Solange

There is also some trivia and a quiz.
https://www.goldencarers.com/st-george-trivia/7026/
https://www.goldencarers.com/st-georges-day-and-england-quiz-/6346/

Hi Abbots, I would learn a few key phrases in Latvian like Are you thirsty/hungry? or are you in pain? Avoid speaking English with other people in front of her, if speaking; speak clearly in an even tone of voice, and use your hands if that helps communication. Regarding activities, it is important that you have a good rapport with her before inviting her to join activities. Here are a few universal prompts that could help you: Bring a puppy or a kitten to visit her (find out first if she is not allergic), colored pencils and drawings as a project, knitting needles, and a bowl of wool for a neck warmer scarf (most Latvians can crochet and knit), find out which drinks she likes and surprise her: no need to talk just smile, a shoulder massage would please most people. Good luck!

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 Daniela, Activity Plans or Care Plans must be based on residents' wishes and preferences, so the first thing you should do is to interview the resident - if he/she cannot tell you you may ask their relatives. Activity Plans must have goals and interventions. This link with examples may help you :
https://www.goldencarers.com/9-examples-of-activity-based-care-plan-interventions/6691/

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 Shantel, I can fully understand your frustration. Adapting to change is a struggle for most elderly people, yet the technology people come, change everything, and leaves you with the aftermath to sort out! I agree with Susan that recruiting High School students as volunteers would help to dissipate some of the computer anxiety. That would be a great Intergenerational activity; once a week for one hour 3 or 4 students would sit with one resident at a time for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, with another, and so on. Make the students welcome and offer them beverages and cookies at the end of the session.

Hi, Tina, the game ‘Wedding Charade” is a good one. Participants choose a wedding movie and perform for the audience to guess. Choose movies from two or three decades ago, like Steel Magnolias, The Graduate, The Father of the Bride, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and others. Also create a Playlist on Spotify with love songs to have background music like, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, More Than a Woman, You Still the One, Can You Feel the Love, and others. I hope you have a great party!

Hi Simone, the Panto is usually performed by; activity coordinators, nurses, kitchen staff, maintenance people, gardeners, residents' relatives, and friends of the facility. The audience (residents) are seated watching the Panto. Having said that, if you have residents capable of performing, all the better. Let us know if that is the case. Cheers.

Hi, Mary. The link below will help you with Care Plan goals and interventions 1:1https://www.goldencarers.com/care-plan-goals-interventions/3332/

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