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Solange

Diversional Therapist From Queensland, Australia


1033 Comment

Solange 17th Dec 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Welcome, Sara! We hope your stay is propitious and enjoyable.
Solange 14th Dec 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Hi Lyn, Birthdays parties are excellent for games. To start you should place tokens under chairs (before the party start) to play for token prizes at the party. Here are a few games suitable for adults: Who Am I? _Make your own celebrity or movie star or choose from the list from Golden Carers

Alphabet Game - Get a group of 26 people - one for each of the Alphabet letters. Ask the first person to give you a word starting with ‘A’ and so on. If you have high function residents you may make it harder e.g. Flowers or Name of People.

Picture Guessing Songs - Prior to the Birthday party ask a group of ladies to find pictures representing songs for the audience to guess. Enlarge the pictures and laminate them. To play the game show the picture and ask residents to guess the song. Here are a few ideas: A Rainbow (Over the Rainbow) - a Pie (American Pie) - Don McClean - A Blackbird (Bye, Bye Blackbird) - A Piano ( Piano Man) - A Moon ( Blue Moon or By the Light of the Silvery Moon (depending on their age) - A Tulip (Tulip of Amsterdam) - a Girl in a red dress (Lady in Red) - A Rose Garden (Rose Garden - Lyn Anderson) - a Rocket (Rocket Man - Elton John).
Solange 13th Dec 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Hi Sally, until restrictions are eased we must adhere to physical distancing and current requirements for gathering sizes specified by management. Yes, 2020 Christmas will be rather forlorn everywhere. The phone will play a big role in connecting residents with families. Apart from that, I would rely on music, moral support, delicious food, booklets with trivia entertainment (Find the Differences, Wordsearch, poems, Movie Trivia, Sport quizzes, etc.) Here are a couple of activities for you to try:
1. With your mask in place visit each resident with a large decorated mason jar. Encourage each one to write what they are grateful for in the year 2020 despite its shortcomings. This activity incorporates one on one visit, moral support, and extra care. You may or may not read the positive messages in the jar for all to hear (at coffee break or lunch) without divulging their names.
2.Make a compilation of the names of songs each resident would like to hear (their favorites) and use your PA to play the songs. You may write down what each resident is reminded of when listening to it. (make sure only songs that bring happy memories). Ask for permission to divulge it through the PA. Some will allow you and others may not. This activity will bring good memories and distract them from sadness.
Remember we are all together in it and we will beat it!
Solange 24th Nov 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Hi Amy, I am sorry you can't decorate. I assume what is not allowed is the fact that residents are not to make the decorations. You could try decorating with plants and artificial flowers with the help of a volunteer. Keep safe.
Solange 12th Nov 2020 Diversional Therapist

10 Ways to Use Sensory Boxes & Multisensory Spaces

Hi Stacey, caring for someone with late-stage dementia is very hard and I feel for you. Your husband could do with some help. Have you inquired if local authorities can assist you? Meanwhile, you can try giving her an album of family photos to peruse, laundry to fold, an old woolen pullover to unravel, vegetables to peel, dishes to wash. Keep safe.
Solange 12th Nov 2020 Diversional Therapist

Sensory Pouches for Dementia Care

Hi Aubree, the pouches can be bought online. However, they were limited they were rather small only (9 inches- 17 cm) and came in packets of 5. Since I bought many years ago, perhaps now they have larger sizes. All the best, keep safe.
Solange 31st Oct 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Hi Julie, you certainly have lots of good ideas. You may add "Best Scary Books" they read as children. Then go to the movies, which movies they were really scared of?
Solange 19th Oct 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Hi Melanie, you do need a bowl. (glass, stainless, or stoneware). Place the bowl upside down and cover with a layer of plastic wrap. Smear Mod Podge or any wood glue all over the plastic wrap and start layering the leaves as you like. Once the bowl is completely covered place another layer of plastic wrap over the leaves to hold them in place. Put it to dry for 4 or 5 hours. Remove the outer plastic wrap gently and let dry overnight. The next day ease your beautiful bowl of leaves out of the reminder plastic wrap layer. Good Luck!
Solange 16th Oct 2020 Diversional Therapist

Forum

Hi, Melissa, In this case, I would recommend tapping into her memory before she was an executive. Several studies indicate that a person’s late teens and 20s experiences are very strong. Find out what was on the hit parade or popular dances and poems when she was growing up. If she ever belonged to a faith you may tap into popular religious hymns. I also believe that you can tap into children’s music and nursery rhymes to remind her of herself as a young parent.
Solange 3rd Oct 2020 Diversional Therapist

The Human Body Riddles

Hi Sarah, you are quite right. Keeping the brain alert while entertaining.
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