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Hi, Wendy
Here is an example of what you can do for Activities
Remember, you are the facilitator so you have to do most of the work
Start by introducing everyone in the group one by one and say what their favorite some thing is if they piped in and tell you what it is, that would be great
You could say by the way they look or smiling or something whatever they’re doing you know their favorite is what you know they like
And then do the group whatever it might be singing or sensory and go to each person individually, perhaps squeeze her hand or rub their shoulder and say OK I think we’re going to sing the person’s favorite song and then you may be singing it yourself or maybe some will join in
Using props is great too. You could pass them around or see if one person could pass some thing to another person do simple things in the group say if you doing exercise, go around individually and move their arm up and down whatever the exercise you’re doing again when they do something complement complement complement.
Think of it like a performance where you’re doing most of the performing and hope fully some of the residents will join in you could play a simple card game like red or black or who can pick the highest number
Then to end the group thank everyone for participating in, may want to go around the group and say something nice about each person and what they did that was really good again compliment, compliment, compliment
The group should last about a half an hour, then take a break

Hi Wendy
I suggest sensory activities and music activities
https://www.goldencarers.com/sensory-stimulation-for-dementia-care/4184/
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-plan-music-activities-for-dementia-care/3192/
I have found that persons with Advanced dementia show small subtle signs you are reaching them maybe a smile
You may have to do one to one within a group
Find out what each person reacts to, and address them individually, but related to the whole group
Often you have to be the facilitator and express what you think they are thinking
You need to try to include everyone be excited about what you are doing. Tried to engage everyone.and be enthusiastic
You might want to try that simple game, https://www.goldencarers.com/red-or-black-card-game/7051/ but remember you are the facilitator so after each one has a turn make sure you make a big deal of it

Hello! Love the ideas here! As a board certified music therapist and drum circle facilitator - I love to see people collaborate across modalities! I just wanted to share that drum circle facilitators have the option to join a professional organization called the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild https://www.dcfg.net/
They have an accreditation program, a roster of national and international facilitators, along with an events page for training opportunities! HealthRHYTHMS is a wonderful data driven protocol that can be utilized in elderly living but there are many avenues available for facilitation outside of that one program!
In rhythm,
Ashley

Hi Tamara, woodwork is a good activity with so many benefits. There are some excellent plywood projects suitable to a resident that was once a carpenter. You could purchase a simple plywood project for him and see how he goes. Plywood projects like floating shelves, trunks, coffee tables, dog/bird houses. Also, you can get an old chair from the Salvation Army Store and give it to him to 'restore'. There is a good chance he will be totally focused for a couple of week cleaning, sanding, polishing, and painting it. It is a good idea to have a facilitator or volunteer to supervise him for safety.

Hi Viktorija, there are quite a few things that can make residents’ lives more enjoyable and meaningful while activity staff is not available. However, a Facilitator /Supervisor is recommended. Perhaps you could find volunteers to come for a couple of hours on the day's activity staff are off. Here are some activities a volunteer could lead: Pet visits, Gardening, Audiobooks, Documentaries, Movie & Popcorn, Coloring Books, Cookies Baking, and Art projects (painting). You could also have on a board “Who Am I?” game; Hollywood artists and staff - interview staff and write something unique about them for the residents to guess.

Hi, Patricia, interactive drum circle is an excellent activity for residents. You may start with a couple of drums and a couple of tambourines. The activity is simple, the facilitator stands in front with a drum attached to him/her. Participants are encouraged to repeat the rhythm the facilitator plays.
The session may last 15 or 30 minutes - depending on how engaged participants are. There is also Body Percussion for cognitive stimulation. Body Percussion is making rhythmic patterns with the sounds of your body: clapping, stumping, finger drumming. Again the facilitator sits in front of a group and claps, stumps, to the sound of music. Choose the music that makes people want to move e.g. The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ or ‘The Pink Panther Theme”. Here are a couple of links that may help you start a Drum Circle or Body Percussion.
https://www.goldencarers.com/drum-circle-activity-for-the-elderly/5032/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk75qDst8wE&ab_channel=ChristosDelasito

It’s obvious Katherine you would love the work and your residents
I agree that stations can be a good idea
You are the facilitator connecting them
Personally I like sing-alongs because Manny can get involved
I used to like table ball but with Covid it probably is not a
good idea
I like exercise groups too https://www.goldencarers.com/exercise/
The ones by Gwyneth are simple
Card games also work well
https://www.goldencarers.com/playing-cards-all-inclusive-games-for-seniors/5236/
I also like dice games

https://www.goldencarers.com/dice-games-for-the-elderly/5307/
My favorite is one because you can include residents of all abilities
As I’m sure you know you must try to include everyone be excited and enthusiastic and engaging to be successful
Thank you again for all you do

Hi Megan
Your situation can be difficult
Have you tried any of these activities??

https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=late%20stage%20dementia%20activities&stp=1
What about simple card games or dice games
Often times you have to be the facilitator to bring the group together or as you say one to one with in a group

Hi Tina
I agree this site is better than others I have seen and been part of
It is certainly more cost-effective
I am not sure exactly what you are talking about when you say vocational programs
Even if you design kids like activities make sure that they are geared towards adults for example if you do Doll therapy use the ideas here
https://www.goldencarers.com/doll-therapy-and-dementia/4319/
There are also any other good links in this article

Sometime having residents do tasks like folding sorting setting the table untangling knots making pom-poms have worked for me
You can have a laundry basket with items that need to be folded
Let me know what other programs you want to try
I like sing-alongs that’s not really a vocation
I also like having residents sit at a table and let each one do what they are capable of doing for example one might be coloring the other one might be doing word searches one might be fiddling with items in front of them
One might be pushing down on a top
Some might be playing with playing cards or dice
Remember you or another staff member are the facilitator that brings the group
together
The staff member talks to each resident and shares what other residents are doing with them
Remember to talk with each resident as if they were adults even if they do not make sense to you
You can say I can tell by your smile that you think whatever you think they’re thinking
You can ask another resident what he thinks about what another person is doing again you facilitate the conversation
I hope this makes sense to you
As I said before let me know what other help I can be

Congratulations on your new job
I assume you are a natural when it comes to activities
Activities for those with dementia can be difficult especially group activities
However I am sure you will find a lot of help on this site
https://www.goldencarers.com/20-practical-activities-for-people-living-with-alzheimers-disease/3778/
I’d like a sing-along because people of many different levels can enjoy it
Some people who cannot speak can sing the words to a song
I think that is important to include everyone in the activity in someway
You might have to have a multi level within a group
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/26847/

https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/21321/
Besides these ideas you can always do balloon ball kickball with the beach ball
You can have a number of residents sit at the table and each does their own thing but you can facilitate conversations with each one
I also like playing card games
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=Playing%20card%20games%20for%20those%20with%20dementia&stp=1
and dice games
https://www.goldencarers.com/dice-games-for-the-elderly/5307/
Often you have to be the facilitator to make the group as smooth as possible
This should be a good place to start
Let me know if you need any more specific help about things I have mentioned

The first activity that comes to mind is 1:1 visits
The Carer providing this can adapt the activity to meet the needs of the resident
Here is a helpful form to use on golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/one-on-one-visits/3246/
Here is another good article on golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/tips-for-one-on-one-visits-with-seniors/3843/

The second activity that most can participate in is some kind of music activity
Here are some ideas on Golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-plan-music-activities-for-dementia-care/3192/
Next I would think about sensory stimulation
Here is an article about that on golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/sensory-stimulation-for-dementia-care/4184/
You can do an activity that the resident used to enjoy with a facilitator to help them this person would do things that the resident cannot do anymore
Such as speak for the resident if he could not speak
https://www.goldencarers.com/aphasia-activity-ideas-for-activity-coordinators/5406/
There a good ideas from this article

Aromatherapy
https://www.goldencarers.com/getting-started-with-aromatherapy/3215/

horticulture
https://www.goldencarers.com/horticultural-therapy/3214/

You can use the ideas in these articles
As I said an individual facilitator may be necessary at any of the activities to help the residents enjoy them

You need to assess the needs of the person make the activities most meaningful

I think sensory stimulation would be a good idea here are some links in golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/sensory-stimulation-for-dementia-care/4184/
https://www.goldencarers.com/15-sensory-activities-for-late-stage-alzheimers/3968/
https://www.goldencarers.com/sensory-boxes-other-ideas-to-stimulate-the-senses/4380/
I'd like to do one to one with in the group that way you can give individual attention to each person because they probably have difficulty relating to the others you can be the facilitator you can say I can tell by the way you were looking at Another person in the room that you think he is happy etc.
if you want to include these folks in a group with higher functioning residents you can have the higher functioning resident tell you what they think the lower functioning residents are thinking
For example if you are having a sing-along and the residents are choosing which songs to sing then you can ask a higher functioning resident what song is he thinks the lower functioning resident wants us to sing
I have done this and I don't know if it was just a reflex or if they were smiling because of what the other residents said or because of the song we were singing
Lower functioning residents can enjoy the music

Hi Charlene, I've held a resident council, and it sounds like a community circle would be similar. Ours was held once a month, I would suggest inviting a number of your more talkative, and active residents to join. Follow through is important. For instance, in one resident council meeting, the majority of the residents complained that the soup choices (split pea and Italian wedding) were getting old, so we brought it to the dining staff, and they changed up the menu. After this win, our meetings became more productive and the residents felt more empowered. Oh, and I was just the facilitator in these meetings and took the notes we tried to encourage that it was a resident-led group.

Here is a link to some great sensory ideas https://www.goldencarers.com/sensory-stimulation-for-dementia-care/4184/

We had a group similar to what you are describing. I think

There are mixed opinions as to whether you should arouse sleeping residents. You should go with what your boss and director of nurses say.

Let's assume you should try to arouse them.
Understand that it is a lot of work. You need to be enthusiastic complimentary and excited about what it is you are doing. In most cases, you are the residents' voice. So knowing the resident' history is important
I like to start with a simple physical activity like table ball with music in the background
Cheer for every resident action
You may have to do hand over hand cueing.

Then... tell me more about resident backgrounds so I can suggest what to do after that.????

I Ilke a sing-along. Again initially you may have to do most of the singing. Maybe you can help the residents clap to the music as you sing.
I also like simple card games like war or 21 where you are the facilitator for the residents. You can give a commentary about the action in the game

Like I said it takes a lot of energy on your part.

Hi
Sensory activities come to mind. Have you tried any of these?
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/?searchterm=sensory

I do not know if you want to have a sensory room. Here is a good suggestion from Marnie
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/8186/

Have you tried Namaste activities
http://www.notredamehealthcare.org/signature-programs/namaste/

Focus on what your residents still have. If you want to do a group, then do 1:1 within a group where you are the facilitator acting as the intermediate interactor.

Let me know if you need more info
Susan

What a great idea, Rebecca! We have a professional drum circle facilitator coming in to lead a drum circle later this month- I'll be paying attention to how the residents respond, and if they like it, I'll approach my director to see if we could budget for some exercise balls and baskets to hold our own mini drum circles! I've been wanting to start one since I started here, but we don't have any drums, and they can be expensive!

Hi Shannon, yes drumming is a great activity for clients; as well as being diverse, fun, and different, those with physical issues can also be included. You could hire a Drum Therapy facilitator or facilitate it yourself. If you are doing it yourself, first learn a few beats with the links below and repeat them in a Drum Circle session; a circle of residents, each holding a drum.
The following links will give you a good idea on how it goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBsxPFLWAfQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Ru09OH3zM&list=RDUBsxPFLWAfQ&index=2
Best wishes.

Hi Anne,

Thank you for your kind comment.

Client feedback is important to determine their needs and tastes. Feedback provides benefits to the clients, activity facilitator and organisation.

Here is an example that you may use one or more questions. Adapt other questions or create your own to suit the activity conducted.

Good luck!

https://www.goldencarers.com/uploads/20151012-activity-feedback-form.pdf

Well done - great article and I am so glad that you have made mention of the fact that some residents enjoy their own company. When living in a communal setting where rooms have to be shared its hard for residents to find "their own space and time to themselves".

I have also noted that unless every resident is joining in with activities there is pressure on the facilitator to include everyone or somehow you are perceived as not having done your job.. No activity is therapeutic unless the person wishes to be a part of it. Choice is so important especially in a frail care setting where so few choices are left.

The only activity I would exclude is biking - not many elderly people still have the ability to balance safely!

Hi
Thanks for all you're fab ideas I am trying to do diffrent activitys and have had some great ideas. I'm going to make a memory box with memorys in and I mite also now make fiddle blankets :) please if anyone has any more ideas let me no I'm always looking for new things to do with the residents I am also applying for a social care facilitator job aswell so any advice or ideas for that would be fab thanks everyone! X

Hi I am the facilitator for a sundowners group and am running out of things to do with them, their cognitive stages vary and keeping them occupied three times a week for two hours is becoming very difficult, things I do karaoke, manicures, hand massages, reminiscing etc, anybody got any other ideas, quiz and puzzles don't work anymore. Thanks for a wonderful website.