An activity just in time for Mother's Day

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Mother's day is all about love.

Here are some ideas for discussion questions about love.

They are ideal for lower functioning residents but can be easily adapted for higher functioning ones

They are all about a baby,love and people who love the baby as well as other things

They love our baby
Who loves the baby?
If the participants need help say;
Does the baby’s brother love him?
Does his mother love him?
Do you love the baby?
Who else loves the baby?
Possible responses and opportunities for discussion: father, sister, aunt, uncle, friend, dog, cat, etc. Have a discussion about people in one or more of the participant’s family.

What else do you love?
If the participants need help say;
I love ice cream, how about you?
Possible responses(which are almost endless) and opportunities for discussion: pizza or any other food, roses or any type of flower, watching television, singing a song, etc.
Have a discussion about any one or more of these things.
Sing one or more love songs. Recite a poem about love, something as simple as Roses are Red, etc.

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Aesop's fable: The Lion and the Mouse

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

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Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities





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The Lion and the Mouse

Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up
and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge
paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O
King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall
never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn
some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the
Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let
him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the
hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a
tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on. Just
then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad
plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away
the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?"
said the little Mouse.

Moral:
Little friends may prove great friends.

Dementia Arm Chair Travel

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Here is a dementia music activity

AC Content

An Activity for Those with All Levels of Dementia and Others Who Have Enjoyed Traveling

The name of the activity is "Arm Chair Travel". It can be used with a wide variety of people with all stages of dementia including advanced dementia and those living in nursing homes. However you must make sure to modify, "Arm Chair Travel", to meet the needs and interests of the person or persons you are doing this activity with.

Many people with dementia have done their share of traveling. They may have dreamed of traveling even if they never had the opportunity to travel. More than likely, they packed a suitcase at sometime in their life.

The reason this activity is good for those with advanced dementia is because you can put many items that appeal to a person's senses into the suitcase for the activity. Appealing to one or more of a patient, with advanced dementia, senses can make them more alert if they are tired, or bring calm to them if they have a tendency to become restless. By holding things they like can do this. A portion of this activity allows those engaging in it, to hold items appealing to their senses. The items can be anything you put in the suitcase as you will discover later in this article.

This activity allows those participating, a chance to think about places they have been and, of course, have a good time.

Before you start this activity, you ...read all of Arm Chair Travel

Bible verses to celebrate Easter

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AC Content

If we knew nothing else of the Savior these two verses would teach us one of His greatest messages. That is, that no matter what the situation we must and we have the power to forgive and turn the other cheek.

"He is not here: for he is risen ,..." Mathew 28:6. With this angelic declaration we learn of the Savior's miraculous victory over death. As the first person ever to triumph over the grave he released all mankind from the terrible grasp of the grave, giving us the gift of immortality.

 

Here are two bible verses for Easter. They teach us that no matter how difficult our lives may seem, we have the ability to rise above and triumph over our trials. Jesus also suffered, but in His suffering He showed us a better way. The way in which we can reach a state of happiness that will allow us to follow in His path and change our lives and the lives of all those that we influence, for the better.

 

read more about Easter bible verses

 

 

Earth Day Ideas

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Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity




Earth Day Poem

All Things Beautiful

by C.F. Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful -
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river, running by,
The morning, and the sunset
That lighteth up the sky.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden -
He made them, every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who hath made all things well.

Earth Day History

Earth Day was first suggested by John McDonnell (from the United States) in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment. The United Nations began an Earth Day celebration on the March Equinox and continued this celebration every year since.

Responding to global warming and other environmental degradation, Gaylord Nelson (a Wisconsin Senator) called for an environmental teach-in to be held on April 22, 1970. This Earth Day involved over 2000 colleges and universities and roughly 10,000 primary and secondary schools. The main purpose of the day was to promote environment awareness and reform.

Earth Day is still celebrated on 2 days - the March Equinox and April 22nd. The April date usually involves more schools. In fact, Earth Week has evolved from this precious day allowing students, teachers and parents to have more time to learn about environmental awareness.

Earth day is intended for all of us to recognize how we influence our limited resources from our planet. There are often activities, campaigns and events scheduled on this day to promote awareness of Earth issues

Donut Facts for Donut Day

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Donut Day is celebrated the first Friday in June

Shipley Donuts
                               Donut Fun Facts

1. The weight of the average kitchen rolling pin is .48 pounds.
   The weight of the Shipley Donut rolling pin is 3.6 pounds.

2. It is thought that in remote areas of Brazos County there
   are certain individuals that secretly worship pagan donut gods.

3. The approximate size of the donut hole is 16/20 ".

4. Scientific studies show that people who eat Shipley donuts 
   have a much higher I.Q. than those who eat those other nameless
   yucky brands.

5. The Bryan and College Station Shipley Donuts produce more than 
   3 million donuts every year.

6. Donuts promote world peace.

7. The average donut lover in the Brazos Valley consumes about 56 
   donuts per year.

8. Bear claws are loved most by bears.

9. National Doughnut Day is June 23rd.

10. The shape of the wedding band symbolizes eternal love and 
    happiness. The shape of the donut also symbolizes eternal love 
    and happiness. It is therefore very appropriate to give your 
    sweetie donuts on Valentines Day as well as for anniversaries.

Patriot’s Day activities for those with dementia(part 2)

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Activities directors, other healthcare professionals and caregivers, here is part 2 of the Patriot's Day dementia activity

When you are discussing Patriot’s Day or any day for that matter, if the questions you ask are too hard then give the person with dementia a choice of two possible answers

Or you can say:I think it is……..

Or do not ask questions. Just make a statement with the last word or two left out. See if the person with dementia spontaneously says something to complete the phrase.

You can also play the sensory matching game adding some patriotic items like small flags or items that are red, white and blue.

What about reading part of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. You certainly could have a side discussion about Boston, the Revolutionary War or horses.

Come back for more

Making Apple Butter: A Sweet Sensory Treat

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AC Content

This recipe makes a sweet treat that smells so good. It is sure to wake up anybody's senses. It is easy to make and nutritious.

Here is the recipe:
Apple Butter3 1/2 cups apple sauce,

sugar, (the formula is: sugar equal to half the amount of applesauce) Use sugar substitute for folks who are diabetic

A heaping tablespoon of cinnamon,

Half a teaspoon of ..read all of Making Apple Butter: A Sweet Sensory Treat

Top Ways to Successfully Calm an Agitated Person with Dementia

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AC Content

Dementia is a brain disorder that affects a person's short term memory initially. However as this condition progresses other parts of the brain are affected. This can affect a person's communication skills and ability to do tasks he has done before,

He can also experience hallucinations and delusions. Because of these things, a person with dementia may become agitated. So it is best to know this person well, whether he is a family member, client, or a patient at a long term care facility. By knowing him, you will realize what things set him off and what things calm him down. Careful observation and asking those who are with this individual with dementia for most of the day, help you to know what strategies will work when trying to calm this person.

Your goal is to calm or soothe the person with dementia who is agitated. You do not want to exhibit behavior that may further agitate a dementia person. The best way to soothe an agitated person with dementia is not to have him get agitated in the first place. This requires that you anticipate his needs and wants. It also requires that you approach him in a certain way. You should use slow, deliberate movements and approach this individual from the side. Also you should make sure not to use gestures that may be misinterpreted as being threatening. In addition you need to know what the beginning of agitation looks like in this particular person with dementia. He may pace, ask repetitive questions, call out, grimace, become silent or a variety of other things.

If this person with dementia has trouble communicating, he may be experiencing pain, hunger or fear, He may be bored, tired or having an adverse affect from a medication he is taking.

You should always note the time, duration, frequency, severity and special features of a dementia person's agitation.

These strategies work to maintain calmness in a person with dementia, Always...read all of Top Ways to Successfully Calm an Agitated Person with Dementia

Terrific Ideas for National Nursing Home Week

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Cindy-Activity Ideas

National Nursing Home Week is May 8-14

Here are some terrific ideas for National Nursing Home Week

Honoring Your Staff National Nursing Home Week® can be a time to honor staff. Have a special "cocktail" hour where residents can assist. Ask residents for suggestions for their easiest, tastiest recipes and assist them in gathering the ingredients they need. If you need more recipes than residents offer, pick a few from one of the following sites:
•http://www.recipezaar.com/r/145/81
•http://busycooks.about.com/cs/seasonalcooking/a/toohottocook.htm
You can also give out awards to honor staff and volunteers. Your categories might include the sunniest personality, the funniest staff member (or resident/family member), the most dedicated volunteer or the best bingo caller. Set up voting boxes throughout your facility and let everyone vote on the various categories.

Act of Kindness Bag
Fill a decorated bag with slips of paper suggesting different things that residents, family, friends, and staff members can do for people throughout the week. Suggestions can be simple, like sew a button on Jill's white shirt, brush and fix Sally's hair, tell a staff member a funny childhood story, etc. Ask the recipient to write a comment on the back of the "Act of Kindness" slip. At the end of the week, review the activities and comments to everyone.
Intergenerational "Life" Stories
Youngsters of any age can be fascinated by the living history that residents represent. To kids, it is hard to fathom life before McDonald's, television (even color TV), computers, video games, cell phones, plastic bags, etc. Of course, residents who are 85 years old were 20 years old in 1946, so a veteran might tell a "tale" of combat in World War II or Korea or what life was like on the home front. Suggest discussions about the advances in technology (radio, TV, movies, telephone, etc.) which are interesting topics for children.

Hug Day Proclaim a "hug day."
Ask everyone in the facility to greet each other with a warm hug and count up the hugs. The most hugs in a day wins a bouquet of National Nursing Home Week® balloons or other prizes. Bonus points go to those who make contact with residents that they do not know very well, if at all.

Salon Day
Hold a "Salon Day" for your special ladies and men. Ask local volunteer organizations or a local high school to come in and help. Set up a room as a salon and invite the ladies in for makeup, brush their hair and pin back with sparkling bobbie pins and put on nail polish. The men can come in for a haircut and shave. Try for pedicures too.

Mini-Shuffle Board
Mini-Shuffle Board is fun and easy to set up. Take a smooth piece of wood and mark lines every few inches from the beginning. Give each line a different point value starting with 10 and increase in increments of 10. The object is to push a coin along the board and add the point values of where the coin lands on the board.

Reach for the Stars
Create a "Reach for the Stars" game. Ask residents to sit in a circle, blow up a NNHW balloon and then keep the balloon in the air for as long as possible. A person whose balloon falls can still participate, but is ineligible for a prize. At the end, the person who has maintained the balloon in the air the longest would get some recognition and a special NNHW prize.

Alumni Party
Consider having an "Alumni Party" as part of the staff event (above). Invite former residents, patients (and family members) who have been discharged to home or to a community setting. Weather permitting, throw a BBQ/picnic or, if this is not possible, have a special sit down lunch or dinner.

Fancy Flags
Since each country and state has its own flag, how about each of your residents having one of their own? Ask residents to draw what they would like onto their flag (e.g. decorate according to their hobbies). When finished, staple each flag onto a dowel and have a "parade."

How to Get a Person with Dementia to Eat

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Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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Here is a dementia music activity

AC Content

There are many reasons why persons with dementia do not eat. Some of these reasons are, loss of vision, depression, being alone, swallowing difficulty, pain, being tired and digestion problems. Because of these difficulties, food may be no longer be appealing, or it may not taste good to them. Involving person with dementia in activities may spark their interest in
Have the person with dementia help you plan a meal from beginning to end. Determine what is going to be served. Get out some cookbooks and look up favorite recipes. Talk about the "good old days". Discuss their favorite recipes. Talk about special tricks in preparing certain foods. Help him make invitations for a special meal. Let him prepare a simple dish with as much assistance as needed. Let him taste the foods you are preparing. If he is unable to actively participate, let him observe the preparation, but still let him smell and taste the food you are preparing.
Making food that takes all day long to prepare in a slow cooker, fills the room with delightful smells that often increase a person's appetite. You can prepare a stew. The advantage to doing this besides creating the outstanding aroma, is that it is cost effective, and the food is soft and easier to eat.
You can also make a  read all of ...How to Get a Person with Dementia to Eat