Sharon

Hand and Nail pamper's where you soak the residents hands and then give them a god massage using a hand scrub (we use a nutrametic's one), then give the nails a cut and hands a massage with some lovely hand cream. Have some relaxing music on, the residents love it. We also have volunteers that put on makeup using disposable cotton buds and balls. Brush residents hair, plait or put long hair in a bun. Foot spas and leg massage with a rich body cream are another idea and great for residents in tub chairs.

Try adding some essential oils, I did this and not only did the residents love molding the dough, but enjoyed the pleasant perfume. Try making coil pots, beads which they can paint later when dry.

Quiots, sing a longs, high teas, poetry read (very Popular), gardening (potting cuttings etc), cooking (pikelets on BBQ or fry pan), word games, celebrity head (for low care), hoy, foot spa's, hand and nail pampers, balloon therapy (balloon available through Wisdom Activities, Western Aust) they blow up to the size of medium round table and are easy for every resident to tap and is lots of fun.

I got a volunteer to make some memory books buy taking pictures out of old books bought from op shops and markets, calendar pictures, photo's and laminating them and putting into folders. We made memory books suitable for men, one on fishing, cars, and motorbikes. The most popular are the animal memory books mostly made from old calender pictures, so doesn't have to be expensive. A great tool to use when residents are unsettled and for doing 1:1 with.

Hi this is a bit late but may help for next year. I invited a retired and a serving serviceman to come to the facility. One laid the wreath and the other read the ode and lowered the flag. The local primary school choir were invited and they sang the opening hymn "Lest We Forget", and the "National Anthem". We had memorabilia (medals etc) on the table, photos of residents family members that had served or were serving on display. Our residents and staff had been busy crotcheting and knitting poppies which we sold to raise money for the Injured Soldiers Fund (raised $365), the kitchen baked ANZAC biscuits for all who attended including invited family members. It was a very moving and special service.

Hi there, ask for donations from families, your facility chemist, maybe there is a staff member who is an amazing baker, or a staff or family member that can knit or crochet you something for the raffle. People are generally happy to help. Good luck.

Hi for a start it is a big ask for you to manage 32 residents, it's just not going to happen especially at that hour of the day. I have employed another RAO who works 11am until 6pm and is there to minimise behaviours. We have found 1:1 with the residents beneficial, calming music, poetry read, especially Banjo Patterson, walks outside, Ice cream trolley(ice creams in cones) this gets everyone sitting down and quiet and the residents love it. It is about keeping people calm. My volunteers have made me memory books. These are folders with pictures (laminated) and a little about the picture are really popular. We have animal, cars, tools, different countries, anything that will hold their interest. Our volunteers made the books from old calenders, books bought at op shops, and donations from families, the biggest cost being the laminating sheets. Good luck..

For our low care residents, we hold our exercise classes at 9.30am after breakfast and this works well. For our dementia unit we have found 1pm after lunch is working well. The residents who exercise after lunch are more settled and calmer as have just exercised for an hour.

Yes we have to do a weekly tick sheet, and you will get asked about your tick sheets.

Good idea Astrid will be doing this on our bus outings in future. We also cook pikelets at the facility on our BBQ, and the residents love helping, and eating the pikelets.