Solange

Hi Morgan, I am sorry you have migraines, it is such a debilitating condition. You could try to have volunteers to lead the mornings' activities when you are on leave. Otherwise, a movie or a couple of episodes of a funny TV series could also keep residents entertained for a couple of hours in the mornings. You would have to ask an RN or a Nurse’s Assistant to set up the activity for you. I hope you get rid of the migraines, they do go away eventually.

Hi Wendy, buses are expensive and therefore accessing a council bus makes things less complicated. They usually provide the driver as well, and if not, get a volunteer (well qualified) to drive it. They charge a fee for it but it is less expensive than hiring a private bus.

Hi Wendy, here are a few tips.
--Advertise on the Community Board of your local Church/Synagogues
--Advertise in the local High School (intergenerational)
--Mail out flyers to residents’ family letting them know your facility is seeking volunteers and whether they have an hour a week to help.
--Use government volunteers’ services. They provide volunteers from different countries to cater for multicultural residents.

Hi Marissa, explain that your job is to enhance the overall quality of life of residents, make sure they engage with the larger community, rekindle past hobbies, inform, educate, and entertain.

Planning and coordinating the Activity Program is intense and laborious but you are passionate about your career choice, you want to provide residents with the best creative and fun activities.

The biggest challenge in your job is time. There are not enough hours in your shift to do what you would like to: planning activities, meetings, supervising volunteers, seeking suitable trips, fostering new staff. Tell them you would appreciate their help and give some examples:
- welcoming residents’ relatives to the facility
- escorting them to the recreation room
- assisting with toilet trips
- on entering resident rooms ask sincerely to see a photo of the latest grandchild or graduation of a relative.

Working as a team you can make a difference.

Hi Tania, I can tell you how we bought one in the facility I worked for​ some time ago. We went to a place that sold carpets and bought a nylon remnant that suited our recreation room. Then we asked them to finish the edges professionally. We chose nylon (loop) because it is durable, light, ​inexpensive, and easy to roll and put it away when the game is over. This carpet has been in use for the past 10 years. Good luck!

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Hi Matylda, thank you for your kind words. All the best!

Hi Teresa, spend a minute or two telling your staff about the importance of ‘Brain Games’ to keep residents alert and maintain memory skills. Word Games, Spot the Differences, Fun Riddles, Brainstorming Word Games, and others. Best of luck!

I agree with Ema, in my experience, Air Dry Clay (or any other clay) is an excellent activity for sight deficit clients. Also, most people love a daily walk, and perhaps a volunteer to listen to her? Elderly people enjoy having someone listening to them. I would also try jewellery making with large beads. Perhaps she would like to 'volunteer' to be the leader of a game for a small group of her peers like 'Finish the Proverbs', brain games like Riddles, Antonyms, Synonyms. Whenever possible try to involve her with visiting children (intergenerational activities).

Hi, Jackie, don’t feel disheartened by the lack of responsiveness; it is not your fault. You could try a ‘Memory Box’ to give them something to do, or a family photo album to browse. It is sad that you are on your own, clients in the late stage dementia often needs ‘one on one’ attention. You could try to entice volunteers from the Community board of your local church.
All the best!

Thank you for your kind words Darla and Penny. Best wishes.