Member Profile:

Susan

Activity Director From Nevada, United States


About Susan: Susan Berg is a freelance writer, retired healthcare professional, retired Activity Director and current writer for several senior care e-magazines with more than 20 years of experience working with Senior Citizens and eight years experience writing for a number of publications. She is the author of a book for those with dementia and their caregivers. Susan has two blogs about activities for seniors and information vital to all wanting to know about dementia. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and North Shore Community College.

Senior Citizens
Susan is an expert on senior citizen issues. She is currently a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant(COTA). In this role, she has worked with senior citizens. Susan is an expert on adapting and modifying activities so that seniors can participate in them. She spent twenty years as an Activity Director in nursing homes. She devised, planned, coordinated, and facilitated stimulating activity programming. Also she designed a program for homebound senior citizens. Currently, Susan shares her knowledge about senior activities on one of her blogs.

Dementia

Susan is also an expert on dementia and related issues. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner(CPD). She has participated in numerous workshops, seminars and alike where she has gained much knowledge. Her work as an Activity Director and COTA has given her much knowledge and experience in relating to individuals with dementia. Susan is passionate about sharing her knowledge. She is hopeful that people will do what they can to prevent or at least slow down dementia in themselves or loved ones. Susan has shared many tips on how to prevent dementia or slow it down on her other blog.

Feel free to visit and comment at either of Susan’s blogs at
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com

28 Activities


3507 Comment

Susan 21st Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Here is a good place to start these surveys are supplied by Golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-conduct-an-activities-survey/4835/
Susan 21st Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

I have heard of it but I agree with Solange that it would be too confusing for some of the residents and probably not worth the money

I bought tablets for the residents to use and installed simple apps on them Some residents like them but you must spend time explaining how to use them it's more for independent residents or residents there for sure term rehab

We have used the WII with a small group of residents there are many game options you could use depending on the interest of your residents
Susan 20th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Vicki
This depends on what deficits the resident has from the stroke and how long it has been since this person had the stroke

There can be many deficits from changes in vision to no speech to un able to use his arms or legs or both

Also depends on the goal of this person to engage in activities

You want him to feel good about doing the activity and you want him to be able to do it or come close to being able to do it

It is best to talk to his physical and occupational therapist to see what they think he can do and what he need to work with

FOr example
For poor vision this is an idea on C
Golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/20-
activities-for-the-visuallyimpaired/4205/
For trouble speaking try these activities suggested on Golden
Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/aphasia-activity-ideas-for-activity-coordinators/5406/

For trouble using his hands or legs try the suggestions on golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/balloon-tennis/4646/

If you need more suggestions give me some more information about the patient and I will be able to help you further
Susan 15th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

You could try this from golden Carers or make something similar to fit your needs
https://www.goldencaretools.com/

If you provide me with your email address I can send you one that I use as an activity care plan if that interests you
You could adapt it and modify it as necessary
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

20 Fabulous Day Trip Destinations for Seniors

Great idea Owen
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Hollywood Stars Bingo

You could also use these pictures as an Identitng game especially for lower functioning residents
You could enlarge the pictures for those who are visually impaired
You could do this as a reminiscing activity also
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

You could print cards color bingo using card stock from this site
They also have other bingo games you might be interested in
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Here is another version of card bingo I think you can use less than six cards per person to make it easier
https://www.goldencarers.com/card-bingo/4175/
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Here is an idea from Golden Carer
https://www.goldencarers.com/picture-matching-bingo/3913/
You can also use playing cards just get two decks and give each resident however many cards you want Face up and when you pick a matching card they turn it face down
The one who turns all their cards over is the winner and you start a new game if you want to have a winner
You could use giant playing cards also
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Solange those are really good ideas
Help