Member Profile:
Haley
Recreation Therapist And Writer
From Illinois, United States 
About Haley: Activity professional with a passion to connect to family members in crisis. Writer committed to giving senior caregivers resources they need to succeed. Wife to a handsome Principal, Mama to an 8 year old little boy who makes my heart swell. Wannabe yogi and devoted lover of brownies.
65 Articles Write for Us
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12 Fun Social Clubs to Start at Your Community
Add a little pizazz to your resident club offerings with some fun and quirky new additions!
Articles 1568 0Member Activity
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10 Sensory Activities for Men
Struggling to find ideas for men-specific sensory stimulation experiences? Try these for inspiration.
For Men Articles 2040 18 Comments Member Activity
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How to Use Conversation Cards to Connect Residents
Strike up conversation and increase the connections between residents by using strategically placed conversation cards throughout your community and in your calendar.
Articles 2040 24 Comments Member Activity
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How to Start a Pen Pal Program for Seniors
There’s nothing like a pen pal program to bring some anticipation and fun to your senior community. Here’s how to get started and (most importantly) how to keep it going.
Articles 727 35 Comments Member Activity
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11 Leadership Tips in a Time of Crisis
Leading your team and residents through the pandemic is difficult, but inot impossible.
Articles 1016 42 Comments Member Activity
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How to Discipline Your Activity Staff
Leading a team is hard work. It is your job to make sure staff are doing what they are supposed to, following policies, and providing exceptional care. Most of the time, your team does a great job. But what happens when they don’t?
Articles 1558 510 Comments Member Activity
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7 Tips to Reverse a Bad Day at Work
Have you ever had one of those days at work when nothing seems to go your way? Or a day of sadness and grief after a resident passes away? Here are a few ways to turn things around s your bad day doesn’t ruin the rest of your week or dampen the mood of your team.
Articles 1660 62 Comments Member Activity
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How to Plan for the Festive Season in the Midst of the Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has made senior living activity planning extra difficult. Between visitor limits, social distancing, and other precautions, the holidays are sure to look different this year.
Articles 1485 74 Comments Member Activity
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12 Habits That Make You Look Professional
As a leader in your senior community, it is imperative to be professional in all your interactions with residents, family, and colleagues. Here’s how to put your best foot forward
Articles 1731 86 Comments Member Activity
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8 Ways to to Encourage Friendships Among Residents
Socialization with peers is imperative for healthy aging. In this article we provide some tips for article provides some ideas for helping residents connect and form friendships with one another.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 1377 92 Comments Member Activity
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9 Examples of Activity-Based Care Plan Interventions
The Care Plan is an excellent place to demonstrate how activities can be therapeutic for the residents you serve. Here is how to write excellent interventions rooted in activities and events.
Articles Care Plans Alzheimer's & Dementia 3450 102 Comments Member Activity
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25 Ways to Show Gratitude To Volunteers
It takes a lot of dedicated help to serve your Activities department, and your residents, well. Here are a few ideas for expressing your appreciation for their efforts
Articles Volunteering Coronavirus: Covid-19 946 111 Comment Member Activity
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25 Comedy, Skits, and other Funny Ideas for Entertaining
Add some levity and laughter into your community’s day by planning some comedy events.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 3621 124 Comments Member Activity
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16 Ways to Encourage Negative or Pessimistic Residents to Attend Activities
Have you ever worked with a resident who was irritable or pessimistic? It’s common to have a few residents who may think that all of your activities are silly or not worth their time. Here’s how to make your interactions more productive and pleasant.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 1865 1313 Comments Member Activity
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20 Tips on Asking For Donations
Does your senior living community actively fundraise? No matter if you are new to asking for donations of money, time, or supplies or if you are a pro, here are a few of our favorite tips for asking for help from others.
Articles 650 143 Comments Member Activity
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14 Ways to Improve Family Communication During the Pandemic
Families and other visitors are more 'out of the loop' with their loved one's care now that coronavirus visitation restrictions are commonplace across the globe. Learn how to keep them feeling connected with their loved ones and with your team.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 1740 153 Comments Member Activity
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20 Creative Ways to Hydrate the Elderly in Senior Care
Dehydration can cause serious complications for older adults. Make Activities a part of your community’s push for better hydration with our tips and tricks.
Articles 1471 168 Comments Member Activity
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How to Create a Calm Environment for Memory Care
Your memory care unit is a busy place, bustling with resident, staff, and visitor activity. Unfortunately, too much stimulation can create an emotionally unhealthy environment for residents. Here’s how to keep things calm.
Articles Alzheimer's & Dementia Coronavirus: Covid-19 2636 173 Comments Member Activity
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Ice Cream Sandwiches to Try
Did you know August 2 is Ice Cream Sandwich Day in the U.S.?
* August Activities * 418 18Member Activity
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5 Best Practice Documentation Habits
If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. Even if you’ve only been working in senior care for a few months, you have probably heard this saying.
Articles 1812 19Member Activity
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Pies and Cobblers Sensory Kit
For most of our residents, a homemade pie or cobbler was a part of their summer experience. You can recreate those memories by stimulating the senses by building a sensory kit to use during small groups or during 1:1 interactions.
Sensory Summer (Southern Hemisphere) Summer (Northern Hemisphere) 530 20Member Activity
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How to Start a Read Aloud Program for Seniors
Reading is a popular leisure activity among people of all ages. However, reading aloud is often something we reserve for school-aged children. Learn how making a Read Aloud program can positively impact your residents, staff, and the entire community.
World Read Aloud Day 1242 211 Comment Member Activity
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How to Manage Conflict Within Your Activity Department
Conflict between team members is common, especially in high-stress environments like a senior living community. However, conflict without a resolution can lead to grumpy staff members, increased turnover, and lots of drama. Here’s how to handle it appropriately.
Articles 1374 226 Comments Member Activity
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19 Ways for Residents to Socialize in Isolation
Social events don’t exactly meet social distancing guidelines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still create a feeling of community with your residents. Here are ideas on how to share events without sharing contact.
Coronavirus: Covid-19 Articles 5108 2316 Comments Member Activity
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30 Spiritual Activity Ideas
Spiritual pursuit can be especially important for some of your residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a quick roundup of ideas that could benefit your community.
Coronavirus: Covid-19 Articles 4386 245 Comments Member Activity
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17 Easy Arts and Craft Kits
Now is the perfect time to encourage creativity among your residents. You don’t need a lot of fancy supplies or even a group setting to make it happen. Create your own arts & craft to-go packs using ziplock bags for residents to enjoy in their rooms!
Coronavirus: Covid-19 Articles Craft 7793 256 Comments Member Activity
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26 Ways to Rally Your Greater Community
The global COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed our day to day duties with residents. However, there is a bright side to get you through these tough times: people really want to help.
Coronavirus: Covid-19 Articles 2334 262 Comments Member Activity
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15 Exercise Program Alternatives for Senior Care
Daily exercise groups are an activity department staple, but with most communities discouraging group activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be wondering how to keep it up. Here are a few ideas to get everyone up and moving together (while separate).
Coronavirus: Covid-19 Articles 5520 2711 Comments Member Activity
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Coronavirus: 18 Activities for Dementia Care
If you are working as an Activity Professional in a memory care neighborhood right now, you are facing even more unique challenges in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping a calm and peaceful atmosphere, including activities, can feel overwhelming. Here are a few ideas to keep you and your residents engaged.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 5866 2812 Comments Member Activity
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15 Virtual Activities for Residents in Isolation
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed your activity calendar, and you might be struggling to find new ways to connect with your residents. If you have technology readily available in your community, you can begin to spice up your programming by using virtual activities.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 7042 2918 Comments Member Activity
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COVID-19: Taking Care of Your Mental Health
The COVID-19 pandemic is downright stressful and overwhelming. Taking care of yourself is probably low on your priority list right now, but you won’t be able to take care of your residents if you are struggling. Here are a few easy ways to be gentle with yourself and focus on self-care during these trying times
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 2312 3014 Comments Member Activity
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How to Support Residents in Lockdown
COVID-19 has drastically changed life inside of senior living communities throughout the globe. Here is how to maintain a sense of calm as well as how to connect with residents during this time.
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 5450 3116 Comments Member Activity
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How to Communicate with Volunteers
Effective communication is key to improving volunteer retention and satisfaction. Create your own communication framework to make the most of your volunteer program!
Volunteering 711 324 Comments Member Activity
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12 Ways to Support Visually Impaired Seniors
Many of your residents likely have some type of vision challenge, which can decrease leisure participation. Learn how to give them the tools and opportunities they need to enjoy activities.
Articles 1357 331 Comment Member Activity
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7 Ways To Spice Up Your Newsletter
Your community newsletter is a key part of communication between your department, the residents, family members, and staff. While you may have a system for getting it complete and distributed monthly, you may also notice that the content is a bit of the “same old, same old”. Here are fun things to add that could spice up your next edition.
Articles 1597 343 Comments Member Activity
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Your Role in Discharge Planning
When a resident leaves your community to head home, you can play an important role in setting them up for social success. Learn how here.
Articles 494 354 Comments Member Activity
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15 Goals for Your Activity Program
It’s never too early or too late to create a New Year resolution for your activity department. Find inspiration for your department here.
Articles 1880 365 Comments Member Activity
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How to Train Your Staff For Public Health Visits
When regulatory surveyors or accreditation teams walk into your door, everyone gets nervous. However, you can help your activities staff be confident by training them to be prepared.
Articles 765 371 Comment Member Activity
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Five Ways to Spice Up Your Exercise Program
Group exercise and movement is a crucial staple of a well-rounded activity program. It offers the opportunity for residents to move intentionally, working on fine and large motor skills, as well as improving strength, flexibility, endurance, and range of motion.
Articles Exercise 4284 385 Comments Member Activity
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8 Interventions for Culturally Diverse Seniors
Seniors from multicultural backgrounds are common in residential care communities. Language barriers and cultural differences can make care and daily life a challenge. Here’s how to honor differences and improve quality of life for seniors from multicultural backgrounds.
Articles Multicultural 862 393 Comments Member Activity
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How to Improve the Dining Experience for Seniors
Nutrition can get a bit tricky with age-related complications and conditions. Discover best practices to improve the dining experience for your residents.
Articles 1414 407 Comments Member Activity
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How to Setup a Pet Visiting Program
Pets can bring joy and comfort into the lives of our residents. However, it can feel overwhelming to set up a successful pet visiting program. Here’s how to do it at your community.
Articles Pet Therapy 1095 415 Comments Member Activity
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How to Acknowledge Mistakes and Apologize
We do our best to provide quality programs and interactions for residents. However, mistakes are bound to happen. Learn how to acknowledge your mistakes and appropriately apologize, while making plans to assure your mistakes don't happen over and over.
Articles 782 423 Comments Member Activity
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Sifting and Sorting Bins for Dementia Care
Sorting and sifting bins are a wonderful staple to include in easy-to-grab areas for caregivers, family members, and residents to enjoy together. Here are inspiration and instruction to get you started.
Alzheimer's & Dementia Articles 4248 437 Comments Member Activity
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15 Evening Trip Destinations
Outings are essential for a healthy and engaging activity program. However, you don’t have to rely on daytime hours for successful outings! Instead, challenge yourself to add at least one evening trip to your program each quarter. Residents will love the new opportunities and you’ll realize it is worth the extra planning.
Articles Day Trips 1247 443 Comments Member Activity
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Brain Games for Senior Care: What is Neurobics?
Your morning exercise program helps residents gain strength and weekly yoga classes help them increase their range of motion. But do you have a brain exercise program in place? Brain exercises are just as important as physical exercise for our residents. Learn a bit more about neurobics and why these interventions are key to keeping brains fit!
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 3736 459 Comments Member Activity
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Are You Using Your Local Library Enough?
Your local library is a haven for free activity supplies, easy activity ideas, 1:1 interventions, and endless inspiration for your busy community. Learn how to utilize this community resource even more than you already are.
Articles 628 468 Comments Member Activity
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Loneliness and Isolation in Nursing Homes
If a resident prefers to be alone, are they lonely? It can make us feel nervous when we don’t see residents at group activities. However, not all residents appear to want to create a social connection.
Articles Alzheimer's & Dementia 2646 472 Comments Member Activity
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13 Ways to Incorporate Math Into Your Activity Calendar
Math might not be everyone's favorite subject, but its foundations are in daily tasks like grocery shopping or in more complex tasks like construction. Using these daily and familiar operations, you can give the seniors you serve the chance to use their brain in a different way.
Articles Math 2325 489 Comments Member Activity
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6 Spring Art Activities Your Residents Will Love
New seasons bring new energy to your community and to the seniors you serve. Take advantage of new creativity by welcoming spring with some art offerings on your activity calendar!
Articles Spring (Northern Hemisphere) Spring (Southern Hemisphere) 2593 491 Comment Member Activity
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Tips for Working With a Challenging Supervisor
We have all encountered a challenging supervisor at least once in our careers. Whether you feel your supervisor is mean, unrealistic, or demanding, going into work can start to feel like a major chore. Learn how to work together by following a few of our tips, and make going to work fun (or at least tolerable) again.
Articles 1393 502 Comments Member Activity
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Bringing Art to Life in Your Community
Contrary to some beliefs, everyone is indeed an artist. Learn how to foster a love of all types of art in your senior care community, and how to create a showcase that will quickly become a favorite annual event.
Articles Craft Hobby Clubs 4360 513 Comments Member Activity
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8 Ways to Provide Armchair Travel Experiences
While your residents may not be able to explore different parts of the world in person, you can give them the next best thing - a full travel experience without leaving the activity room!
Articles Sensory Armchair Travel 4021 522 Comments Member Activity
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The Health Benefits of Silence in Senior Care
Have you ever left an event feeling exhausted and overstimulated? Our residents are often shuffled from one group activity to another, with little time for recuperating in between.
Articles 1761 539 Comments Member Activity
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The Magic of Being Silly
You know how you feel after a great laugh? The residents you serve don’t get the chance to laugh like that much in their senior years. Bring some playfulness and giggles to your community by giving yourself permission to be a bit silly.
Articles 4302 5415 Comments Member Activity
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5 Ways to Honor Residents by Validating Their Past
Make your residents feel special by honoring their pasts and talents with these activity ideas.
Articles 2081 555 Comments Member Activity
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How to Start a New Resident Welcome Program
New residents are a part of life for an Activity Professional. These new folks come through the doors feeling worried, dealing with serious pain, confusion, and other challenges. Here’s what you need to know to make sure everyone feels welcome and wanted.
Articles 3431 566 Comments Member Activity
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Portable Activity Ideas to Reach Every Resident, Everyday
Not every resident attends group activities, and it can be a serious struggle to find ways to get them engaged with recreation. Intentionally curated carts and baskets can increase your reach and keep your residents happily active.
Articles One-on-One Coronavirus: Covid-19 10075 5730 Comments Member Activity
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16 Ways to Promote Social Inclusion in Senior Care
Seniors who live in assisted living communities can struggle to feel connected and make friends. Activity Professionals play an important role in keeping residents socially connected by encouraging participation in creative ways.
Articles One-on-One 3291 585 Comments Member Activity
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How to Plan a Festival Of Lights Family Night
Planning a Family Night event right in the middle of the holiday season can feel extra stressful. However, you can pull off a beautiful Festival of Lights celebration by using some of these ideas. Take and adapt what works best for you and your seniors, making your event tailor-made for your community.
Articles Theme Days Christmas 1892 597 Comments Member Activity
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15 Ways to Practise Self Care and Avoid Burnout
You spend your workday caring for others. In between all that, you complete paperwork, make staff schedules and decorate the community room for the next party. Then, you head home to care for your family. One important question - who takes care of you?
Articles Coronavirus: Covid-19 2196 6011 Comments Member Activity
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15+ Ways to Find Intergenerational Partners
Have you ever wondered why you get calls from parents to bring in groups of kids caroling during Christmas time, but never again? Where do all the children volunteers go from January to November?
Articles Intergenerational 1153 613 Comments Member Activity
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How to Seek Calm In Your Busy Day
Make a commitment to take care of yourself throughout the day and week so that you have the energy to avoid burnout!
Articles 1503 623 Comments Member Activity
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20 Ways to Honor Loss in Your Community
Seniors experience loss of all kinds at a much higher rate than we do. Instead of shying away from addressing loss with your residents, honor it. Your residents will appreciate it, as will your staff members, and visitors.
Articles 1297 633 Comments Member Activity
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How to Plan a Successful Family Night
Help residents to connect with family members in a fun and pleasant way by planning a quarterly family night that everyone will love! Family nights give everyone the chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Articles 1292 645 Comments Member Activity
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73 Comments
16th Aug 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
20 Tips on Asking For Donations
9th Aug 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
14 Ways to Improve Family Communication During the Pandemic
20th Jul 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
20 Creative Ways to Hydrate the Elderly in Senior Care
10th Jul 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
How to Create a Calm Environment for Memory Care
18th May 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
How to Start a Read Aloud Program for Seniors
11th May 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
How to Manage Conflict Within Your Activity Department
20th Apr 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
19 Ways for Residents to Socialize in Isolation
15th Apr 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
14th Apr 2020
Recreation Therapist And Writer
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I love the forum, I can get a feel of the issues recreation staff face in their work. Keep up the good work you do for us!!
Lauretta Kaldor
Diversional Therapist
Australia
16 Ways to Encourage Negative or Pessimistic Residents to Attend Activities