Lesley

Hi Jill,
We have made fiddle blankets for the long stay hospital where i work, using a polar fleece blanket as they are soft and cozy, sew on small soft toys, patches of colourful materials of different textures, a lavender bag, little bells sewn securely .
Best of luck

Each year in December we hold a memorial service [we call it a Remembrance
service] for families of the deceased residents .We send out invitations and
the local Minister takes a short service, about 30 minutes. During the
service we ask families to come up the front to light a candle for their
loved one. We have one for each resident and if there is no family there, a
staff member lights it. We finish off with a cup of tea so people can chat.
Lesley

Hi Solange, Enjoy your site,Thought I would let you know how we choose activities each month.I work in a long stay hospital,residents aging from 40 to 95 years.I work with another DT and each month we randomly choose a letter of the alphabet [usually 4months in advance for organising]and plan activities beginning with that letter. This month is B so are doing the following----button collage,threading beads, beauty therapy,ballon volleyball, bowls,bible stories,volunteer talking about growing up in Belguim,blowing bubbles,game of beetles,baking bread ,bead, bow and bangle day,making bird pudding [bird food for outside]
Next month is letter K---we have organised someone to bring kittens for a visit,knitting group, karate demo,kite making,kitchen reminescence,playing the keyboard,Kiwiana,words ending in K,display of kilts,knocking on residents doors[reminder to staff].
I have been doing activities for 20 years now and this gives me a new interest and challenge to think of somethingdifferent. We still do the popular activities such as housie,van outings etc.We have 3 units,dementia, frail elderly and young people with disabilities. Lesley Cuthbertson