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Katarzyna  avatar
Katarzyna Support Worker/Activities Coordinator

Hello. I work in mental health care home. With lock down it’s really difficult to keep people engaged. We’ve had a difficult time to get everyone to participate in activities, and they started to enjoy it. But now with lockdown and isolating everyone in their rooms I’m struggling to find a new ideas for our residents especially that a lot of activities which includes getting people out in corridor is impossible due to the layout of our care home. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you

Susan avatar

Hi Katarzyna

Thanks for reaching out

This is a particularly hard group to work with

I think exercise is a good idea use this article to help you

https://www.goldencarers.com/15-exercise-program-alternatives-for-senior-care/6319/

Also

Have it be a one to one activity within a group even though the group is not really meeting together

You could pass out a paper with trivia questions and then call the residents To encourage them to fill it out

You could also try this horse racing game

https://www.goldencarers.com/diy-horse-race-game/6314/

Another idea is to have the residents write letters to other residents in the facility

They can be short or long depending they residents capabilities

Try to get a letter to every resident

Here is an article you can refer to

https://www.goldencarers.com/the-lost-art-of-letters/6273/

In addition hand out paper and try some of these see how many each person can do individually

Then call residents to share what others have written

https://www.goldencarers.com/brain-food-game-1/4535/

I hope these suggestions with heip you

Let me know what worked best

Your job is very hard thank you for all you do for your residents

Katarzyna  avatar
Katarzyna Support Worker/Activities Coordinator

Thank you for all of those suggestions. I will definitely try it

Susan avatar

Katarzyna

Also make sure that you are positive with the residents and thank them for engaging in activities

This article may help you with this

https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-build-positive-relationships-with-residents/5054/

Even though gratitude day is not until September and gratitude month is in November these gratitude ideas may help you

https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=Gratitude&stp=1

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Cathy Watson
Diversional Therapist Australia Flag
Cathy Watson

What a great website....fantastic! Thank you for such great content and recourses