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By Molly Activity Professional & Writer

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Activity Calendar

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Activity Calendar
7 145

I've worked in activities for over ten years, and I have found that there are some activities that you just have to have on the activities calendar!

While these activities may be staples, they can easily lose their charm for both you and the residents when done over a long period of time. Here are a few ways to spice up the classic activities on your calendar!

In this article we cover:

  • Alternatives to Traditional Bingo
  • Coffee Chats with a Family Theme
  • Rise & Shine Exercise Group
  • Go Exploring with Armchair Travel
  • Learn an Instrument Together
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Comments
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Susan avatar

Hi Lora

Thank you for this information

It is most helpful

Lora  avatar
Lora Lifestyle Enhancement Coordinator

Dementia Australia has an app called "A Better Visit".

You download it onto your I-pad and take it with you when visiting or engaging with a person with Dementia.

Its really great especially for someone who is non verbal or who has limited communication. Its very easy to use. There is a fishing game and colouring and lots of interactive games.

Susan avatar

Hi Melissa

This sounds like a grieat activity

My go to activity was name that tune

Instead of playing music I would say the first word of a title and see if the residents could guess the song

If No one guessed I would say the next word and until someone named the song

And we would sing

Melissa avatar

Happy New Year, all. I am currently the only activity person at our facility, so as I formulate our calendar I have to be very efficient in my planning! My go-to activity is balloon volleyball, which I do with an actual volleyball net that sets up and breaks down in only a couple of minutes. With covid, I now incorporate social distancing by putting chairs between the players’ wheelchairs. With lively music and lots of good natured trash talking, this is hugely popular; the chairs even help act as passive “players”! It’s a goodly amount of setting up but well worth it. Lately we even have physical therapy come in to play and guide some of their patients through a game. Happy 2021!

Cindy  avatar

I presently work in the community setting and am in need of ideas to support those with dementia in their homes! I may have to resort to doing activities over the telephone> Anyone have any ideas?

Solange avatar

Helping clients at home to stay connected is challenging, no doubt.

One useful thing to do is to show/teach them how to use Skype/FaceTime so they can call family and friends.

Another idea is to download apps with captions/subtitles for hearing deficit clients.

More ideas:

1) make a booklet of 7or 8 pages with trivia, quizzes, spot the differences, riddles, numbers games, name the animal/musical instruments and more. Post it to your client to do.

2) Find out what your client is interested in and recommend YouTube channels; painting, online forums, learning a language, watching children's’ dancing competitions, gentle chair exercises, caring for baby animals.

3) Call the client once a day to lend support.

4) Choose an easy facial mask pattern and make a parcel with enough fabric for the client to trace. Alternatively, you may send a parcel with traced masks for the client to cut for you.

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