Josephine

Hi Jean, I usually look up via the internet. Just do a google search, it is amazing what you can find. I tend to ask my residents the songs they liked, this is a start. Then research the songs & words, print in large print. I have created folders of songs - we then just have a good old fashion sing a long at times. Hope this helps.

HI Donna, look up Eldertainment on the website. They have a list of entertainers plus Simon who runs it does some guest speaking with interactive images. It does depend how much you are able to spend too.

Hi All, Just another thought which has worked well for us. I searched for Irish Dancing Schools in my area a couple of years ago and just put in a call, to see if any children/parents willing to come to our facility. This dance school put me in touch with a Dance Teacher who organises children to don traditional costumes and do a half hour dance demonstration. This has gone down extremely well and of course very cheap as they donate their time. I then back up with a pick a box type activity - number envelopes, blue tack on the white board, put in different quiz / information or we need to sing an irish song. In each envelope is a green lolly pop. Residents pick out a number from a basket to correlate to the envelope. Our Residents loved it. A satisfying activity and one that does not break the budget !

What a lovely idea and sounds like lots of fun. Thank you for sharing ! Will certainly be putting this idea to good use !!

Hi Linda, I put together separate Folders too. For instance, ANZAC Day / Remembrance Day. If you request from Dpt of Vet Affairs, they will send you a free CD of the music of the order for ANZAC DAY, and their website is fantastic to give you how you can organise the day. Keep a separate folder for this. I have done the same for Mothers & Fathers Day/St. Patricks Day etc - it also includes templates, craft ideas too. It is easily accessible for others to follow i.e. Volunteers. Then just as Gnette does have folder for Entertainers etc. Dependant on how much information you gather will depend on how many separate folders or inserts you wish to have.

Hi Heather, the facility I currently work at, we are not expected to assist at meal times. There was alot of talk via the Nurses that we should help out. During a meeting I was able to put forward a case that these times are for organising the next activity, paperwork, quick meetings with the lifestyle assistants/volunteers. I also asked which Activity we should cancel if our time spent in organising/creating activities is taken up in feeding, then we welcome their suggestions, which in turn means more pressure on the poor Care Staff. You need to take a stance and stay strong. Hence the time is used to be productive in the Lifestyle arena. Hope this helps. Oh and may I add, I did state how they would explain it to the families that there loved one is not involved in a particular activity.

I have just gone through to find information on running a meeting as we have been informed that Lifestyle is now responsible for our Resident & Family/Friends meeting. I am currently putting together a Procedure Manual for all the little things that Coordinators so that others can follow certain aspects of the managerial side of things. The information here I can use, so even though it was posted almost 1 year ago, it is wonderful to be able to go through and pick up info that is very very useful. Thank you for this, it certainly will mean I am not spending too much time to put information together !!

I would contact Huntington's services in your state, they are wonderful and can assist you, just google them.

Hi Karen, thanks for the tip, I was probably overthinking the types of computer games. I have been speaking to his family, especially his financial power of attorney and they refuse to purchase one "just in case he does not use it eventually" (mmmm) hence the other alternative is to use our own common computer, unless there is a government initiative for iPad's?

Hi Everyone,
I am looking for suitable free games to download on a computer for a young gent who has come to live at our facility (only early 60s) who has had a massive stroke, paralysed left side, speech affected. He is a quiet gent and respectful of our elderly living with dementia, but a bit of a loner. Speaking to his family this is a personality of his. I am hoping to introduce him to the computer as he has not had much to do with computers. We have a touch screen computer in a quiet area and hoping I can introduce him to games to keep his mind active. However I am not a computer game person and need some suggestions. Something I can, in the future, get school students to liaise with him. Any suggestions would be great.