Josephine

Hi Marija,

Have you a U3A (University of the Third Age) group in your area? The people in these groups are usually mature people, some either retired or semi retired that come together to continue to learn, there maybe one or two people willing to volunteer. Look up U3A in your area or surrounding area and see if anyone there wishes to assist.

Hi Solange,

Thank you for this great idea, I have a couple of blind residents and always looking at ways to stimulate the mind with them and other residents. I do like the idea of eating ice cream to it too !!! Thanks Tangi.

Hi Taryn,

I usually go to YouTube. You can download free downloading software for YouTube. I have found that if the documentary or image or song is overwritten by copywrite laws you are unable to download.

I have put together a few sensory themed DVD's that come with beautiful music as both imagery and music is great for Dementia.

Cheers

Hi Out There,

I am looking into commencing a sister nursing home utilising skype whereby residents can speak to one another. I am looking at targeting our low care residents. I am new to skype, have not used it as yet, and need to warn you that this is just a project idea, but I would like to pursue it further if another facility is interested. Our Care Facility is based in Victoria, however with skype it does not matter where you are !!

Just testing the waters for any interest.

Hi Faith, we also added some Holy Water to our Palliative Box for those that are religious. We ask the family first, and we do put some of the Holy Water on the person e.g. put some holy water on your hands and just gently massage onto arms, hands etc. For people who are religious this means quite alot to them and the family. Make sure you speak to the local religious priest/representative.

Hi Denise,

By accident when looking at a subject to talk about, I picked up a supermarket insert that came with our local morning paper. I started to look at the prices of some of the foods etc. Low and behold we had a wonderful morning talking about the price of foods - e.g. fish - this brought about some wonderful memories of going to the pier and fishing, how getting the fish back home and cleaning it etc. When we talked about fruit, I asked if anyone had fruit trees in the backyard and some interesting subjects of picking fruit with family and bottling it to make jam. I learnt alot from my own Elders that day and from time to time I do this activity. We have quite some fun when comparing the prices of foods !!
Hope this helps.

Hi Heather, what a great idea in adding Irish music to the envelopes too. I am already getting this activity organised and adding the music with some sing a longs will add another element to this activity. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Ooh love this activity. Our group just love chocolates too ! Thank you for posting this party game.

Hi Solange, thank you for posting this. I am the lifestyle coordinator and I am working on an annual memorial ceremony for Elders that have passed on. The information is very timely and certainly something I can use. Again thank you for sharing this information.

We will be having a special luncheon, gathering some of our Elders and invited their family/friends. Our craft group has been busy making heart decorations and we will be making our own place mats with these (will laminate the A4 paper). We have a great chef who loves cooking special lunches with themes, so I am pretty lucky that he gets into the whole theme and works with me to create a special dessert. We will be making heart shaped chocolate lollypops to give out, plus this coincides with our planned entertainer visit.

Meridee - I love the concept of a chocolate fountain - thanks for that tip !! I am sure we can utilise that where I am for other activities.
Cheers
Jessie