Tips for Writing Successful Activity Programs for Senior Care

Planning out activities for a group can take time, research, and creativity. This article has great tips for writing successful activity programs for senior care. Thanks for sharing!

Am a new lifestyle coordinator just need to gather activities as I have been nursing for 20 years. Especially people with dementia. Please help

Hi. I just landed a job as a Activity Coordinator. First time in the field. I was searching and looking for ways to engage the residents with different activities. I'm so happy I found this site. You ladies are very helpful. I also use to work at a assisted living facility as a house keeper and I saw all the things the residents would do. I wanted to put out there, there's a game called music bingo as well. The residents really love that game. They win prizes of course. Nothing to big. Lotion, chocolate,soap ect, I thought this would be helpful as well. For those of you whose looking for other games they can play. I would most definitely be using this site a lot. Again thank you ladies for the information

Hello hoping you can help I am completing a business course for uni, I have chosen to create a activity Co. Ordinator position in my make believe rest home. Could you please advise me on costing? For up to around fifty residents please

Many hopes Claire Rimmer

Extremely a very nice information about writing successful activity programs for seniors. Thanks for sharing...

Some good ideas the simpler the better

I wonder where I can get face to face training for my Leisure and lifestyle staff and recreation activity officers please.

Great idea's!!! So glad that iv'e found this site, i love it,also the idea from Anne B is great

Bingo suitable for Alzheimers
I made up a bingo that goes up to the number 40. I printed A5 size bingo cards and laminated them so clients can mark them with markers and they are easily wiped clean. the bingo balls are from a children's plastic ball pool large and colourful. I wrote the number on each ball with permanent marker. some times each client picks out a ball and sometimes if we have a client who can't play the bingo they will pick out the balls. we say rhymes/ songs associated with each number, ie 3 three blind mice....., 16 one client sings "sweet sixteen and never been kissed" and so on. everyone helps wipe the cards afterwards. The game is short and the clients don't lose interest so we often play two or three games.

We have a male resident who was a very keen gardener, so we have planted tomatoes, and he has taken over collecting them every day, plus watering them.

he and another resident, were given the task of potting up the tomato plants for our market day, and working on the stall selling them! was a real win win!!

I'm so glad I found this site! It's great to be able to share all our ideas around with others that work in the same industry and how wonderful, that our clients benefit from it!

thank you for your heip

Hi Norene, one good card game is the 'Memory Game". Start with only two suits, say Hearts and Spades. Choose 40 cards; 20 of each suit, give to one participant to shuffle and then to another to cut. Give the cut parts to two participants to place on the table upside down. Each participant has a go at turning 2 cards up; if they match he keeps them; if not cards are returned to upside down place. The next player does the same and tries to remember where the previous cards were. Play until all cards are gone. The winner is the player with the most cards. I hope your clients like this. It is a very popular game. Good luck!

Card bingo......have 2 packs, one (large size to enhance positive outcomes) for caller and the second pack divided between players. Modify depending on level of cognition/dementia but even those quite impaired can manage 8-10.
Staff assist with residents to sort their own (each will have a natural preference)
Caller starts with cards face down and calls what it is...eight of hearts whilst allowing residents to see the card and compare/pick out their card.
All cards turned over (face down or put aside) is the winner; however to promote success call out until last card is turned over.
Great game, no cost. Residents often help each other so good social interaction as well as coordination
, thinking, strategy etc

Hi everyone you all have great ideas.
Anyone got any new simple card games for low care residents.

thank you for this informative information, I am a trained art therapist working within aged care. My vision is to bring sensory programs and well-being prohrams, to people living with dimentia and pyscical disabilities using 'person centred approach'.

thanks this has given me same help as im still studying leisure and lifestyle its so hard to get them motivated thanks again janet