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 29th Aug 2017 Activity Director

Forum

I think many of your residents like celebrating their birthday because it is a day that they are special and can be treated like a king or queen. Usually you have a monthly birthday party where residents young and old born in a particular month are recognized and honored. Everyone eats cake and ice cream because of them. Who doesn’t like cake and ice cream?

Here are some other ideas for a monthly birthday party for your residents. Every month has special days associated with it. I talk about these special days discussing facts about them and asking the residents questions about them. Of course, we cheer for those giving the correct answer. I also find songs related to the special days and alternate songs with discussions.

During the month I pass out homemade, resident made or computer generated cards about a particular subject occurring that month with several questions about the topic. I invite residents to answer the questions with space provided on the card. Then I and other staff members collect the cards. During the party I have several residents pick a winning card from those that have been turned in. The more residents that turn in the cards, the more prizes I give out. I also give out certificates to those who turned in a card but did not win a prize

I have a hanging pocket organizer hanging on a wall in a central location with these special cards and various other independent activities the residents can do when no activity staff is around.

Anyway back to the party. We always serve the cake and ice cream last because it seems like once the residents have something to eat, they want to leave.

I find that I can fill up an hour of time pretty easily with this strategy. I then can have entertainment on another day thus stretching my activity budget.

Susan 29th Aug 2017 Activity Director

How to Avoid Burnout

Very good article
What I found most exhausting is the amount of paperwork you are expected to do and the meetings you are required to attend.
I think activity professionals want to spend as much time with the residents as they can. They get personal satisfaction from seeing smiles on the residents' faces.
There are some residents you feel closer to than others. However do not get too close because you will be hurt eventually,

Another tip is to leave your problems at the door. Your facility is a happy place
Susan 28th Aug 2017 Activity Director

Creative Pursuits That Improve Quality of Life

Susan has submitted a new article: Creative Pursuits That Improve Quality Of Life
Susan 22nd Aug 2017 Activity Director

Forum

How about some kind of a spiritual event like a spiritual circle?
Keep it nondenominational singing familiar hymns. Perhaps you can find a group or family member who would like to lead this
Another idea is to read and discuss uplifting stories like Chicken Soup for the Soul stories
Be sure to make it interactive
Another idea is simple trivia or a simple game Golden Carers has many suggestions

https://www.goldencarers.com/search/?searchterm=dementia+games

I like card and large dice games that are simple
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/?searchterm=dice
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/?searchterm=playing+card
Susan 22nd Aug 2017 Activity Director

Forum

I like balloon artists. Everyone seems to enjoy watching them make the different things and get one(circus theme)
I hope you are inviting the families. it sounds like it could be a great intergenerational event
Susan 18th Aug 2017 Activity Director

Forum

I did not charge my residents for supplies or bingo unless Someone specifically went out of their way to buy them something special
Try to get as much as he can for free or have things do nated
You can also have fundraisers for a specific cause
It is amazing what you can get for free if you just ask
You can try to negotiate with entertainers to get the best price Some will and some won't
Look for the article I wrote on optimal activities ideas for fundraising marketing and free resources
Don't be afraid to ask family members for help especially those who are there all the time
Susan 16th Aug 2017 Activity Director

Cooking Activities for Puréed and Mechanical Soft Diets

Here is something else we used to do with those on my purée diet
I would get a small package of sugar-free Jell-O and the flavor the residents want
Mix about half of it with a 32 ounce yogurt container
You can top it with Cool Whip
You could also add flavored applesauce
You could make this into a parfait to make it fancy
Susan 15th Aug 2017 Activity Director

Cooking Activities for Puréed and Mechanical Soft Diets

I like plain hummus it is very tasty residents don't get it much and for those on puree diets they can eat it right off the spoon those on mechanical soft can eat it on a soft cracker
All can add seasoning or sour cream to the hummus and mix
It is best to give each person a small amount of hummus and let them add what Items you offer
This way you do not have to worry about infection control unless a resident take something from another persons dish
Susan 12th Aug 2017 Activity Director

Forum

First of all I hope you contacted all the local newspapers and TV stations and radio stations to them know about this event
How involved is the family ?
Perhaps you or they can hire aentertainer for the occasion and of course have a big birthday cake to share with all the residents at the big party
Help