Yes I totally agree Solange. Within high care the need for individual or very small group activities and therapy is becoming a daily essential. Sensory enrichment, therapeutic touch and positioning -the DT needs to be very close to the resident/s to maintain their focus. Larger group activities can become a waste of energy and cause stress for everybody if several residents need 100% attention otherwise they wander off or start doing something else and their attention is lost.
Small group activities and 1:1 with an individual are much more rewarding and provide opportunities for them to have enough time, space and encouragement to open up and moments for what i call "awakenings". Most of my activities are with one person at a time, or very small groups such as 3-4 people. And i feel that much more is achieved esp person centred approaches. I also find that i enjoy the activities much more as well!
I love the peeling of the hard boiled eggs. You can also have related items such as a sand filled egg timer. I think with the food handling concerns you can try activities where the resident eats only the food they have touched, such as peeling and eating a banana. You can buy plastic silver cutlery or cheap cutlery from discount stores and keep in your DT cupboard for use only with the washing up activity. Food activites are great and I love the ideas on this site, thanks!
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. Never disappointed when looking for inspiration when logging on to Golden Carers. We are so fortunate to have access to so many different ideas to use on a daily basis. Cannot thank you all enough for the wonderful work you do putting all those resources at our fingertips.
Raewyn Stollery Diversional Therapist United Kingdom
Forum
Small group activities and 1:1 with an individual are much more rewarding and provide opportunities for them to have enough time, space and encouragement to open up and moments for what i call "awakenings". Most of my activities are with one person at a time, or very small groups such as 3-4 people. And i feel that much more is achieved esp person centred approaches. I also find that i enjoy the activities much more as well!