Activities for Alzheimer's Disease Patients

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain activities



eHow

by Molly Land

It can be a challenge to come up with ideas for activities for Alzheimer's disease patients. With moderate and advanced Alzheimer's, the patient may have an extremely short attention span and poor control over her physical movements. Patients with early Alzheimer's can become depressed or frustrated over their inability to perform tasks they once found easy

Enjoyable Activities
Engage your patient in an activity that was once enjoyable to him to see if it stimulates interest. Any activity that he enjoys doing that engages his mind and lets him perform physical movement will benefit his body, mind and spirit. The goal of the activities should be to provide pleasure and not to try to get your patient to perform at a certain skill level. For example, if your patient was once an avid gardener, let him get his hands in the dirt and pull weeds or plant seeds.

Group Activities
Play games that appeal to all skill levels, like batting a balloon hanging from a string suspended above a round table at which the patients are seated. If possible, separate your patients according to the severity of their disease so the less impaired can work on puzzles and read books, while those in later stages of the disease are kept occupied with simpler activities like squeezing stress relief balls and playing balloon tether ball.

Dignity
Treat your patients with dignity and as the adults that they are, even though they may act childlike. Avoid games and puzzles that are obviously for children and are branded with cartoon characters. Puzzles are good for exercising the mind, but it is better to choose puzzles with nature themes or animals instead of cartoons.

Passive Activities........read more Activities for Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Activities for elderly in residential care. we have tried bingo dancing crafts gardening

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain activities



Gardeningcaretips.com

Well I work in a nursing home and I am a Activity Assitant. And yes I love my job.

Here is what we do. We make a calander every month And for every day we put like two to three activities, I am sure that what we do is kind of different, and where you are you might not have the finances. But anyways we have activities where we have people come in and sing, we do manicures and messages, Fruit bingo, prize bingo, (we do prize bingo every Wednesday, and Fruit bingo every Saturday.) On Sundays we do coffee and donuts in the afternoon and two Sundays of the month we have church services. We go on four outings a month (one once a week,) we have a shopping trip everymonth, then we go to like restaruants, or this past month we went to the Zoo, and next month we are going to a baseball game, once a year we also go to a hockey game. We also do a lot of activities involving food (that seems to attract most of our residents) we have popsicle parties, ice cream socials. We also do two activities room to room, a book/magazine cart, and a snack cart and we usually do those two times a month each. You could try a writing club, and ask them questions that they can write about, example: what was your favorite child hood memory, what is one thing your parents use to say to you, ect. but make sure you discuss it with them. I hope this has helped and if you would like some more ideas I have plenty, feel free to email me anytime,
Kdalise@yahoo.com.

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Was your group activity a success?

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain activities



When you run a group activity, you want to know whether it was succseeful or not.

If the group member is low functioning with dementia, it is sometimes hard to judge this.

Remember it is the process not the product that counts when you do any activity especially a craft or cooking activity.

Ask yourself these questions:

Did the group member have fun?
Did the group member smile?
Did the group member laugh?
Did the group member socialize?
Was this activity meaningful to the group member?
Can you answer yes to one of these questions?
Then the group was a success.

What activities and crafts are good for the elderly at a nursing home?

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is interesting information

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain activities

lululaluau
Aug 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

My Mum and Sister both manage "Retirement Flats" and from what they’ve said, if you can find someone who can play the piano or something, that’s a good start. Their old ladies love a good sing-song. I’m sure a lot of the elderly people there will have great sewing skills, so what about making a patchwork quilt together? If each person sews a square then everyone could get involved.

I’ll have to ask my Mum for any more tips.

2 thetiredpostman
Aug 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

BINGO!!!!!! without a doubt

3 spensmum
Aug 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Bingo always go down well with the elderly, wheelchair / chair excercises, get out the music and have a singalong. When its nice and sunny how about taking some of them out for a walk to the local park. Theres lots of things you could do.

4 xHx
Aug 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

knitting
jigsaws
bingo
my aunty used to play the piano for them
painting

5 Rags
Aug 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

My Nan lives in sheltered housing and they do a lot of arts and crafts projects. They also have quiz afternoons on general knowledge. A big favourite with them was encaustic art. Abstract stuff is easier when people maybe have poorer eyesight. A history session when they all get to recall their childhood memories is another popular one.

6 Daisyhill....... for more go to Travel Norses

Alzheimer's Disease Activities

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is interesting information

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain activities

eHow

Over 25 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer's disease. Bringing activities to those suffering brightens their day and makes life easier for their caregivers.
Activities keep their minds and bodies as sharp as possible in a fun way if correctly done.

Because of brain damage, people with Alzheimer's disease can display inappropriate behavior. They can show signs of depression. Make them happier with activities. In short improve the quality of life of those living with Alzheimer's disease

Why Activities

Activities are important for persons with Alzheimer's disease because those engaging in activities hold onto their remaining cognitive skills longer according to Dr. Paul Raia, Director of Patient Care and Family Support of the Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter. Cognitive skills include memory, logical thinking, concentration, reasoning, perception, and intuition. Activities provide mental stimulation and reminiscing opportunities. Activities give those with Alzheimer's disease a sense of purpose and self worth. People with Alzheimer's disease involved in activities have less problem behaviors and sleep better at night. Activities provide a social outlet. Socializing can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease according to the Rush Memory and Aging Project study.
Because success at activities improves the mood of people with Alzheimer's disease, depression is less likely.

Which Activities

The type of activities that persons with Alzheimer's disease do depends on their interests, past and present, and their skill level. Simple short activities are best. It is best to have a daily routine that has a lot of room for flexibility.

Engage the person in activities using life skills of former jobs he or she may have had. For example, if the person was a homemaker, she may enjoy folding clothes, setting the table, or preparing simple dishes. Participating in physical activities expends energy. We all benefit from being out in the great outdoors. The sunshine, the smells, the sounds bring back happy memories. Sunshine is a source of vitamin D. The article, "Does Vitamin D Reduce the Risk of Dementia?" by William B. Grant, Ph.D. published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in May 2009, discusses how appropriate levels of vitamin D benefit persons with Alzheimer's disease.

Singing is good for the lungs. People with Alzheimer's disease sing the words to familiar songs even though they may not speak otherwise.
Many folks with Alzheimer's disease enjoy watching a musical program, video or movie that they can sing along with. They may need you to initiate the singing.
Simple arts and craft projects are a good outlet for self expression.
Playing simple adapted card games enhance memory.
Reciting familiar prayers and religious songs calm people with Alzheimer's disease if religion interested them in the past.
Looking at family photographs or pictures of babies or animals is an enjoyable activity as well.
Implementing Activities
Activities must be success oriented and failure free. Failing at an activity is not an option for persons with Alzheimer's disease. Do not ask,"Do you know who I am?" Instead introduce yourself.
Break activities down into small steps. Give directions using simple short sentences. Repeat the directions in the same way or simpler if necessary. Since attention spans are short, work on projects over several days.
Adapt and modify difficult activities they may have enjoyed.
Compliment often.
Never argue.
Be patient.

Enter their reality. Here is an example: If the person thinks........read all of Alzheimer's Disease Activities

Move to improve residents' quality of life a welcome development

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is interesting information

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain activities

Nancy L. Gorman

As growing numbers of Americans age and need extended care, long-term care organizations have sought to better meet both the healthcare and social needs of their residents. Those who reach the point in life where nursing home care is necessary do not want to live in an environment that feels like a hospital instead of a home.

Over the past several years, alternatives to institutional environments such as the Green House Project, the Pioneer Network and the Eden Alternative have all aimed to encourage genuine homes for the disabled elderly. And, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' recent call for a culture change in nursing homes, the focus on resident-centered care places a priority on residents' rights.

CMS' new rules will encourage long-term care organizations to improve the quality of residents' lives by moving away from the institutional environment. For example, a resident's preferences for a daily schedule should be respected. Also, institutional overhead paging systems, alarms and large nursing stations, and meals served on institutional trays, should be eliminated.

Standards support culture change

The Joint Commission's enhanced standards complement CMS' guidance, support the quality of life and quality of care in long-term care organizations, and embrace the culture change movement so needed across the long term care industry.

Consider the following Joint Commission standards that support this new thinking:

* Standard RI.01.06.05: The resident has the right to an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.

In long-term care settings, the place where care is provided is also the resident's home. Home is a place where residents feel safe; their possessions are secure and accessible. More importantly, the environment supports their independence and interests.nResidents can personalize their living space with pictures, photos, radios, furniture and afghans. It is important for the organization to support the unique needs and choices of each resident, recognizing that these needs and choices may change over time.

* Standard RI.01.07.05: The resident has the right to receive and restrict visitors.

The organization establishes visiting hours that accommodate the resident's personal preferences.
This standard underscores that space must be provided for the resident to receive visitors in comfort and privacy. Residents also should have the right to refuse to communicate with visitors such as vendors, accreditation surveyors, representatives of community organizations and others. In addition, compliance with the standard requires that individuals who are permitted by law and regulation must be granted immediate access to residents.

* Standard RI.01.02.01: The organization respects the resident's right to participate in decisions about his or her care, treatment and services.

Effective long-term care requires the read all of......Move to improve residents' quality of life a welcome development

How to Host a Poetry Reading at a Nursing Home

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is interesting information

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

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eHow

By Ariana Cherry-Shearer

Residents at nursing homes enjoy visits and entertainment. Many of them may not have any family or have visitors for long periods of time. When you can share almost anything with these residents, it can have more of a larger impact than you can imagine. If you are an avid poetry writer and even have some friends who are writers, think about visiting your local nursing home or healthcare center to read them some inspiring words.

Contact the activity director at your local healthcare center or nursing home and speak with them about your intentions of hosting a reading at their facility. Set up a day and a time to visit the residents.

Step 2 Gather some of your poems once you have permission from the activity director. Choose shorter and more lively poems to hold the resident's attention for at least a half an hour. You can choose inspirational, humorous, or even some about romance. It might be best to clear away from sad poems, as you are here to brighten the residents day.

Step 3Talk to any of your friends or family members who also write or may just enjoy reading poetry. They could read poems by other well known poets as well. A lot of the residents really enjoy being read to.

Step 4 Introduce yourself to the residents once you make your appearance for the poetry reading. Tell them who you are, where you are from, and just a few things about yourself. Greet everybody with a warm smile, and just relax. They aren't there to judge you. They are just happy to see you.

Step 5 Keep the reading timed to about a half an hour. Most residents can only hold attention for so long. Also they have other activities and meals as well. End your reading with a bright happy poem, and offer to hand out copies of the poems you have.

Step 6 Speak with the...read all of.....Host a Poetry Reading at a Nursing Home