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


3494 Comment

Susan 7th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Daily Attendance Forms

Hi Vicky
Another alternative is to use the toolkit
https://toolkit.goldencarers.com/plans/
Susan 6th Jan 2021 Activity Director

How to Plan a Christmas Pantomime for Senior Care

Bernie thank you for sharing this
It sounds like you had a lot of fun
I am sure the families appreciated that you zoomed it to them
Susan 6th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Wow Electa
First let me say how lucky you are to have an activity room that you are describing
I had to share the dining room and I don’t think we even had 13 tables
Golden Carers does not list every holiday I celebrate it in January
However there are some good days to celebrateInternational flower day Is good you can decorate each table with flowers
You can use these pictures of flowers

https://www.goldencarers.com/name-the-flowers-3/5323/
There are many things you could talk about when it comes to flowers
Then of course you want to celebrate inauguration day with American flags on every table and perhaps pictures of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
If you want to stay away from politics why not celebrate International hug day

https://www.goldencarers.com/calendar/international-hug-day-activities/206/
Add the end of the month you can celebrate Mozart’s birthday

https://www.goldencarers.com/mozarts-birthday-creative-art-project/4963/


Susan 6th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Newsletter Template - February 2024

Hi Julie
I agree
Keep up the good work
Thank you
Susan 6th Jan 2021 Activity Director

15 Exercise Program Alternatives for Senior Care

Hi Jill
I agree that music is something most residents enjoy and can relate to
If the residents enjoyed this and are getting exercise I am not sure you need to change it
I’d say if it isn’t broken don’t fix it
Are you getting bored or are they
Most residents like a routine something they can count
One idea might be to add a thinking portion to the activity
The trick would be including everyone because so many different challenges
You might want to do trial and error
https://www.goldencarers.com/trivia-with-exercise/4478/
Susan 5th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Lowana
Two staff members use this after hours box
Do they keep it in order or do you have to restock
This seems like a good idea if the staff is willing to use it and not mess it up
Susan 5th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Lowana
I have never done what you are describing
Closest I’ve come is playing a boardgame where The residents buy Food
I based the game on a game called grocery shopping I made my own board but where each square had a grocery item
Each player got a list of items to buy each player rolled he dice to move around the board when they landed on a particular item they were able to cross it off the list
You could play that the first person to cross everything off the list was the winner or you could let everyone cross everything off their list
You then could reminisce about grocery shopping
We always had a good time when we played

If you want to play the way you were describing you could ask staff for empty boxes or you could buy them at Oriental Trading
https://www.orientaltrading.com/play-food-packages-a2-13806491.fltr?
sku=13806491&BP=PS544&ms=search&source=google&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-1338193093-_-53413208294-_-13806491&cm_mmca1=OTC%2BPLAs&cm_mmca2=GooglePLAs&cm_mmca3=PS544&cm_mmca4=FS39&cm_mmca5=Shopping&cm_mmca6=PLAs&cm_mmc10=Shopping&cm_mmca11=13806491&cm_mmca12=12ct-Play-Food-Packages&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsv_BRDtARIsAHMGVSajR8h4gdj7p9B9PppYx8lmzA088wI999Y-QxOmQFmPqtqY73QMx-YaAol2EALw_wcB

I am not sure if I was helpful anyway that’s what I did
Susan 5th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

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
Susan 5th Jan 2021 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Nichola
I do not speak Cantonese but have you tried these cue cards they may help you
https://www.goldencarers.com/cue-cards-for-dementia-care/4744/
Help