Michelle

Agree with Maryann, remember the care plan and program must include choices to allow person centred care. Not what the Lifestyle/Activities Team are good at doing or enjoy.

As someone relatively new to the aged care industry and newly trained, thankyou for your practical suggestions. They work or give ideas that can be easily adapted to people in high dementia care.

with the pictures you cut out you could also create a memory box with toy boats and travel brochures of their original country, pictures and recipe of food, national dress, songs from their country etc. As part of an activity they could help suggest pictures to decorate the box.

You may be able to make some small craft items - paper maiche bowls or pottery items that could be sold to help raise some money.

Making chinese dragons and lanterns if they are able to do this craft. Chinese musician or entertainer - ask the families for contacts.

I also help with some client's feeding but have now got a new job and have been told to also collect menu choices for the next day meals. This takes me an hour. What do other centres do?

Word search games - write a long word and see how many other words they can find, chair exercises, card making, start a remember box - craft, work, fashion, baby etc memories.

Most people love word games, dominoes, bingo, quoits, sing-a-longs and paper craft.. If you want to be adventerous try making the christmas tree decorations made from old magazines. I think I will try it, great way to recycle them.

Just starting in a brand new nursing home and was wondering if anyone has ideas for song books. To buy or make our own???

Sounds great, will use in my group assignment on activities for Alzheimer's Disease.