Teresa

Multiple Calendars:

Does anyone do more than one calendar for a facility? If so, details please.

What software do you do it in? Why do you do it? How many different calendars do you do a month? We have different wings, but we do the same activity in each wing. However, we do them a different times (and of course adapt them to each wing) so basically the only purpose behind doing the seperate calendars is the different times for the events (based on location), the occassional entertainer who is in one wing that day and not the others and to limit the confusion for residents and families. But it certainly does not limit the confusion for the person doing the calendars and trying to keep the times straight... Maybe I am over thinking this, but I have tried a few different ways to present the calendar information and so far sadly the multiple calendars works best for everyone but me. Anyone have any insight or suggestions?

Count us in, we are assisted living memory care in Michigan. My email is [email protected]

I made individual cards by downloading free clip art and adding text in large fonts. I saved each clip so that I could prepare individual cards and then cut them apart as well as provide the resident with the full card. Ugh... sometimes it sounds right in my head and then i realize I am not describing it well, so here is an example;

Joe has trouble dressing so I have an 8.5x11 card for him to reference in the morning. It has step 1: with a clip art of someone putting on underwear and the words in large font.
step 2: with clip art of someone putting on pants and the words in large font (keep brief)
step 3: etc...... Then I print a second copy of that card and cut it into pieces so step 1 (with pic). gets taped to the drawer where the undies are located. step 2 gets cut off and taped to drawer with pants in them. You get the picture.....Don't forget to include glasses and hearing aides. If you are lucky enough to have a color printer even better you can color code the background just be sure to use white text if dark background.

We had a gentlemen that liked to walk out of the room with no pants on so I used a half sheet of paper and a clip art of pants being put on and taped to the inside of his bedroom door and on the wall inside his room where he would see it if he shut his door. It was at my last facility so I don't remember exactly what it said off the top of my head, but it was something like.... What color are your pants?

Great business name. I love the cafe.....

In particular I would try to have the person taking it down actually do the putting up as a daily project. That worked for one of our ladies who always tore the picture off the board. Once she started to decorate the board herself (with some guidance) she stopped and always showed her family her work. If she/he needs guidance on where to put things write numbers on your Velcro strip with sharpie and then put a sticky note with corresponding numbers on the things to hang then have resident match numbers. Once they are in place have he/she remove sticky notes. This can be a cognitive physical fine motor and purposeful activity.

I had this happen before also and I wanted to try this idea but the gentlemen passed just before I got it in place. So if you try it please let me know the outcome good or bad. I would talk to the women residents family and see what they notice that is similar beside the shared name. Does he wear a baseball hat if not try to get him to wear a hat cowboy baseball whatever. Does he wear t-shirts or polos? Maybe put him in a different type of shirt a bright Hawaiian shirt or something the opposite of his norm or whatever the common thing is. Maybe he has the same color hair or parts it the same way. Is that something his wife is willing to change.

Corn hole is popular with our group. Also Velcro dart throwing game. We
Ike to put out buckets for them to throw things into ( sometimes marshmallows, rubber bands, beans, bean bags, wadded up paper that’s my favorite good for hands to wad paper) of course balls too. Let your imagination fly they love to be cheered on when they throw anything.

We change it so morning people get a variety of things to do. Yes I know consistency can be key so we do have our everyday things such as daily chronicles, music and daily word search, but exercise is in am 3x week and sing a long is 1 to 2x week in am depending on my group cognition at that time. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t feel like you have to have physical every morning it is ok to have a quiet morning a few days a week for those that don’t like exercise.

What did this resident do for a career? Ask the resident (when actually pushing someone) why they are moving the wheelchair. Depending on where they are at in their disease process the person living with dementia could be “helping someone get somewhere” could be “pushing the baby carriage” could be push a shopping cart could be volunteering. Could think it is their property could think it is in their way of moving forward.....You need to jump into where their mindset is and see what they are trying to accomplish before you can truly help. If they do not verbally communicate then you need to really be aware of what’s happening at that time. Watch not only the resident, but the environment, the time of day, the body language, the temperment.

Another toolkit question

I Have 6 levels of cognition (groups) to help staff determine what residents should attend what activities. The calendar lets me choose whose should attend what activities and print them separate, but I cannot find a way to print all cognitive levels (groups) calendar on the same calendar. In other words I want to print all my groups on 1 calendar as well as separate.

Also, I am sure you received my reply about my toolkit list question but just in case because I don’t see it here I will re-submit.

When I put my calendar together on paper I have a list of a few hundred activities ( next to the name is the description and supplies needed and cognitive level.) It has been a lot of work to compile. I am seeking a program to input this list into. Then not only refer to it when I am doing my toolkit calendar but drag the activity title right onto my calendar to schedule it.