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 27th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Tanya
Thank you for sharing

Hi Lisa
Speaking of the dollar store they may have some premade baskets that you could just alter slightly which would make your job much easier
Susan 27th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Tanya
What wonderful ideas thank you for sharing
Susan 27th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Yvonne and Others struggling to find activities during this coronavirus pandemic
I think distributing playing cards to residents who want them would be a great idea
There are just so many things you can do with a deck of playing cards besides playing solitaire
You can pretend you are two people and play one against the other like in the game of war
You can sort the cards by color by suit by numbers
You can see how fast you can do this and try to improve your time
You can play a hand of cards when you do your room visits
They could even play a hand of cards with their Carers
They could pick two cards and see if they can add them together or do any math operation

Another idea I have is called song remember

You can call it anything you want
Distribute pen and paper to those who are able and have them write down as many songs as they can remember
You could also give them a particular song that you know they know and see if they can sing it to themselves or quietly or write down the words to it
This is good for their memory
Here are some songs with lyrics that you might want to use
https://www.goldencarers.com/songs-for-seniors-quiz/4565/
You could also have them make up math problems and then put the paper away and do the math problems a different day
You could have them make up their own word search by using this blank grid
https://www.goldencarers.com/blank-word-search-grid-for-residents/5160/
They could also make a hidden equation search such as this one
https://www.goldencarers.com/hidden-equations-number-search-1/5598/
If you need any further explanation of how to do these things or have ideas of your own please share them
Thank you
Susan 27th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

I have one more idea Luke
Why don’t you distribute playing cards to those who want them
There are many games they can play with them or you can play a hand of cards with them when you do your visits
They can pretend they are two different people and play for each of them
They could play a game like war
Susan 26th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Activities for Seniors Facebook Group

Hi Yvonne
I sense your frustration and I feel bad
You can only do what you can do
Can you get any family members to help you out even if it’s just friendly phone calls to some of the residents
Perhaps they could send cards to the residents
I think activity packets are a good idea but the residents have to be able to do the activities independently
I hope you do not have too many residents who are sick because that would be a real problem
All I can say is hang in there and do the best you can
Susan 26th Aug 2020 Activity Director

How to Cook Magic Scones

Hi Diane thank you for your help
Susan 26th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Daniela
Thanks for you input
Susan 26th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Adele
How about the hokey pokey head shoulders knees and toes or when the Saints go marching in
These articles may help you as well
https://www.goldencarers.com/exercise/
Susan 26th Aug 2020 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Lisa
I under stand
Well my advice to you is to keep it simple
Maybe you have some residents who are high functioning and can help you make things
Where are you getting the baskets or do you have to make those too??
Well I don’t know when you are distributing these things but fall is not until the end of September
Help