Member Profile:

Susan

Activity Director From Nevada, United States


About Susan: Susan Berg is a freelance writer, retired healthcare professional, retired Activity Director and current writer for several senior care e-magazines with more than 20 years of experience working with Senior Citizens and eight years experience writing for a number of publications. She is the author of a book for those with dementia and their caregivers. Susan has two blogs about activities for seniors and information vital to all wanting to know about dementia. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and North Shore Community College.

Senior Citizens
Susan is an expert on senior citizen issues. She is currently a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant(COTA). In this role, she has worked with senior citizens. Susan is an expert on adapting and modifying activities so that seniors can participate in them. She spent twenty years as an Activity Director in nursing homes. She devised, planned, coordinated, and facilitated stimulating activity programming. Also she designed a program for homebound senior citizens. Currently, Susan shares her knowledge about senior activities on one of her blogs.

Dementia

Susan is also an expert on dementia and related issues. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner(CPD). She has participated in numerous workshops, seminars and alike where she has gained much knowledge. Her work as an Activity Director and COTA has given her much knowledge and experience in relating to individuals with dementia. Susan is passionate about sharing her knowledge. She is hopeful that people will do what they can to prevent or at least slow down dementia in themselves or loved ones. Susan has shared many tips on how to prevent dementia or slow it down on her other blog.

Feel free to visit and comment at either of Susan’s blogs at
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com

28 Activities


3491 Comment

Susan 19th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Thank you Charlene
Susan 19th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Helen
You may have to have multiple retirement parties because he may forget that he had them
You could try displaying the watch so he sees it and perhaps put a card that says good luck in your retirement
What you could do about getting paid
Have a family member give you some extra money and then you could write checks to him from that money
He could then cash the checks but you have to keep it to a reasonable amount of money and perhaps he could have a special account that you could show him instead of him caring around money
Susan 19th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

What is the purpose of her using the iPad
Is it keep her busy??
Is it to increase her cognition??
It sounds like an app about politics
Item not know what politics are in their country but their must be an app for that
Maybe she can use the notepad to write comments
Maybe she could join Facebook and express her opinions
Susan 19th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Linda
Here are some ideas
Oh I like dot painting
https://www.goldencarers.com/indigenous-australian-dot-paintings/3356/
Instead of printing these templates out by some dark paint and a craft store https://www.goldencarers.com/indigenous-australian-dot-paintings/3356/Instead of printing these templates out by some dot paint at a craft store and put a piece of paper in front of each resident with a paint and see what they create
If you can’t find dot paints you can use bingo Dobbers
You can adapt and modify any of these activities to make them simple are you could have a simple party and sing happy birthday to Australia

https://www.goldencarers.com/calendar/australia-day-activities/9/

Susan 19th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Thank you Janaya For your ideas
Susan 17th Jan 2021 Activity Director

DIY Dice Roller

Myra this is a great idea
I am not sure how you roll the dice however
Perhaps you can give a further explanation
Thanks
Susan 17th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Andy
The trick with Carers is you have to get them to actually do the activities
I think motivation is key
You want to keep things simple like dice games or card games

https://www.goldencarers.com/dice-games-for-the-elderly/5307/

https://www.goldencarers.com/lucky-dog-card-game/5744/
Read this comment also

https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/16481/





Susan 17th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Jo
You have some great ideas also
Have you ever played a game called one
I explain that in this comment along with a game I call name that tune and other ideas
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/14097/
Susan 17th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Wow Katherine
It sounds like you are trying very hard
But this population can be difficult
Oh I like to do music with this type of group
Music is good because it uses many parts of the brain
I do not sing well but I am sure some of your residents do
What age group are most of your residents in??
Here is an interesting game might want to try

https://www.goldencarers.com/rhythm-game---name-that-tune/5219/
Here is another one

https://www.goldencarers.com/finish-the-song-titles-2/6680/
After playing the game make sure you sing some of the songs or sing them after each one is guessed
This comment may help you also

https://www.goldencarers.com/forum-search/?searchterm=Name+that+tune
I also like simple exerciseWhich can be combined with music

https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-run-group-exercise-sessions-for-the-elderly/5182/
Make sure when you run any group that you include all the people that are there be excited about what you are doing
Also be enthusiastic and complementary to everyone
A lot of what you do is trial and error
Here are some ways to get reluctant residents to your activities

https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-get-reluctant-residents-to-attend-activities/5980/
Let me know if you need more help





Susan 17th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Kim
This sounds great
Thank you for sharing
Help