Sheri

Hi Trudy
there have been some good idea most of which we have used at some time in our aged care facility. Our lunch whiteboard we pasted pictures of food and the word menu onto it, they are easy to soak off when you want to change at a later date. We found words and pictures that looked like chalk (just like a menu board in a cafe), then wrote on the board with whiteboard markers. If you have a person who is a bit crafty they could even paint onto the board. Maybe a piece of clear perspex or similar could be made to measure and clipped over the board so that artwork (velcroed on etc) can't be removed or the residents could make decorations for the board in a craft group.

Suellen, You are never too old to learn hunni and many of the resident actually like an older person to assist with their activities as we have a lot of experience and knowledge in life, yet have that fun side to us. I work as an OTA ( occupational therapy assistant - thats what they are called in WA but in TAS was a diversional therapy assistant). I would look at going to some of the places you wish to be employed at and ask what qualifications you need as if you end up over qualified they won't want to pay you. Good places to look if you get your diploma are places like the MS society rather than aged care homes, and don't forget disability homes as well. Don't forget to ask about volunteering with a view to future employment.

I've just seen this activity here, but have been doing it for quite sometime with great success. As it satisfies a few residents who always want to do trivia and not interested in much else so adding exercise into it helps keep physically active too.

I have worked in homes that do have residents likes etc posted on the back of the door.. they have things ' i like to be called..." I lke.... lipstick / makeup/ (certain activties), family that visit me are... my occupation was.. i grew up in ... my favourite colour is.. i dont like... please share my photo book ( some care recipients have a book with family memories and name in it)

please make sure that no-one is afraid of clowns before hiring them. or make sure they are not exposed to them.. ( I have many friends and older family who are really scared of them). also balloons you need to be aware of people who have been in the war and may think its guns going off if they burst.
Local school Gymnastic groups doing cartwheels, making towers etc can be good (if they still do that ;/ )
if people can smell popcorn (eat it even better) or hot dogs.
some animals outside

Sandra we have a budget at work, which is basically controlled by the admin staff and we have had so many problems but have started a basic book of our own. We know our starting point for the month so write that down and each time any of us (we have 4 people in our department) purchase anything we write down how much we spent and on what ie happy hour, craft, bus outing (we spoil our residents on outings lol) mother's/father's day, birthday's etc. Close to the end of the month we check it and if we have lots left we stock up on additional items we know we need for the next month. Happy hour is our biggest spend as we have it every Friday and have drinks plus snacks but the residents love it and we will not take it away.
Pretty much you just need a book or spread sheet with each activity you will spend money on and a column at the end that says the total running amount spent ( or the running amount left in your budget. ie you start with 200 and - each amount spent in the final column hope that makes sense

Oh I was thinking the same yesterday going through the OT cupboard ;)

It's about the residents not about the staff, if they want to play more often let them.. as long as most people want it not a select few meaning others miss out on what they want to do.

Hi Morgan,
We just had a resident in our Western Australian home turn 100, she does live with dementia but it is reasonably mild for someone her age. We are very lucky in that she is very mobile and enjoys a port every afternoon at 4pm.
over here most people who turn 100 can receive a letter from the Queen (family need to apply for this, some time in advance. We also contacted local papers and news programs to attend our surprise party for her. Her family told us a few stories which we put together for a small speech and we invited family and friends to join with us at the home. some of the staff supplied food and we got a small gift. the morning tea turned into everyone still there at lunch. we didn't bother with entertainment as we had lots of family she hadn't seen in some time due to living interstate and she had had family in the previous day (her real birthday) our Director of Nursing read out many important letter we had arrange from local members of council and parliment to the the Prime Minister, Governor General and Queen.
The family had supplied photos which we got copies of and displayed on a wall and others brought some with them to add to it. we supplied some non alcoholic drinks with tea and coffee and lots of food. the next day she had a sleep in til midday

I feel like crying.. I am of the 'new generation' of carers who want to see person centered care put into practise in all residential facilities. I struggle with this daily. I am told I am slow, I don't understand time management, they have a menu to go by. etc etc. These same people say when they end up in care they want this they want that.. when I explain that's what I try to do for our residents now I am ridiculed... (I won't give up trying). It's a hard slog but I know eventually it will change, but dealing with old carers who think they know better and time time time is all they care about peeves me. I treat our residents like they are my grandma or great grandma (both of who I have cared for at different times). One day Daz we WILL see the change