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


3499 Comment

Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Here is an idea from Golden Carer
https://www.goldencarers.com/picture-matching-bingo/3913/
You can also use playing cards just get two decks and give each resident however many cards you want Face up and when you pick a matching card they turn it face down
The one who turns all their cards over is the winner and you start a new game if you want to have a winner
You could use giant playing cards also
Susan 14th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Solange those are really good ideas
Susan 10th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

I have some question
What is the goal of having this kind of shop
Are the residents capable of understanding the concept of buying things or is this just to give them a choice one they don't have many choices left
Mixed in this link I things that others have done I don't know if that applies to you
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/7448/ it is the comment from Kathy
If your goal is to have them keep busy with money here are some links to that
https://www.goldencarers.com/show-me-the-money/4717/
https://www.goldencarers.com/market-day/5533/
https://www.goldencarers.com/money-counting/4137/
We never actually had a shop but there was talk of doing it and that's all it was talk
Susan 9th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Hidden Equations Number Search #6

So glad there is a new one of these
Susan 7th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

There are some examples on Golden Carers
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=Case+study&stp=1
Start with these but plug-in what applies to your residents
Also ask your boss what he wants
Susan 7th Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Here is some information on: Golden Carers that might be helpful
https://www.goldencarers.com/tips-for-one-on-one-visits-with-seniors/3843/
Susan 3rd Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Hi Jackie
It has been my experience that you have to tell people multiple times in multiple ways about upcoming activities and events

For family members you can mail a monthly newsletter and then follow up with at least one phone call before the activity especially if you want them to come
You could also try emailing them
I find that telling people just once doesn't usually work

For staff members tell them at morning meeting or when you see them on the unit just give them a friendly reminder you can also give them a copy of your calendar and circle really important events

For residents of course you give them the monthly calendar and possibly a weekly calendar
You can also give them invitations to events you want them to really come to
Make sure to announce the event or activity 15 minutes before it starts
Make sure to send a staff member to remind them and offer assistance to getting to the activity

I have written an article about getting reluctant residents to an activity be on the lookout for it
Susan 2nd Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Have you tried playing Bunco
Not really a board game but a lot of fun and easily adaptable
https://www.goldencarers.com/bunco-dice-game-for-seniors/5724/
Susan 2nd Feb 2019 Activity Director

Forum

Susan 31st Jan 2019 Activity Director

Bunco Dice Game for Seniors

Susan
The way you play bunco is great also
I guess you have to play and then modify the game as necessary
I am sure the residents can help you with this
Help