Jean

Thank you for your input Susan. Most of our staff are new and learning on the job so i have compiled a booklet called Introduction to Activities, I will ask them to take turns bringing a few residents to the pop up cafe and when they leave I will give them each the booklet to take with them.

I have bought a life size cardboard cutout of the queen and will get the residents to stand beside it, take a photo of them and give them the photo as a 'keep sake'

1st - 8th March Time for a Cuppa Dementia Week (UK) and I am looking for ideas and your input regarding activities that can take place to recognise this week. Most of our residents have dementia and in the past I have done a 'Pop up Cafe' for the residents where friends and family could have a cup of tea and scone etc. Considering doing same again this year but getting carers to bring down a small group of residents. Any other ideas? Many thanks, Jean

Will certainly celebrate this one with a high tea and plenty of bunting. We will work around any live broadcasts that they have eg Trooping of the Colours which is a favourite every year, with other relevant activities.

Today I tried the activity 'Air dry clay sentables'. I used white clay, the residents rolled it out and we cut it into shapes with biscuit cutters. That allowed me to adjust it to suit each resident eg my lady who loves dogs cut hers out using a dog shaped biscuit cutter, another lady cut a teddy bear whilst another used a ginger bread man cutter. I gave them tooth picks to decorate it with patterns, they are now drying. Tomorrow I will put them into a packet with some essential oils and hopefully we will end up with some aromatic ornaments. Thank you for the idea, the residents have enjoyed it.

Well done, great idea.

Thank you, will use the ideas for New Year 22/23

Thank you, I never stop learning from this site. I always feel uncomfortable not planning for the New Year and never thought of doing a 'New Years Noon or New Years Evening' function. Our residents are always in bed and asleep at midnight so I will plan something earlier for the end of 2022.

Hi Susan, I would love to, have one on my phone but don't know how to do it. I will see if someone in the family can help me. The residents really enjoyed it, so many abilities can be involved, tearing up newspaper, mixing flour and water, painting then the final touches all whilst socialising.

We made a paper mache Mr & Mrs Snowmen. The project involved quite a few residents making the head and body of each, then painting them and finally adding the 'fine touches'. Everyone enjoyed doing it.