Solange

Hi, Sally the bean bags are usually 4 by 4 inches or 10 cm by 10 cm but you can do the size you like. Don’t fill them too much; they should be fairly soft for easy throwing. Good luck!

Hi Belinda,

You could try themed fundraising. For instance, Halloween is celebrated soon and you could buy a pumpkin for them to guess how many seeds there will be when cut open. The pumpkin would be placed in a prominent position where Happy Hour takes place. Nearby, have a sheet of cardboard and a pen for people to write their guesses. You would charge whatever you think they can afford for each guess.

Residents could have as many guesses as they wanted as long as the token fee is paid. The prize for the guess is up to you and the winner should be the closest to the real amount of seeds found. Before Halloween, you cut the pumpkin and separate the seeds into four or five parts. Give one part to each resident capable of the task, and add it all up when done.

You could extend the fundraising to visitors and residents’ relatives by transferring the pumpkin to the Reception area after the Happy Hour so they can also enter the guessing competition. Also, check these links for future use.

Fundraising Ideas For Nursing Homes:
https://www.goldencarers.com/fundraising-ideas-for-nursing-homes/3457/

Optimal Activities - Marketing, Fundraising & Sourcing Free Resources:
https://www.goldencarers.com/optimal-activities---marketing-fundraising-sourcing-free-resources/5105/

Hi James, yes, PVC pipes can be used as long as you make sure it is safe, meaning the open sides are properly taped so that dementia residents cannot open it. Than you.

Hi Beata, Spiritual dimension relates to the quality of life and overall sense of the health of your clients. It is the search for life’s meaning, and purpose through nature, relationships, or God. From the premise of caring for elders, it is the religious or secular support you extend to them when illness and weakness precipitate spiritual distress. Your support, empathy, and kindness help them through. Giving time and listening to them is at the root of good spiritual practice. You may also use, meaningful religious ritual (if applied), the arts, garden contemplation, life story, reminiscing to assist them to come to terms with their problems.

Choose the spiritual care you wish to give and update the Care Plan with your desired outcomes. The Care Plan update should include what sort of spiritual assistance you are giving to the client’s family: respectful and empathetic communication, sympathy, comfort, time, etc. Here is an example:

Objectives:

Identify spiritual needs - ( need to talk, need for prayer, need for church music, etc)
Identify the severity of distress - (family visits, psychotherapeutic intervention)

Goals

1:1 attention for half an hour daily to reminisce youth, look at the family photo album
Minister of religion will visit weekly
Will enjoy church music with radio/IPad placed in the bedroom

Hi Clare, many schools sang hymns like 'Amazing Grace', 'Kumbaya My Lord', and 'How Great Thou Art'. Also popular were 'Oh Susanna', Skip to My Lou' 'Run Rabbit Run', and 'Camptown Races'.

Hi Phoenix,
We used to record the quarterly Assessment online but I would guess that the hard copy would be similar. The form should have a concise recapitulation of the resident's activities in the past three months as follows :
Title: Quarterly Assessment
Identification information of the resident: Name, room number
Social activities/interaction - average participation
Physical pursuits
Religious aspirations
Alterability and frequency of behaviour symptoms, if any.
Emotional upheavals, if any.
Visitors: family friends - emotional expression
Illnesses, if it affected activity participation
So long, I hope it helps.

Hi Jess, can you be more specific? If you mean you are designing a leisure/fidgety activity tray for a dementia resident you need to make sure that everything on the tray is safely attached. The resident should not able to pull apart any pieces or hurt himself/herself.

Hi Diane, don't feel disheartened, there are ups and downs in all professions. Just change your activity program. It would help if you were to ask residents what they prefer. Give them alternative activities to pick; riddles, table games, quizzes, cooking, ball games, craft, and others. Hang in there, you are just going through a low phase; you will be fine!

Hi Juanita, I am sorry you are having trouble with volunteers. They are such an asset to an organization. My experience is that the Police check is a must, and of course, the orientation is very useful to the prospective recruit, but TB clearance and other background checks I am not aware of. Our orientation was very simple; we took the volunteer through the facility pointing out where dining, kitchen, bathrooms were and then having them to assist you with an activity. You could observe and make a decision if the person was more suited to help with a game of cards or craft or just one on one sessions. I also was very successful in persuading residents relatives to volunteer once a week or fortnight. Good luck!

Hi, Caitlin -Elders’ physical capabilities:
Dexterity; does the client have good grip strength?
Mobility/Balance: How difficult is walking/turning around? Can he/she get up and go? Do they rely on the staff’s help?
Stamina: What is the dimension of his/her tiredness? Can they stay awake without nodding off during activities?