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Abby avatar

Hi All,

I have been beginning to brainstorm ideas for October and Halloween. Does anyone have ideas of what they are doing with their residents?

Thanks!

Susan avatar

Hi Abby

Here are some ideas

https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=halloween&stp=1

I’d like to have the staff decorate pumpkins and have the residents

vote on which one they like the best

I also like to do some smaller group activities about Halloween

In the afternoon I like to have a party whete residents and staff can get dressed up

We also had a costume contest having the residents vote again

For the party you will need the help of the food service department

Let us know how it goes

Eniko avatar

Pumpkin picking

Pumpkin painting

Pumpkin carving

Hats and wigs day

Harvest

Working with things from the nature forexample leaves painting

Auyumn picknick

Sensory activities, taste differrnt flavours (autumn themed)

Kristen avatar

It's so hard Abby with COVID! I'm going to do room to room sensory items related to Halloween, spooky treats, arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, etc. For Halloween I'm kind of stumped because we normally have a party with entertainment. I might do a parade down the halls but besides that I'm stumped!!

Susan avatar

Hi Abby

I thought I responded to this post before but apparently it got lost

Anyway October is a fun month for activities

Mainly I like to talk about Columbus

https://www.goldencarers.com/christopher-columbus-trivia/5999/

and Halloween

https://www.goldencarers.com/search/#stq=Halloween&stp=1

As you can see there are many things to celebrate in October

This depends on your facility and your residents

https://www.goldencarers.com/calendar/october/

I think it is very necessary to talk about Residents Rights month

https://www.goldencarers.com/calendar/residents-rights-month-activities/187/

Susan avatar

Thank you for your input Kristen

Susan avatar

Eniko

Thank you for your input

Jannet avatar

Social distance digging for candies. put loose chocolates ,candies in a bowl.

Blind fold residents and have them scoop up candies with a wooden spoon. make sure to give a time to stop scooping .Place scoop up candies aside with residents name . The person who get the most candies from the bucket while being blind folded win the candies. The rest of the candies will be shared among the resident. Make it fun by cheering on the residents .

What needed:

Candies

Bucket and wooden spoon

Timer/ stop watch

Blindfold and residents to participate

Susan avatar

Thank you for your ideas

Jannet

Elisa avatar
Elisa Senior Activity Coordinator

My experience is that we young people have more interest in celebrating Halloween that the people living in nursing homes at the moment (it will change soon).

Because of covid we are not celebrating Halloween at all but are focusing on being ready for Christmas. We asked the residents and they didn't fell they'll be missing out.

We will be celebrating all souls day though. We have mostly Catholic residents and thought that it is a good idea to remember the dead specially this year.

Susan avatar

Hi Elisa

Thanks for your input

Abby avatar

Hi All,

Thought I would add what we are going to do. We are putting together little Halloween goody bags for each person, and hanging it on their door as to help with social distancing. We are doing a Spooktober Soup Social. We will have soup and decorations, people will be able to space out or take their soup home. We are also doing a "BOO" fundraiser. We have made cute door hangers that have a Halloween theme and a "BOO" and a treat (candy). Residents and loved one's can purchase a "BOO" and management will secretly place the treat on specified residents door. All the money we collect from family and residents will help fund a Christmas celebration. Thank you all for your wonderful ideas!

Susan avatar

Wow Abby

That sounds great

Thank you for sharing

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Linda Beale
Activities Coordinator United Kingdom Flag
Linda Beale

This website has been such a tremendous asset to me in providing such great ideas. The clients have enjoyed the picture bingo, quizzes and I am looking forward to doing word ladders with them for the first time very soon. I also print out crosswords and word searches and make up booklets for them to do in their rooms. I will be definitely rejoining.