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
29 Activities
2953 Comment
13th Jun 2019
Activity Director
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/6589/
12th Jun 2019
Activity Director
I realize I'm from the United States I started training as an occupational therapy assistant when I was 51
I worked as an activity director until I was 66 when I retired
I think you could do it The trick is to get hired
Some places discriminate against age even though they say they don't
I did hire some older people to work for me
As long as you are in good health and don't have any physical disabilities you probably can do it but you know best about yourself
11th Jun 2019
Activity Director
I assume the male residents wife does not have dementia
First have the social worker or someone in a similar position talk to the wife and explain to her that her husband is in a memory care unit and everyone in the unit has some memory issues
Getting angry at the female resident will do no good in fact it may escalate into a real brawl
This wife of male resident needs to understand that no matter what you do she the female person with dementia may not stop
She will forget what you told her and trying to remind her will only make her angry
The wife of the male resident should join a support group and get her frustrations out in the group
Even if the wife chooses to move her husband to a different facility the same thing may happen
You can try to distract The female with dementia when she makes inappropriate gestures to the male resident with dementia
Is there something she really likes to do that would distract her
Perhaps you can send her to the hairdresser and pay for her to have her hair done
I am sure the facility does not want to lose the male resident with dementia
We did have a similar situation but the wife of the male resident with dementia became friends with the female who had dementia in fact she used to bring her food from McDonald's which she also brought her husband
I hope this helps
10th Jun 2019
Activity Director
Here are some ideas you may want to use that are Golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/dice-games-for-the-elderly/5307/
https://www.goldencarers.com/playing-cards-all-inclusive-games-for-seniors/5236/
https://www.goldencarers.com/mathematics-activities-for-the-elderly/5613/
You can emphasize the number three in any of these activities
10th Jun 2019
Activity Director
Here are some ideas you may want to use that are Golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/dice-games-for-the-elderly/5307/
https://www.goldencarers.com/playing-cards-all-inclusive-games-for-seniors/5236/
https://www.goldencarers.com/mathematics-activities-for-the-elderly/5613/
You can emphasize the number three in any of these activities
10th Jun 2019
Activity Director
I do not know when the DVD will be in stock but in the meantime why not use some of the ideas that are on Golden Carers such as
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/3339/
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-run-group-exercise-sessions-for-the-elderly/5182/
https://www.goldencarers.com/scarves-on-handles---exercise-activity/5787/
8th Jun 2019
Activity Director
You can use some ideas from these articles on golden Carers also
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=Hollywood+&stp=1
Ask the residents what they want served
you can serve real or fake champagne
Those articles will also give you some trivia information that you can use and you could make some of the Hollywood actors and actresses larger and post them on the walls
8th Jun 2019
Activity Director
https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-host-a-christmas-in-july-party/3436/
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I just find Golden Carers fantastic. You are so up to date with the material you provide us with. Thank you so much for your efficiency and for all you teach us. Keep up the good work!
Georgia Sultana
Caregiver
Australia
Forum
I would print items on the computer to fit the board then I would ask the residents to put stickers on the printed paper to make them look attractive you could also paste decorations on the board that you choose
Another option would be to use posterboard
Can either print items and tape them to the board That are happening or write them by hand you could use both sides of the posterboard and use blank paper to put over or printed material To put over What is already written
This way you can reuse the poster board
You can use stickers or fancy notepads
have the resident who takes the magnets help make the board
This could backfire but you can give that a try and see what happens
Decorating the board and papers is a good activity for the residents