Jennifer

Memory Care Activity Stations or Set Up
Our memory care areas for 20 residents has limited activity space and cannot accommodate the elaborate "life stations" some communities have. We have some shelf areas, a tv, a little kitchenette area and a little doll baby cradle. There are arm chairs and tables with chairs. We are trying to set up our space to encourage residents to feel free to pick up an activity material and engage with their space when activity staff is taking break or in evenings. We want to leave activitiy supplies out to encourage the care staff to interact with residents in positive way when activities is not present. We also want it to look adult and familiar to residents and not like a kindergarten. I'd love to incorporate the idea of life stations but would have to be able to use all spaces for multiple uses. Also there is the concerns of residents taking off with materials or putting things in mouth so we need to be intentional about what is left out. I'd appreciate it if anyone can share what works for them and also looks good for marketing department!

Try to identify what each resident enjoys doing indpenendly. For example one resident may like sorting through silk flower and putting into vases. One might like puzzles, or coloring, or folding, or sorting or arranging dominoes etc. Less active residents may enjoy cuddling baby doll or stuffed animal. Some might like sitting by window watching bird feeder. While doing a small group activity other residents can be doing something individual. Then give individual activities to the group participants and do 1-1 with the less social folks. A hand lotion massage and glass of lemonade with nice back ground music can provide multi-sensory stimulation for your harder to engage folks.

Wendy, the waterskiing!!! Love it!! <3

That is tough to do in just 30 hours. I would develop individual activity kits such as sock matching, baby clothes folding, adult coloring, stringing beads (if resident won't swallow when unattended), cuddling baby doll, large jigsaws etc. and set up residents with these so you can accomplish planning, cleaning, set up and breaks. Definitely the C.N.A.s should be close by to assist residents with toileting, keeping things out of mouth, helping to prevent falls etc while you are doing group activities. I wouldn't ever turn on tv while you are there.