pictures from old calendars for a poster
Cupcakes decorations for Morning tea
You may visit each resident to see how they are going and assist if needed.

Hi Donna,yes, in an ideal world you would have your activity staff increased. Failing that, you will need to recruit a couple of volunteers. Having volunteers will leave with time to dedicate to the dementia unit. The volunteers would have to be trained and supervised for a couple of weeks before being able to lend a hand. You still are expected to coordinate the three units but your workload would be less.Take a look at the following link to get some ideas on how to recruit volunteers. I wish you all the best.
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-establish-a-volunteer-program-/4

Hi Leslie, the resident seems to be in the early stages of dementia and deeply unhappy with her lot. Still, the facility is home to many residents who wish to live harmoniously. What I would do is to take it to a meeting to explain the situation. Your management/senior staff should understand that the resident is obnoxious and non-compliant and that it is disrupting your Activity Program. Inform them that the residents’ own peers don’t want her around, and proceed to explain what happens when she is around them. One course of action we did in the past was having a serious talk with the resident; myself and an accompanying senior staff or the manager. The resident would be told that her behaviour was not going to be tolerated without consequences (by consequence I mean we asked the resident if she/he would like to move to another facility where they would be happier - they never did). Of course, you do it with compassion but firmly; your goal is to discover whether there is a reason for the behaviour and if you can help her to overcome it.
Don’t despair, we all have these experiences along the course of our careers.

Thank you for your kind words, Marilyn. You are right, maintaining your volunteers' supported and appreciated is rewarded with their loyalty and dedication. Good work!

Hi Sally, great ideas! I may add a few more. Residents can cut out pictures of old calendars or suitable photos from family members to make bookmarks as gifts.
Also, they may talk on Skype with friends and relatives, sort out clutter in closets and drawers, play Solitaire, and unravel an old wool pullover to recycle in winter. The men could indulge in making paper airplanes, doing Spot the Differences, listening to a podcast of their interest, or’ Where is Wally’ type of activities.
https://www.goldencarers.com/photo-bookmarks-of-children/6226/
https://www.goldencarers.com/paper-planes-reminiscing-game/3618/

Hi Breanne, yes, you can decorate before as long as supervision is adequate. The reason we recommend to decorate after is for safety reasons. Some people in the later stages of dementia are fidgety and may pull out the decorations ( buttons, beads, key-rings) which could end up in their mouths. Securing decorations over various layers makes it difficult for clients to pull. Thank you for your inquiry.

Hi Lenny.What a great job you have. You could try Proverbs, Nursery rhymes sing-along,
Things that Go Together, True or False, Jokes: Who's There?. You can also peruse the following links for ideas.

https://www.goldencarers.com/hands-on-tote-art-project/5427/

https://www.goldencarers.com/stick-figure-drawing-storytelling/4996/

https://www.goldencarers.com/spot-the-differences-12/4922/

https://www.goldencarers.com/making-rainbows/4663/

https://www.goldencarers.com/shadow-animals/4075/

Hi, Samatha. An in-service to improve residents’ dexterity could be offered through a series of activities like playing with clay, doing hand stretches; - flexing and stretching the hands and fingers to improve blood flow - and sewing large items with safety needles e.g. ‘sewing’ strips of leather around a frame. An in-service to improve balance and strengthens knee joints and ankles could include wall pushups (fully supervised and supported) - sitting with feet hip-width apart and holding on the sides of chair, place feet on tip-toe position and then move your torso forward - as forward as it is safe - go back to original position and repeat. I hope this can help you.

Thank you Lisa, your feedback is very important to us.