Sunday, December 30, 2018

Fun facts to share: New Years


Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information



Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire




Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]



The History of New Year's Resolutions

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune.

Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.
In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.

The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The

Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.

Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.

Ancient New Years

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, Babylonians celebrated the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23, although they themselves had no written calendar.

Late March actually is a logical choice for the beginning of a new year. It is the time of year that spring begins and new crops are planted. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the New Year on March 25, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the New Year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Activities Directors-Ideas for January

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]


Activities Directors, other healthcare professionals and caregivers.
Here are some special days in early January.
You can make an activity out of each one of the items listed
Theirs is something in everyday of January to celebrate. In fact, most days there is more than one thing, so pick and choose to your heart’s content and make every day a special one. Here are a few left over from yesterday’s post - Prune Breakfast Month, National Book Blitz Month, Bread Machine Baking Month, Egg Month, Reaching Your Potential Month, Senior Woman’s Travel Month.

January 1

New Years Day
Betsy Ross’s Birthday (1752)
French New Year (Le Jour de l’an)
Ellis Island Anniversary (opened 1892)
Paul Revere’s Birthday (1735)
Income Tax (the first U.S. income tax in effect, 1862)
Panama Canal (beginning of building it in 1880)
1st Tournament of Roses (Pasadena, CA, 1886)
Chattananooga Choo Choo #1 Song (Glenn Miller,1942)
Sixteen Tons #1 Song (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1956)
The Sounds of Silence #1 Song (Simon & Garfunkel, 1966)
Time in a Bottle #1 Song (Jim Croce, 1974)

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Dementia Holiday Activities That Lower Stress and Raise the Joy(part 2)

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

by Paula Spencer caring.com

Have fun with food

Make cookies.Someone once famous for her Christmas cookies may miss the kitchen activity. She may no longer be able to handle Pfeffernusse or a spritz gun, but together you could mix up a simple slice-and-bake dough (or do it for her in advance) and then let her slice the log and and arrange the cookies on a baking sheet. Or set out colored sugar, sprinkles, and other decorations for decorating a tray of sugar cookies or gingerbread men you've already cut-out. (Kids love this, too.)

Crack nuts. Put the person to work with an old-fashioned nutcracker and a big bowl of walnuts, pecans, and Brazil nuts. A nice, soothing activity during family gatherings. *

Make a soothing atmosphere.

Stock up on classic holiday movies. Favorites to put in your Netflix queue or pick up cheap at the local superstore: "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street," "White Christmas," "Christmas in Connecticut," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," (animated Seuss version), and "A Christmas Story" (that's the 1983 modern classic about the boy who dreams of a Red Ryder BB gun). Invite your relative to choose if decision-making is not yet too fraught.

Put together a photo album of holidays past. This one takes a little time, but pays off in hours of repeated reviewing. Better yet, get a child to jot down the person with dementia's descriptions of each photo -- faces, places, funny things that happened (you may be surprised what's remembered, though also be prepared for nothing to be recalled); insert the notes in the album next to each picture.

Play holiday music throughout the day. Mental grooves are deep for these tunes, which makes them especially soothing. Stick to classics you know the person is familiar with – this is probably not the year to spring Bob Dylan's or Taylor Swift's new Christmas album. (Although you never know!)

Thanks Paula

Monday, December 24, 2018

Considerations for the Holidays for Staff Working with Persons with Dementia and their Families


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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter


Murray Alzheimer's Research and Education Program

Holidays may be a joyous celebration for some and distressing or sad for others. Some
clients/residents may have family or friends who visit and others may be alone. Be sensitive to the
needs and feelings of persons with dementia at this time of year.
v Be respectful and take the time to learn about the person with dementia – their preferences, culture,
religion and ethnicity. Provide opportunities for persons with dementia to celebrate the holidays
according to their own preferences. Invite clients/residents, whether living at home or in the
community, to participate in holiday and other recreational festivities as appropriate.
v Families can be asked to share photo albums of previous holiday celebrations which can often
assist with a relaxing form of reminiscence. For some people, playing familiar holiday movies and
holiday music can be comforting. This can be a helpful strategy for persons who are restless
during evening/overnight shifts.
v Where appropriate, holiday decorating can be used both as an enjoyable activity or a topic of
conversation. Sharing holiday practices and traditions from a person’s country of birth can be a
meaningful exchange for both staff and persons with dementia.
v Pay attention to the person sitting alone in their room or who does not get visitors. Providing them
with a holiday card (e.g., Christmas, Chanukah) or seasonal plant may bring cheer to them – take
the time to stop by and visit those who may need comfort or would enjoy a smiling face.
v Do consider the noise level and multiple distractions that can impact upon a person with dementia
with possible increased activity and visits to a person’s home or longterm
care home.
v Be considerate of the words “do you remember.” Staff may explore broader reflections like “how
do you like to spend the holiday?” or “Tell me about what you enjoy about the holidays.” If need
be, ask closed ended questions like “did you used to skate/go on sleigh rides/cook a big meal
during the holidays?”
v Be sensitive to family members who can no longer celebrate the holidays as they once did. This
may be a difficult time for them – provide as much continuity in the lives of the person with
dementia and their family partners in care as possible (e.g., dinner together). Provide opportunities
for persons with dementia and their families to celebrate the holidays together through shared
family activities and programs


Saturday, December 22, 2018

Twelve Days of Christmas

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


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


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


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter


Make sure you are ready for Christmas this year.


Here are the lyrics to the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas.


Use them for a Christmas activity with your residents


On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds*
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Have a Merry Christmas with those with have dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


ezine

Over 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Buying a gift for them for the holidays is not difficult if you keep a few things in mind.
First you should know the persons likes and dislikes. Also important is knowing their strengths and weaknesses. In addition consider, when purchasing a gift for someone with dementia, keeping their mind and body active. Also think about a gift that will keep on giving long after Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza or other celebrated holidays are gone Keep in mind, also, that gift selections should change as Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, progress
Gifts that keep dementia persons' mind active
All stages, most interests
A book called Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals is an ideal gift because just about everyone loves babies. This book uses baby photographs to engage those with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia in mind stimulating activities. Also it has great tips and resources for caregivers and health care workers.
A journal
Anytime is a good time to record happy events or moments in a dementias persons' life. Spend some time with them after you give this gift helping them to record memorable moments. Let them write as much as they can and you do the rest.
Then later these happenings can be shared.
A photo album
You or someone who has photographs of dementia persons can put them into an album. Make sure to label the photos so recall of them will be easier.
You may want to enlarge some of the photos for easier viewing.
As the dementia progresses, Alzheimer's individuals may think recent photos of them are of their mother or father. That is OK because this gives all a wonderful opportunity to talk about their parents.
Another gift dementia persons will fancy is a classic musical video or DVD. No matter what stage of dementia they are in they will enjoy watching something from the good old days and singing the songs played throughout the picture. Here are a few suggestions: Singin' in the Rain, Meet Me in St. Louis, or Shall We Dance
Next is a sing a long CD or audio cassette of their favorite songs. There is a series of these called, Old Time Favorites by Nancy Pitkin.
You may want to get a sing a long video where dementia persons can see and hear performers singing songs they love. Folks with Alzheimer's disease seem to enjoy music from their younger days. Many times dementia folks who are non-verbal will sing many of the words of an old favorite song of theirs. A good one is: Sing-Along with Phil Bernardi: Songs We Know and Love.
Give the gift of yourself. No matter how hard it is for you to visit persons with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, they will appreciate your company even though they may not be able to express it. Take them for a walk, sing some of your favorite songs together, or give them a hand massage. Just share some quality time together. All will feel better. Do remember to be upbeat animated and excited about visiting. No arguing, please. That is a lose, lose situation.
A phone call, especially a long distance call is nice. Those in the later stages may have trouble with this especially if they are hard of hearing. However, at least they will know you are thinking of them.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Merry Christmas Fellow Activities Professionals

Dec 18
Activities Directors, other healthcare professionals, and caregivers


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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire 

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter


I would like to wish you, your family and friends with or without dementia the best holiday possible.

Take time to relax and recharge for whatever comes your way

Make sure to frequently visit here for extremely helpful information to help those with dementia as well as ways to stave off or slow down the dementia process. Some information is posted almost everyday

One more time-Happy Holiday

Sunday, December 16, 2018

How to Prevent Christmas Stress

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

eHow
wesellforum

Christmas is a festive time of year. Everyone is rushing from place to place and so happy. Among all that Christmas cheer there are people that allow themselves to get so stressed out they never get to enjoy the holiday season. With a little effort and planning you can prevent holiday stress from creeping up on you and your family. Below are some things you can do to help prevent Christmas stress.

Step 1Make Christmas Gift List Early:

Sit down early in fall or late summer to make your Christmas list. The earlier you can get started on your Christmas list the less stressful and hectic it will be at Christmas time. This also gives you plenty of time to think about what you want to get everyone.

Step 2Plan your gift choices in advance:

Save time and stress while shopping by having your Christmas gift list done early. You can always make changes if necessary but there is no reason you shouldn’t have an idea of what to get everyone before you start shopping. Family members or people that are close to you should get gifts with more thought and uniqueness while acquaintances and friends can have smaller generic gifts that are easier to find. These are usually gift baskets that can serve this purpose.

Step 3Buy gifts as early as possible:

Christmas gifts don’t have to have anything to do with Christmas so you can really start your Christmas shopping early. This will allow you to find better bargains for everyone on your list and avoid the Stressful last minute shoppers in the stores.

Step 4Gifts in bulks are good for acquaintances:

Buying several of the same item will make gift giving less stressful also. Many items can be customized at home for next to nothing. If you find a good deal on an item ask the store owner if you can get a discount for buying several of that item. Once home either add a card of a little verse that is special to you and your gift if unique and done for several people at once.

Step 5Limit holiday activities:

Make a list of priorities and make sure other activities do not interfere. Make sure you have some me time included in there so you don’t make your self sick with all the running. That’s not to say you shouldn’t enjoy the holiday season, just make sure you are enjoying it and not rushing from activity to activity through it.

Step 6Relax with family:

Christmas is all about family and you should make sure you have plenty of time set aside to enjoy it with your family. Don’t feel bad if you have to say no to someone to spend time with your family. They really will understand.

Step 7Ask for help if needed:

There are many people that will help you will small tasks when times get busy and stressful. Make sure you ask for help with things seem to be getting over whelming. Having someone help wrap presents is not only a way to get something done that needs to be done and could be stressful. It’s a way to relieve stress that is starting to build up by relaxing with family and friends. Plus you get to check one more thing off your to do list.

Friday, December 14, 2018

Strategies for Having An Enjoyable Christmas With Those Who Have Dementia

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


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire 

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


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


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter






We all benefit from sharing
Christmas with someone we care about. The smells, the
sounds, and the sights bring back happy memories. People
with dementia should have this opportunity too. Following
these tips will ensure you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s
disease or another dementia a pleasurable holiday season.
Use these tips ti help you choose a gift they will enjoy now and
in days and months to come.
The gift of yourself is one of the
best gifts you can give so do
things together.
One thing you can do is decorate for Christmas together
There is nothing like the excitement of preparing for the Christmas holiday
together.
In order to make the decorating experience for someone with Alzheimer’s
disease or a related dementia, better, follow these tips:
Have most of the decorating complete before you involve the dementia
person. Then they can help you with the finishing touches.
Buy unbreakable ornaments. They are much safer. However, if your
dementia friend likes to put inedible objects in his mouth, do not use any
ornaments
Do not use candy canes or any edible decorations on the tree. Do not use ones that even look edible
What safe things can you use?
In most cases, garland is safe
Angels made out of material are most likely appropriate.
Here is another activity you do together. Make ornaments out of old Christmas cards, together...
Cut out the pictures on the front. Punch a hole near the top of the picture and put string or ribbon through
the hole. You can then hang these homemade ornaments on the tree.
You know the person with Alzheimer’s disease the best. You know what is most likely appropriate.
You can have two trees. Keep the room to the one with the traditional decorations locked unless you or
someone can supervise the person with dementia.
Here is something else you can do together. You can have the person with dementia put Christmas
window clings up. You and the dementia person can display unbreakable Christmas knickknacks.
Yet another idea is to make a tree out of paper and display pictures from past Christmases. This is not
only fun to look at, but it is a great opportunity for reminiscing. This kind if tree is very safe
Share in the joy of the decorations of others
If decorating is too much for you, or you feel that your decorations are not safe, or you want something
wonderful to do, you can drive around town spotting all the decorations families, merchants, schools, town
centers and libraries are displaying. Stay away from crowded malls, however.
Sing favorite Christmas carols often
Most families have favorite songs they sing. Even if a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another
dementia is non verbal, he or she may be able to sing most of the words to a favorite song. Singing is a
great activity. It lifts spirits and is good for the lungs.
Pray with them.
Most folks with dementia have strong ties to their religion. Even those with advanced dementia may
spontaneously recite portions of a prayer service that was part of their past.
The problem may be to find a service that is appropriate. The traditional service is long and crowded.
Here are a few suggestions
Go at the beginning or end of the service. That is when the least amount of parishioners are in
attendance.
Contact some assisted living or nursing homes in the area. Many of them have short simple services
highlighting the important prayers. This is a win, win situation. You can see what a place is like, and most.......read all of Strategies for Having An Enjoyable Christmas With Those Who Have Dementia

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Edible Christmas tree ornaments

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two
That being said, bread dough ornaments ARE fun, easy, and cheap!!!! They would be fun to make on a snow day, or to minimize the wait, you could always make up the “blanks”- baked circles- and then just have the kids decorate them. Wouldn’t this be fun with a girls scout troup, classroom, or even as an activity in a nursing home? It’s so inexpensive, it’s a great craft even in this economy.
Here’s a basic salt dough recipe:
  • ½ cup salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup water
Just mix together until the dough is formed. Then roll it out, and cut it with cookie cutters in the shape of your choice. Bake at 250 F for 2 hours until they are all dried out. Paint with acrylics, decoupage, sprinkle with glitter, go wild. You’ll want to make sure that it’s sealed well with paint, glaze or decoupage medium to keep them intact for years to come. Kaboose has some good ideas to check out, too!
Go get messy and happy crafting!

Monday, December 10, 2018

Sensational ideas for those with dementia and other nursing home residents(Part 4)

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

USA Today

Touch
Cashmere socks tickling your toes. A child's arms around your neck. A snowflake on your tongue. "The sensation of touch affects every part of our bodies," says Steven Hsiao, Ph.D., associate neuroscience professor at Johns Hopkins University. Without it, we'd have a lot less fun (hot-stone massage) and be a lot less safe (hot pan!).
Women, who typically have thinner skin than men, are lucky enough to have stronger touch sensations. But we all lose our sense of touch as we age, about 1 percent a year beginning in our 20s, Hsiao says. The good news is that the outmost layer of the epidermis is renewed continuously, and there are lots of pleasurable ways to rev up those touch receptors.
Keep it soft. The rougher your skin, the more difficult it is to sense touch. So slather on a rich cream or lotion to keep your nerve endings moist and firing.
Pat your own bunny. The areas in your brain involved in touch enlarge when exposed to new sensations. To stimulate them, try choosing your clothes by feel. You'll notice the nap of a pair of corduroys, those nubby socks, your favorite silk shirt. Celebrate the textures of the foods, too: An avocado's rough skin, silky tofu, the stickiness of a licorice string.
Get skin-to-skin. Studies show that holding hands with a partner relaxes a woman. So, too, can any kind of skin-to-skin contact such as massage, acupressure, even a lunchtime pedicure or manicure.

Come back for more

Saturday, December 8, 2018

December 12 is Poinsettia Day

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition] 

December 12 is Poinsettia Day. I like to buy bushes of silk Poinsettia stems,
cut the stems up with a wire cutter and distribute one or more to the
residents. This is a great gift and prop to give to a resident who gets 1:1
visits. It shows caring and can start a great discussion of the Poinsettia
plant. You can buy silk Poinsettia bushes at the dollar store or at Walmart.

You can also do a simple flower arranging project with the cut silk Poinsettia
stems and distribute the finished arrangement to some room bound
residents or you can give them as prizes at another activity.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Make a paper snowflake, simply



Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


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


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

December is National Paper Snowflake Day

Celebrate by making a paper snowflake
How to make paper snowflakes
1. Take a round piece of white paper or a coffee filter and fold in half, creating a 1/2 circle shape.
2. Fold the half circle into thirds, creating a triangle with a round bottom. 
3.  Cut small designs into the edges of the triangle so that you are cutting all the layers of paper at once. 
4. Carefully open to reveal your snowflake.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Top Appropriate HOLIDAY Gifts For Those With Dementia

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

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire 

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter



To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.


Here are gifts to buy for loved ones or clients with dementia. Here is an article that will help you, other healthcare professionals and caregivers
prlog
Christmas,Chanukah and alike are the perfect chance to give gifts that are not only enjoyable but also are beneficial to persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. These presents keep on giving long after the holiday season is gone
First on the list of gifts is a book by Susan Berg called Adorable Photographs of Our Baby -- Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals, This book features baby photographs that seniors with dementia love. This book shares a plethora of ideas and resources for you.


Another gift dementia persons will fancy is a....read the whole article

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Free Printable Bingo Cards

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

More on bingo

A game of bingo is filled with fun and excitement, and bingo is an entertaining activity for any occasion. Whether you want to play bingo at your next family gathering, party, road trip, or to raise funds for a special cause, this classic game is a crowd pleaser for young and old alike. No other game is quite like bingo, and game playing options are more versatile than you might think. Gone are the days of ordinary numbered cards. Now you'll find cards filled with pictures, letters, numbers, and many other versions of this classic game, and best of all, you don't have to buy bingo cards. The Internet is a virtual treasure chest filled with free printable pages, and you'll find numerous sites offering free printable bingo cards.

Printable Tips and Tricks

Instead of using ordinary paper, spend a little extra for top-quality card stock, and create free printable bingo cards that will stand up to many games. In addition, consider laminating the free printable cards you choose and they'll last indefinitely. Once they're laminated you'll have a set that's as good as or better than those sold in retail or online stores.

Those who plan on traveling with loved ones and searching for games can take advantage of these free printable games especially designed for road trips. The squares are filled with common objects, signs, and vehicles often seen while traveling.

Teach-nology is the place where parents and educators can create free printable bingo cards for kids. These bingo cards are a great teaching tool that makes learning fun for kids of all ages and skill levels. You choose the words you want on the sheets before printing to create a one-of-a-kind set that is truly invaluable. This is a fun way to help with spelling, reading, or any other subject.

Diva Girl provides free printable bingo cards for parties. You'll find free printable sets for bridal showers, baby showers, and for any occasion that calls for fun party games. The website provides complete instructions for each game. Don't play the usual games at your next party. Try these fun bingo games for an unforgettable good time.

Friday, November 30, 2018

Bingo and dementia (part 3)


Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be




Many long term care residents including those with mild to moderate dementia enjoy bingo. Soon it will be National Bingo Month with that in mind, Here is some more information

To Deefna and anyone else that is interested, the bingo trivia
a information came from Allpokertable.com

If you do not subscribe to the Activity Director E-Magazine, my next article will all about National Bingo Month

Create your own bingo cards for all occassions

Here is an example of one with a holiday free space

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Bingo and dementia (part 2)

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be




Many long term care residents including those with mild to moderate dementia enjoy bingo. Soon it will be National Bingo Month with that in mind, Here is some.....

Bingo Trivia
Everyone likes to know some little trivia bits about their favorite game. How many possible bingo cards are there really? Where else is bingo played? Do bingo players have pets? The answer to these and many more questions you probably never asked yourself can be found below.
Bingo is p layed by all ages around the world, about 30% of bingo players are under the age of 35.
Approximately 2.5 million of those regular players are female.
An estimated 96% of all bingo players have won some money while playing bingo.
When asked, women report that they are happier playing bingo. About 15% of those women report that bingo is used for socializing and companionship.
Which brings us to this fact: winning is ranked fifth when it comes to reasons for playing bingo. The number one reason… “pure enjoyment”.
4 years after it’s appearance in 1930 the estimated bingo games in churches and recreation centers numbered 10,000.
Reportedly the largest bingo game was held in New York which had approximately 60,000 players. Lowe is to have reported that they had to turn away 10,000 others at the door.
It is reported that after working for Lowe to produce some 6,000 individual bingo cards, University of Columbia mathematics professor Carl Leffler went insane.
The first charity bingo game was held at a church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Bingo is the number one fundraising game in the world.
During the depression a form of bingo was played in movie theaters. It was called “Screeno”.
Reportedly Cats are the number one pet of bingo players.
Bingo was Bing Crosby’s nickname as a child.
In Australia bingo was known as Housie when introduced in the early 20th century.
There are approximately 552,446,474,061,129,000,000,000 different bingo card combinations.
Purple is the apparent favorite color for bingo players. This is according to a survey of bingo suppliers.
You can find a bingo game in approximately 90% of the countries in the world.
In 1995 and estimated 88 million dollars was spent on bingo games. That’s 88 million dollars per week.
Like Keno, Slots and blackjackbingo has sucessfully made the transition to being played online by millions of players world wide.
Despite what some people might think, bingo is good for you. Bingo improves concentration, memory and observation skills.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Bingo and dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be



Many long term care residents including those with mild to moderate dementia enjoy bingo. Soon it will be National Bingo Month with that in mind, I amstarting a series of articles all about bingo

We will srart with the history of bingo

In the U.S., bingo was originally called "beano". It was a country fair game where a dealer would select numbered discs from a cigar box and players would mark their cards with beans. They yelled "beano" if they won.

The game's history can be traced back to 1530, to an Italian lottery called "Lo Giuoco del Lotto D'Italia," which is still played every Saturday in Italy. From Italy the game was introduced to France in the late 1770s, where it was called "Le Lotto", a game played among wealthy Frenchmen. The Germans also played a version of the game in the 1800s, but they used it as a child's game to help students learn math, spelling and history.

When the game reached North America in 1929, it became known as "beano". It was first played at a carnival near Atlanta, Georgia. New York toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe renamed it "bingo" after he overheard someone accidentally yell "bingo" instead of "beano".

He hired a Columbia University math professor, Carl Leffler, to help him increase the number of combinations in bingo cards. By 1930, Leffler had invented 6,000 different bingo cards. [It is said that Leffler then went insane.]

A Catholic priest from Pennsylvania approached Lowe about using bingo as a means of raising church funds. When bingo started being played in churches it became increasingly popular. By 1934, an estimated 10,000 bingo games were played weekly, and today more than $90 million dollars are spent on bingo each week in North America alone.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Dice games for those with dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information


Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,


Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

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

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

In December, we celebrate Dice day.Why not take some suggestions from this article

Large dice are a useful tool when it comes to designing and playing games with those who have dementia. This is particularly true if the person or persons in question liked to play games using dice before they had this
There are several things you should keep in mind before and during the designing and playing of dice games or any games for that matter when it comes to people with dementia.


Although it may be fun for some to have winners and losers, it is best not to emphasize this, but rather the fun of the game complimenting those who try their best to play.


Also introduce one game at time. Then play this game for several weeks before trying another similar game. If the games are quite a bit different, you may be able to introduce more than one at a time. Always follow the KISS rule. That is keep it as simple as possible.


You should you play dice games for several reasons Dice games are fun. Dice games have been played for years. Thus many people with dementia find dice games familiar. Familiar is always good when you are doing something with those who have dementia.
Dice games are extremely versatile. Some dice games rely on luck, and some use skill and planning. Some games use a combination of both. You can find dice games to play with one player or a whole group of players. There are dice games you can play on a table or on the floor.


Dice games can be based on many things. Residents may have to be lucky, or they may have to rely on their skill and ability to plan. Residents of all ages and mental abilities can play and enjoy dice games. This is especially important because now many facilities have younger residents and with only the need for a mild suggestion, your residents will want to partake in a dice game. You can find games to play with two players or twenty players, You can play them using a table or the floor,

Dice games are mind stimulating. They are mind stimulating in obvious ways because people have to count or do quick mental addition. But they are also reinforce the concept of taking turns, keeping score, winning and losing gracefully, playing without keeping score as well as many other things.
Dice games are portable. You can always find room for a few dice in an activity cart in your pocket, on a unit for staff members to use with residents or in a resident’s room. You can “pre-package” some dice with a stack of print- outs, plain paper and pencils. Put the dice and any other necessary equipment in a resealable plastic bag or box.

Dice games are personally satisfying.. Most people love the look and feel of dice. They like the versatility of dice game and the quickness of a dice game

Dice are cheap. You probably have a number of interesting dice in existing games, and you can certainly buy more very cheaply at a dollar store. You can make your own dice using varying sizes of cardboard boxes, white paper, dark paper or other interesting material to make the dots, a scissors and glue or tape. For some ideas on how to make dice go to

Dice games are plentiful. There are so many games you can play with just one di. A simple game to use as a filler is to have each participant roll the di to see who gets the highest number. You can have more than one round where you can have a winner for each round or the scores can be cumulative where you can have a scorekeeper or the residents can keep their own score. You can do the same thing with two or three dice. You could have a list of six things to do. Each time a group member throws a certain number, he has to do what is in the list for that number. For ideas as to what to put on the list go to

Another easy dice game is to have each number represent a part of something like an animal or object. The object is divided into six parts and each part has a number. The object is for each participant to roll each number so the whole object is made. To make it more difficult, the parts must be gotten in order. You cannot get one part until you get the part before it. For an example of this go to
Since December is a holiday month, play a dice game that relates to the holidays. You can make an adapted dreydl that looks sort of like a di with Hebrew letters on it.
Using the ideas on how to make a di, instead of putting dots on it, you could put Christmas symbols on it or make it in red or green or both. 
Encourage your residents make up their own games. You can help them of course. Then play the game(s) that have been made up.
Dice games can be quick or they can take a ling time. Pick a game for your audience that matches their needs, preferences, and time allotment.

Search this blog for more about dice games