This is one of many free activities.
Golden Carers has 1000s of activities and resources for senior care.
Object:
- Encouragement of interpersonal skills.
- Provide sensory stimulation.
- Reminiscing opportunity
Materials:
- Computer and office paper (A4 sized sheets of white paper)
- Recycled cardboard or egg cartons
- A box or tin with a lid
- A musician who plays either the piano/guitar/ukulele to accompany the singing.
- Token prizes for the winners: small bag of marshmallows or chips, chocolate, diabetic treats, sodas.
Instructions:
- Download song cards and calling cards examples.
- Type as many 'song cards' as you want with songs of your choice as per examples; six songs on each page. Then print and laminate them. By choosing your own songs you can pick exactly what your clients are used to singing and enjoy to sing.
- Type 'calling cards' with the chosen songs; then laminate and cut them out.
- Place calling cards inside a secure box or tin with a well fitted lid.
- Make song covers (six for each participant) using cardboard or egg cartons; rule and cut rectangles 6 ½ inches long by 1 inch wide or (16 cm by 2 cm).
- Ask residents to paint song covers in colours of their choosing.
How to play the game:
- Give each resident a song card and six song covers.
- Pull a calling card from the box and read it out loud for all to hear.
- Participants with the called card cover it.
- Lead a short sing-along accompanied by the musician.
- Call the next card!
- Every time someone says 'Bingo!' a small token prize is given to the winner.
- The sing-along aspect of the game is very important. It adds another dimension to the game.
Observe alertness and engagement of participants and report in Progress Notes or equivalent.
Tip: If you work in a culturally diverse facility it would be advisable to choose some songs your residents can identify with such as 'Volare', 'Santa Lucia', 'Amapola', 'Hava-Nagila' and, 'Never on Sundays' or any other famous international songs we all know. The lyrics may not be known but everybody can hum along. Believe me, it is a lot of fun humming or la-la-la-ing along to 'Hava-Nagila'!
Free app that makes the bingo cards for you with songs that apply. I'm a bit green on this app thing. Can you help me?