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
3498 Comment
7th Jul 2017
Activity Director
If the resident answer the question and attends the activity then they have a chance to win a prize
Have the core group invite others who they think might be interested
Serve food at the other activities
6th Jul 2017
Activity Director
Optimal Activities - Staff & The Physical Environment
Susan
6th Jul 2017
Activity Director
I find men's groups to be difficult which is why I said when I had him in school that it was sponsored by the man but women were also invited
We also had a breakfast especially for man but then we invited the woman also and it worked out fine that's all the ideas I have for now but I'll think about it
Susan
5th Jul 2017
Activity Director
If the resident really like food and music have other activities centered around these things
Four example watermelon day is in the beginning of August
Why not have a watermelon party except serve the watermelon last and have watermelon trivia and songs before that
You could pass out cards inviting residents to the event and have a trivia question on the invitation if they come to the party and turn in the card with the correct answer they will either be eligible for a prize or you can pick one winner of all that have turned the card In
You could also have cooking activities where the residents get to eat what they made
For example in September is chocolate milkshake day who doesn't like a chocolate milkshake there are some simple recipes on line milkshakes that your group could do and you could have trivia and maybe songs about milkshakes or whatever
I am surprised your residence do not like bingo but every group is different let me know if this helps because I have more ideas if you need them
Susan
4th Jul 2017
Activity Director
with trivia and song favorites
Here is a link to http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com/search?q=watermelon trivia
I also did a watermelon art project. Here is a link to that
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com/2015/06/watermelon-art-project.html
I will check out the other things and get back to you
Susan
30th Jun 2017
Activity Director
Sing along's exercise give her verbal instructions and
Trivia games come to mind I mediately
You can also adapt and modify some activities you already do so she can engage in them
I will think about this and let you know if I come up with anything else if you have any questions leave a comment
28th Jun 2017
Activity Director
For ideas you could get a large colorful picture and you could make statements about the picture and that the residents comment on what you are saying
You of course would have to write the story making additions as necessary
I am hoping to write an article as to how to do this in the future I would call it a picture is worth 1000 words
Another idea for writing a story is to take a song and write your story about it
The residents and I wrote a story from bicycle built for two
I am sure you are a creative soul
I always told the story about when I tried to learn how to ski
My attempt to ski was not successful but the story about but it was a great hit if you need further assistance please leave a comment
I hope this helps
Susan
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So many great ideas in here. Glad to have found you, Golden Carers! Thank you for all the wonderful things you do to help all of us working with activities to better and to make our activities fun for our customers and us.
Virginia Benshoof
Activities Specialist
United States
Forum
It sounds like you do have some good groups'How many do you want and what groups specifically are poorly attended??