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Mari 3rd Mar 2022
Hi! I'm a elderly care student and I will graduate next Christmas if everything goes right. My current top career dream is to run a small scale day activity center. I really like this website and all the fun activities to choose from.

I was wondering if there are any good resources about holding group meetings for clients that have early-stage dementia or other challenges with communication. I'd like to ask for feedback and discuss the schedule with each group every once in a while. In my experience the feedback in situations like these can be rather short and difficult to apply. How can I get better at asking what I want to know? Is this just something I'll have to learn as I go?
Susan 4th Mar 2022 Activity Director
Hi Mari
I do not know what things are like in Finland but in the US in order to have an activity center yeah have to follow certain rules and regulations
Do you have funding and a space to have this Center?
Are your clients drop in or do they stay all day at your facility similar to adult daycare?
How are you going to get clients??
Is this going to be a for profit organization are you going to be a nonprofit??
If you are a nonprofit you may be able to get grants
This is a lot to think about before opening a center
You may want to work someplace before you open your own center
Are you going to be hiring staff or have volunteers because that’s a whole Other issue as well
As far as communication goes here are some ideas
https://www.goldencarers.com/search/?search_tag=Activity&search=Communication
Mari 5th Mar 2022
Hi Susan and thanks for the information! Here in Finland we have a system called perhehoito, directly translated to family caregiving in English. Through this system people can take care of elderly people in their own homes. It can be done full-time or part-time. Part-time care resembles what day activity centres do. It's neither a business or a non-profit, it's a publicly funded service. Local coordinators provide training, find the clients and sort out legal obligations. I think this would be a rather good way to start a career in day time activities.
Susan 5th Mar 2022 Activity Director
This publicly funded program sounds great
How many people would duping have in a group at one time??
What about insurance if someone gets hurt which could happen??
Do you get paid for doing this??
Let us know how this progresses
Mari 6th Mar 2022
It's 4 people for 1 carer and 6 people for 2 carers maximum. I don't know about insurances yet, that's something I should read more into. The clients might have early or mid stage dementia, but the most common reason to enter this kind of service is an unmet need for sozializing. Clients might need guidance with eating, cleaning up and other activities, but they're usually quite independent. Usually those who need more intensive care are not placed in groups like these.
Susan 7th Mar 2022 Activity Director
Hi Mari
Thanks for the information

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