Member Profile:

206 Comment Member: Molly Wisniewski

Molly

Activity Professional & Writer From Maryland, United States

About Molly: Molly Wisniewski is a freelance writer for the aging services. She has cared for older adults living with dementia for over ten years. Her blog the Upside to Aging is dedicated to sharing an alternative and more positive side to aging.

17 Activities

Laughing Together - Five Activities to Get Residents Smiling

How to Help New Residents Adjust to Lifestyle Changes

5 Myths and Misconceptions About Dementia

4 Creative Activity Programming Ideas Residents will Love

6 Resume & Interview Tips for Activity Coordinators

8 Creative Group Activities for Seniors

How to Plan Age Appropriate Activities for Seniors

Reminiscing: How to Create a Memory Board

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Activity Calendar

5 Uplifting Outdoor Activities

8 Creative Ways to Use an iPad in Nursing Home Settings

Easy Group Cooking Ideas for Dementia Care

How to Manage Aggressive Behavior

Implicit and Explicit Bias in Senior Care

3 Ways to Practise Mindfulness with the Elderly

The Importance of Political Correctness in Senior Care

The Seven Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

206 Comment

Molly 21st Apr 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

These are great resources, Susan! Thank you for sharing.

Nesha sounds like you are having a ton of fun with the residents! There are also a few cost-saving ways to have large events. Team up with a local elementary school and invite the choir to perform for your residents or we once had a hospice agency throw a casino day for our residents and a Mary-Kay makeover day with the residents at no cost because it was a part of their outreach efforts. Or if you are looking for a musician reach out to a local university to see if any of their students want to perform (which is great for their resume!)

Also, consider the talents of your fellow staff and residents! We put on a comedy show for free by asking residents and staff to be involved that activity example is in this article https://www.goldencarers.com/laughing-together---five-activities-to-get-residents-smiling-/5430/.

Molly 21st Apr 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi Suyna,

What a beautiful reminder, thank you! It can be easy to lose sight of why we do what we do, but you are right; the benefits are in the smallest of moments when working with the residents.

I think that the articles that Solange and Susan shared are wonderful resources!

Best,

Molly

Molly 21st Apr 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi Sherry,

Thanks for sharing - I agree the only paperwork we give out is for sing-alongs, too!

I've had great success with Idioms or Finish my Sentence exercises when working with residents with dementia. Here are some articles I've used from Golden Carers:

https://www.goldencarers.com/finish-the-sayings-and-proverbs-game/4848/

https://www.goldencarers.com/animal-idioms-quiz/5173/

Molly 19th Mar 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Implicit and Explicit Bias in Senior Care

Molly has submitted a new article: Implicit and Explicit Bias in Senior Care

Molly 18th Feb 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

This assessement is such a great tool, thank you!

Molly 18th Feb 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi Skye, do you have a local university or senior center nearby? Students and retirees often make great volunteers because they have flexibility in their schedule and more time to dedicate! We also put flyers in places and our social media pages, and once we got the word out that we were looking, we had several people call us.

Molly 18th Feb 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi Sunya,

Yes, I believe they can especially as Solange says if they are resourceful. A good place to start may be to have them schedule 2-3 activities a week to see how they do.

Molly 10th Feb 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi Jennifer,

What an exciting opportunity for you to build a stellar activities program! It does sound like your residents are getting acquainted with their new living space maybe you could start incorporating socials like an afternoon tea/coffee https://www.goldencarers.com/how-to-host-a-high-tea-party/3435/, or a meet and greet party where you invite their family members to join. If that is too forward, maybe do an arts and crafts session that allows them to work on a piece to decorate their new room.

Here is a great article on social inclusion you may want to check out: https://www.goldencarers.com/16-ways-to-promote-social-inclusion-in-senior-care/5722/

Molly 10th Feb 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi John,

Happy to share, and fully support your mission to have fun while keeping the mind active.

Have fun!

Best,

Molly

Molly 10th Feb 2019 Activity Professional & Writer

Forum

Hi Carla,

With a tag, they will most likely want to see actionable items that staff will have to complete. For instance,

Activities staff will provide 1:1 visits three times a week for 15 minutes each visit.

Resident enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching T.V. staff will provide new music, books, and movie options during 1:1 visits to ensure the resident maintains their preferred daily routine.

Activity staff will provide meaningful interactions during 1:1 visits by engaging the resident in conversation, reminiscing, or any other specific preferences the resident may have.

Activity staff has notified nurses, aids, and family members of the residents 1:1 schedule, and has offered in-room activity ideas that can be done while visiting or providing care.