This site needs a newer browser to work properly.

Give Google Chrome or Firefox a go. Both are free and work great.

Get Chrome Get Firefox

Start Creating

Join 15,000+ activity coordinators worldwide

Everything you need to delight your residents

Unlimited Activities
Create, edit, and save forever
Printable Calendars
Beautiful monthly programs
AI Content Generation
Generate games in seconds
Interactive Games
Play on screen or print

Post

Heather  avatar

Hi,

I am interested in finding out what policies are in place in other aged care facilities with regards to happy hour. We have a mobile happy hour trolley for those who do not wish to attend. One of my concerns is that our residents are becoming frail and their dietary requirements are changing and the activity staff with the mobile trolley are leaving alcohol and nibbles and are not always advised of dietary changes. I am concerned that the lifestyle staff are putting the residents at risk as well as themselves should there be an incident.

I welcome your thoughts, opinions and policies.

Regards

Heather

Solange avatar

Hi Heather

Thank you for you feedback. I understand your concern; it would be very sad for both parties if an incident were to happen. Management left the âHappy Hour' very much in our hands in my days. Participants came or were brought in by nurses to the Happy Hour. We also had a list from the clinical staff regarding clients with relevant illness, such as diabetes, alcoholism, and those prone to falls. We took this list very seriously. We served one or two drinks which consisted of Sherry, Shandy, beer, and sometimes punch. Never spirits.

We had such a good time, dancing away with traditional Pub music (English, Irish, Australian, German, Scottish), quizzes, and games. The emphasis was not on the drinking at all, rather on the music.

Karen avatar
Karen Recreation Therapist/ Carer

Hi Heather I too have put together a Dietary Needs List for my Lifestyle Team. The list contains information on Diabetics, Allergies, Thickened or thin Fluids, Normal/ Moist moist diets etc.

Sally avatar

Hi Heather,

We aren't allowed to provide alcohol for our residents. They may provide their own if they wish. We do have a list of diabetics. In High Care and Dementia it is a mobile trolley, in Low Care it is in the dining room and residents invited to attend and enjoy Ginger Beer (ice cream sodas) and biscuits, cheese and cabanossi, lots of games and quizzes. Good Times.

Josephine avatar

We permit the serving of alcohol and currently Best Practice is now not a diabetic diet for those in Aged Care which was highlighted by our geriatric dietition. Regarding dietary requirements we have a list that is computer generated of foods that people may be allergic to, what they like or dislike to eat. This includes any changes to dietary requirements and we can see the dates that this has been changed - then we print this out. This is looked into each time we hold any activities that include foods. We do not have a mobile trolley in our High Dementia area as most residents have particular food consistency needs. However we hold something specific in that area in collaboration with our chef and head nurse. Hence this means we hold our happy hour twice (not on the same day) to cater for the different needs of residents.

Log In to comment
20+ FREE Activities

Enjoy meaningful activity ideas that you can use with your clients straight away.

Free Activities
Become a Member!

A 12 month membership with unlimited access is just $74.95 USD! It's quick and easy to sign up.

Join Now

Carol Clarke
Activity Coordinator Ireland Flag
Carol Clarke
I am new to Golden Carers but wow so happy with all the wonderful resources that are available. Even after a week I don't know how I managed without this wonderful tool. Looking forward to the year ahead!!

Ready to plan, create and collaborate with confidence?

Join thousands of activity professionals worldwide.