Member Profile:

Stephanie

Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator From Indiana, United States

About Stephanie: My family operated a long-term care facility in Posey County. As a child, I grew up interacting with older adults and knew how important activities were for those wherever they were aging! At age 13, I provided companion and homemaker services to my first client, Tilly, a neighbor who needed some assistance with doing household tasks and gathering her chicken eggs. Most of the visit consisted of drinking pepsi and eating some true German dishes. I would help her out in the yard tending to her chickens. I was an ‘old soul’ and wanted to make a difference in the lives of older adults.

After spending time in the Army, I received a Bachelor of Science in Health Services with a concentration in Gerontology from the University of Southern Indiana.

I am known for going the extra mile to provide quality services to my clients. I have a knack at relating to people and finding solutions to their problems. I believe that my clients are more than a list of signs and symptoms. They are people! I provide quality services to help navigate this chapter of their life. My passion is spending time with My Best Friend's...those who have Alzheimer's or other Dementia's.

10 Comment

Stephanie 13th Apr 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

Bronwyn mentioned the social profile, which is also known as the Life History. There are several forms out there that you can use to capture the resident's Life History. Once you figure out what the resident enjoyed in the past, you can still help him enjoy those things now, even when there is cognitive impairment.

Use the words, "Let's" So instead of asking a "Yes" or "No" question, use the words "Let's"

"Let's get cleaned up" instead of "Do you want to get a shower"
"Let's go check out..." instead of "Do you want to try this activity"
"Let's go for a walk!"

Anytime a person with cognitive impairment is asked a "Yes" or "No" question, the answer is always NO and there will be some hesitation.

Check out Teepa Snow on youtube. She is a great instructor for Dementia Care.
Stephanie 13th Apr 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

You could reach out to local home care agencies for a donation of ornaments. I recently reached out to our local agencies for an activity box roughly costing $50/per box. This helped save me tons of money.
Stephanie 13th Apr 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

I have used a lot of activities from the Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities. You can modify for resident's. I love it!


http://www.dementiajourneys.com/wp/2013/07/02/dementia-books-best-friends-care-series/
Stephanie 21st Mar 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

I would be interested as well. We are located in Newburgh, Indiana. We have a community of 115 independent, assisted living, and memory care Seniors. I specifically work with our 24 memory care residents. This would be a great activity, as I am doing Mail Call as an activity!

Stephanie 23rd Feb 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

I am thankful for all that you share with our Activity Coordinator community! I also like that we can help each other out by sharing our creative ideas and post in the Forum's and get feedback from other members! Thank you!
Stephanie 21st Feb 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

Thank you for the box ideas! So do you have anymore? Such a great idea!
Stephanie 18th Feb 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

Ladies, I really appreciate the feedback. I have most of the things you have mentioned. Now...I really like the picnic idea. That is great. What I am doing is putting together activity boxes...for example the fisherman will have a box that has a tackle box, lewers without hooks, bobbers, fish, etc.
Stephanie 4th Feb 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

Thank you for all of your input. I get to make a purchase of all of our Memory Care activities and have a budget of $2300 to do so. I have a long, long list. I had thought about the trolley...but this is a small unit of 24 residents. I have been talking myself out of it. I have planned on the adult coloring pages...need to add gel pens.
Stephanie 28th Jan 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Forum

I am a Life Enrichment Coordinator for a brand new- opening soon Memory Care facility. I have a budget to buy activities for our facility. I am trying to incorporate all kinds of different activities that our folks will enjoy. Is there any must have's...other than standard board games/cards, etc?
Stephanie 26th Jan 2017 Memory Care Life Enrichment Coordinator

Sample Activities Calendars

Here is my April Activity Calendar for Memory Care
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