Karen

A new activity has been posted by a Golden Carers member: Armchair travel Nepal

we have run both a small shop and a trolley, one of the extra bonuses is that you are able to connect with residents that may slip through the cracks, we stock our trolley by asking our residents what they would like to see on the trolley.
you may also want to run a trolley with a range of sensory products and small treats and call your program "the feel-good Fairy" a great way to engage in the room for those residents who are prone to social isolation, a great way to develop relationships and encourage residents to come to some of the larger programs, it also is a great second set of eyes to help the clinical staff.

some things you can change some you can't, wall colours floor covers and furniture are big ticket items. Think about your home , talk to your resi's about there homes, change your language. When you speak about your residents use family member instead of resident, focus on social engagement opportunities, include dementia residents in your activities, speak about the concept of family and get the clinical staff on board (may be hard).
we engage our resi's in a craft group where we get them to make small items for special events, hand made cards that we sell for 50 cents to cover cost the list is almost endless. In the end it is up to you and your staff to not just say it is a home but to actively promote and embrace the concept. A house is where people live , a home is full of family.