Carolyn

Thank you Susan, theyve inspired me!

Id welcome ideas for activities with clients who have late stage dementia and EMI residents.

Hi Solange,
Many thanks for your comments, you have confirmed my thoughts about the length of time.
At present we dont have any volunteers, so I will mention recruiting some to my manageress asap.
I think youre confirming that the noisy residents should be seperate which is what I feel too, and dividing them into different groups would be better.
I will talk with my manageress and state that it needs a different approach entirely.

Thank you Solange, youve confirmed my thoughts on the length of time of the morning activity.
Ill speak to the Manageress re getting some volunteers, but is will be difficult on a daily basis.
I agree the lady who is repeatedly noise should not be in the same room disrupting the activities for everyone else. Im not sure theres space to divide everyone into several groups, but it a good idea.
Thank yoou for your ideas.

Hi everyone,
Ive worked as an Activity Co-ordinator in various different care homes with elderly who need nursing care, those who are more able and those with dementia for a number of years. Im currently working in a care home with elderly people who would be classed as elderly mentally ill, or have late stage dementia.
Each morning Im expected to lead an activity for two and quarter-half hours. I find this extremely draining and virtually impossible to find a single activity for that length of time, hense usually choosing two different ones. The residents struggle to concentrate for this period of time too
In the past I usually lead an activity for an hour or just over-particularly when working with those with dementia, and found this worked well.
I have been in my job for just over two months and feel really drained as there are some particularly challenging residents who are vocally consistently noisy.
Id appreciate others views on the length of time an activity should be for, also how to cope with loud disruptive residents who make it impossible for others to hear. Im being told this is what I have to do, but my experience is telling me this is wrong. My manageress is approachable but has already had to support me as Ive battled various issues with care staff, and I sense shes getting tired of giving her support and wouldnt re the length of time for activities.
Feelling exhausted and thinking of packing the job in.

Im the Activity Co-ordinator in a care home for the elderly with mostly late stage dementia.
In the mornings most residents sit in the lounge and from 10am-12.15, I have to provide an activity. Theres little space so ball games or similar are out of the question.
I find two hours too long for one activity, both for the residents and myself. The Manageress and myself are trying to get staff to encourage residents into the conservatory area when Ive located a table and theres more space, but care staff seem to have formed a habit of guiding the residents into the lounge, saying things like "they prefer to be in here" I think the residents are taken in there because its asier for the staff.
There is a lady who s dementia is in the very late stages and always makes a continous loud noise and always sits in the conservatory. Hense when I try to do an activity in there, staff are reluctant to take her out and it puts the remaining residents off going into the room. Im at my wits end as how to cope. Ive been an Activity Co-ordinator for many years and in the past alway allowed approx an hour for an activity, as it seemed the best length of time for the residents. Im exhausted with the battle. Anyone any ideas.