Laughter is contagious; one person's laughter is soon shared by another. Finding ways to make people laugh in long-term care facilities is a worthwhile endeavor that will stimulate positive emotions and encourage social interaction between clients.
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30th Nov 2017
Support Worker
30th Nov 2017
30th Nov 2017
Activity Coordinator
30th Nov 2017
Related Calendar Activities
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Recycled Magazine Christmas Trees
Do your bit to save the planet with this gorgeous recycled Christmas Tree craft activity!
12 Comments Video
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Christmas Angel (Standing)
Here is a lovely christmas craft activity - create beautiful standing Christmas angels!
4 Comments Video
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Christmas decorations with Salt Dough
This is folk art and maybe some of your residents will remember playing with it as a child. Video included!
3 Comments Video
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Popsicle Christmas Stars
Maintenance of dexterity. Promote sense of accomplishment.
4 Comments
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Christmas Quiz
Here's a fun Christmas quiz for seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
6 Comments
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Christmas Quiz II
Here's another quiz to test your christmas knowledge!
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Christmas templates for colouring-in
Colouring-in, whether with crayons, coloured pencils or paint is therapy as well as a great way to pass the time absorbed in something creative. It may help to maintain what remains of dexterity and fine motor control.
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Stained Glass Window Christmas Decorations
Here is an activity that will help you with your resolve to become more ‘green’. It is fun to make and requires little skill and yet looks rather striking hanged in walls, doors, windows and shelves.
4 Comments
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Christmas Crossword Puzzle
Get into the spirit of Christmas with this crossword puzzle.
2 Comments
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Recycled Christmas Card Tree Ornaments
Lovely Christmas tree ornaments made from recycled Christmas cards
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Recycled Jigsaw Puzzle Christmas Trees
This is a cute craft activity using discarded jigsaw puzzle pieces to create hanging decorations for your factility at Christmas.
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Christmas Quiz III
Yet another Christmas Quiz!
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Christmas Baskets with recycled Doilies
Recycle old doilies into these cute baskets for your Christmas table. They can be used to hold rum balls, chocolate, homemade Christmas biscuits and anything else you can think of.
4 Comments
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Wooden Branch Christmas Trees
This is a very useful tree to have! It can be used all year around, just change the ornaments on Easter, Valentines Day, Mothers Day, Chocolate day, Wish Tree Day.
4 Comments
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Evergreen Hanging Christmas Trees
Any of the Arborvitae evergreens can be used; I find the Thuja occidentalis particularly good because the leaves as flat by nature, making it easier to glue the layers.
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Xmas chains
Use Christmas cards to create lovely Christmas chain decorations!
6 Comments Member Activity
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Cinderella Christmas Pantomime
"Everyone had so much fun and all the residents and staff laughed until they couldn't laugh anymore. The next day residents were asking staff what pantomime were they going to do next year!"
17 Comments
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Christmas Pantomime - Pinocchio
"Lots of fun to do and residents, family members, and staff are still laughing about it."
4 Comments
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Lovely Christmas Doves
Make a few of these lovely doves and place them on your Christmas table as a container for chocolate, cookies and marshmallows.
4 Comments
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Recycled Advent Calendar
There are dozens of ways to make Advent calendars from recycled material. This is just one of them.
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Christmas Quiz IV
What is Santa Klaus called in some European countries?
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Recycled Christmas Ornaments
Use old cards to make ornaments for your Christmas tree or string them along to make a garland for walls or windows.
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Pasta Christmas Wreaths
These beautiful wreaths can also be made with corks, large buttons, shells, and unshelled nuts.
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Recycled Newspaper Christmas Wreath
Use your old newspapers to make this beautiful Christmas wreath.Video instructions included!
2 Comments Video
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The Twelve days of Christmas
Get everyone into the spirit of Christmas with this fun activity.
Thanks Joanne, this is a great idea!8 Comments Member Activity
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Paper Christmas Ornament
Beautiful, easy to make Christmas ornaments!
5 Comments Video
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Fabric Christmas Ornament
These Christmas ornaments are striking and fun to make!
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Paper Petals Christmas Ornament
Another lovely Christmas ornament you can hand-make!
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Recycled Book Pages Christmas Wreath
These recycled book Christmas Wreaths are stunning and easy to make!
3 Comments Video
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Christmas Trivia
Here is some interesting trivia about Christmas traditions.
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Holly Leaves Christmas Wreaths
Another lovely option for creating beautiful Christmas Wreaths.
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Christmas Carol Trivia
This fun quiz is all about well known Christmas Carols.
Thanks Kerry!3 Comments Member Activity
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Aussie 12 days of Christmas
Make you own Australian themed 12 Days of Christmas song to enjoy.
Thanks Joanne!3 Comments Member Activity
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DIY Christmas Shirts
Make your own unique Christmas polo shirts!
2 Comments Member Activity
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Standing Fabric Christmas Angels
These cute fabric angels are easy to make and very attractive to use on the table or mantel piece, windowsill, shelves or to hang from ceiling.
2 Comments
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Christmas Colouring-in
Christmas and nativity themed colouring-in templates to decorate your facility!
4 Comments
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Santa's Visit
I bought an inflatable Santa costume off eBay for $31 and I can tell you it went down a treat.
3 Comments Member Activity
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Paper Christmas Tree Centerpieces
These cute Christmas tree decorations are suitable for table tops, windowsills or desks. You can also sit them on top of tv's and radio's. Video instructions included!
4 Comments Video
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Recycled Paper Christmas Trees
Another lovely Christmas activity using recycled materials. Create these beautiful centerpieces with minimal effort! Video instructions included.
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Edible Christmas Trees
This activity offers lots of fun and plenty of opportunities to reminisce. Find out what participants used to cook for Christmas.
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Felt Christmas Poinsettia
Create these beautiful poinsettias for hanging or to use as table decorations at Christmas. Video instructions included!
4 Comments Video
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Christmas Board Game
Suitable for 2 people, this simple game can alert the mind and entertain.
2 Comments
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Christmas Tips for Recreation Therapists & Activity Professionals
The key to reducing stress at Christmas time is to get organised and plan ahead!
2 Comments
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Left & Right Game
A fun game that will generate much laughter! Seat participants in a circle with a ball, read the story and when you say the words 'right' or 'left' they should pass the ball in that direction.
13 Comments Member Activity
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Stained glass windows
Lovely stained glass windows for any season.
4 Comments Member Activity
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Christmas Pantomime: Sleeping Beauty
"My Goodness. It was hilarious! Thank You so much for this one! Our fairies were all big burly men dressed in tutus and tiaras and I got to be sleeping beauty."
3 Comments
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Snow & Winter Quiz
A fun winter themed quiz!
1 Comment
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Aussie Themed Jingle Bells
Aussie Themed Jingle Bells
2 Comments
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Christmas Word Search
Here is a Christmas themed Word Search.
2 Comments
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Christmas Kissing Ball
Decorate your facility or home with these beautiful evergreen balls.
3 Comments
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Fun Riddle - Christmas
The next installment in the riddle series!
1 Comment
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Gift Jar and Candle Holder
Celebrate Volunteers Day with a lunch or High Tea in their honor. You can make it extra especial if you give them an inexpensive gift; preferably made by the residents.
5 Comments
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Holiday Movie Recommendations for the Elderly
There is something special about sitting down comfortably with some popcorn to watch a good movie with a few friends during the festive season; especially if the movie makes you laugh, lifts your spirits and inspires you.
1 Comment
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Christmas Pantomime - Aladdin & the Magic Lamp
"We have just presented Aladdin to our residents and family, what fun! I would recommend this as an excellent activity to facilitate interaction on another level between staff and residents, boost self-esteem and have a really great time."
4 Comments
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Christmas Trivia from around the World
A list of some of the more unusual Christmas traditions from around the world...
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Trivia: Kissing Under the Mistletoe
Some interesting trivia about the history of mistletoe.
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Christmas Cork Reindeer
Have fun creating these lovely cork reindeer! Cork is considered biodegradable and renewable.
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Christmas Stick Frames
A simple and stunning Christmas activity!
3 Comments
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Intergenerational: Spot the Differences
Spot the Differences is a brain game for children and adults alike. It involves identification of objects, spatial analysis as well as short-term memory.
3 Comments
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Intergenerational: Colour By Numbers
Despite being associated with children, Colour By Numbers activities can be beneficial to adults as well. Not to mention lots of fun!
2 Comments
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Christmas Word Search 2
Some more word search fun for Christmas!
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Photo Booth Funnies
We used existing photographs of residents, copying to all the same size.
2 Comments Member Activity
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Christmas card hangers
Wire coat hanger covered with tinsel, attach pegs with ribbon.
An idea for those residents to hang their cards on.4 Comments Member Activity
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40 Gift Ideas for the Elderly
Here are some ideas for affordable gifts and Golden Carers homemade gifts.
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Gluhwein Gift (Mulled Wine)
Use empty jars from the kitchen or use Mason jars to fill with the spices and sugar needed to make Gluhwein. Tie a little tag around the jar with the recipe for making Gluhwein. A stylish gift!
1 Comment
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Gluten-free Peanut Cookies
Many years ago when I found myself with 3 celiac (coeliac) clients - all three with a ‘sweet tooth’ - I came across this recipe. Even those without special dietary requirements loved them.
5 Comments
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Planning a Movie Night for the Elderly
If you don’t already run a regular ‘Movie Night’ at your facility, try it out! All you need is a large screen, some good speakers, and of course popcorn and ice cream to add to the cinematic experience!
10 Comments
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Christmas Poster #1
Beautiful Christmas poster for printing!
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Christmas Poster #2
Beautiful Christmas poster for printing!
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Merry Christmas in Different Languages
You may have clients who will be able to teach others how to say Merry Christmas in their language.
3 Comments
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Snowflake Decorations
Gorgeous glitter snowflakes for Christmas! A lovely activity and decoration for nursing homes.
2 Comments
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Christmas Pomanders
This is a lovely activity to get into the spirit of Christmas! It will bring wonderful scent to the whole facility in the weeks leading up to Christmas!
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Canvas Creative Group Project
Group art projects are a engaging activity for seniors in nursing homes. Creative group projects should have a theme; each client draws a picture (theme example: Christmas), and the final work is displayed as a group work of art.
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Pool Noodle Christmas Wreaths
These wreaths are stunning! They are so simple to make using pool noodles and Christmas balls. This is a wonderful and fun social activity for high functioning residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to enjoy.
3 Comments
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Photo Christmas Tree
These spectacular photo Christmas trees are so simple to make and will attract clients, visitors and staff and generate lots of social interaction. This is a wonderful activity for seniors in nursing homes.
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Kindness Advent Calendar
Kindness Advent Calendar
6 Comments Member Activity
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Christmas Pantomime: The Jungle Book
"What a fantastic resource and well put together for the links to music and sounds!"
2 Comments
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Winter Christmas Word Search
A Winter themed Christmas word search!
2 Comments
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Recycled Beer Cap Christmas Snowmen
Make these gorgeous recycled snowmen to hang on the Christmas Tree!
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Summer Christmas Word Search
A Summer themed Christmas word search
4 Comments
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Christmas Bulb Dice Game
A simple, Christmas Game for small groups.
1 Comment Member Activity
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All Occasions Bag
This idea was given as a valentines bag, could be used for any occasion.
2 Comments Member Activity
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Christmas Poems
Some lovely Christmas themed poems to share!
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The Birth of Jesus (A Christmas Story)
Here is a short story about the birth of Jesus to share.
2 Comments
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Christmas Carols Quiz
A fun Christmas carols themed quiz to enjoy!
2 Comments
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Christmas Poster #3
Another beautiful Merry Christmas poster!
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Snowball Garland
Make a snowball garland with embroidery thread and cotton balls.
1 Comment Member Activity
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Christmas Pantomime: Snow White & the 3 and a half Dwarfs!
Snow White & the 3 and a half Dwarfs is a two-act pantomime to entertain your clients and guest this festive season! A perfect addition to a Christmas Party in assisted living facilities. Loads of fun for staff and residents!
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Christmas Bingo
Christmas themed picture bingo! Calling cards start on page 17.
13 Comments Member Activity
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Pick Your Topic
Have an empty jar or container to put your questions in for your residents to "pull out".
1 Comment Member Activity
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Christmas Rephrase It
This is a fun game that some may find very challenging, but others may find humorous!
2 Comments Member Activity
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Unscramble Words - Holiday Theme
Try and unscramble the following holiday themed words. First letter provided!
1 Comment Member Activity
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Christmas Songs - Sing the Next Line Quiz
Get into the Christmas spirit with this music quiz featuring over 20 well known Christmas carols, hymns and songs.
1 Comment
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True or False Christmas Traditions
Test your knowledge of Christmas traditions from around the world!
3 Comments
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8 Ways To Spread Christmas Cheer in Nursing Homes
Make Christmas is as joyous an occasion as possible! We can act as a surrogate family for residents; comforting, encouraging and providing reasons for them to be happy.
1 Comment New
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How to Plan a Festival Of Lights Family Night
Planning a Family Night event right in the middle of the holiday season can feel extra stressful. However, you can pull off a beautiful Festival of Lights celebration by using some of these ideas. Take and adapt what works best for you and your seniors, making your event tailor-made for your community.
3 Comments New Member Activity
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I love this website especially the "This day in History" series. They are fantastic for my newsletter that I put out every month.
Jo Stewart
Diversional Therapist
Australia
I LOVE THE ACTIVITIES AND THE ELDERLY LOVE THEM TOO.
DO YOU HAVE ALSO JEWISH JOKES? I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM