Shelley

We are also experiencing the same, some of our folks are needing some time to get used to socializing in groups again. We also recognized that their health has declined somewhat because of isolation. We are seeing the spark come back! love and time is what we all need.

Good Day everyone!
We are so lucky to be gifted bags and boxes full of yarn! When I think we are running low- poof the yarn fairies bring more which is good for us. We have several ladies within the building along with community ladies who knit and crochet items for the Samaritans Purse Christmas Shoebox campaign and now we have a group of ladies who have discovered the love of loom knitting. The ladies gather and have so much fun teaching each other how to loom knit toques, socks and mitts. You can hear them laughing down the hall, their enthusiasm is contagious. I had to share this, it makes me smile! If you are needing items like yarn, send wanted notices out to ladies groups in your communities. It ends up being a great activity within an activity. This also works well if you are needing other items such as jigsaw puzzles, tea cups, reading materials etc. You never know what will appear at the office door after the weekend.

Good Day Everyone!

Have a Picture Scavenger Hunt using old or multiple calendars.

I used this idea the other day. I was donated many calendars and since most if not all the residents have a calendar or two already, I could not throw them away! Almost all were duplicates it was easy to cut the pictures away from the calendar grid and post them in different locations. Quick and easy activity to get everyone moving and chatting to each other. post and number the pictures, create a handout for their name and a space where they can write down the location/s where they found the corresponding picture.

love it! doing this tomorrow

Hi Nadine,
We were asked to do the same. Are there any other homes in your community? if so the letters could be divided between homes to share the love. Your residents could respond to a few instead of many. I too am the only Activity staff in our building. We are pen pals with 45 students and all seniors independently write their own letter/cards/coloring pages to their assigned student usually twice per month, I assist 6 with their replies. I set a date and time for when the letters are completed and then the school picks them up to deliver to the students. This program works very well, with little coordination. The biggest hurdle is finding seniors who are interested in being a pen pal. other projects that also work are seasonal coloring pages or classroom art. I wish you luck!

We are finally starting to see some green here! Spring rain in the forecast. Our first phase of the new building is complete and residents are finally all eating together in the new dining room. Thankful to hear the chatter at meals again. I took down the Easter displays and now thinking about spring growing and Mother's day. I have booked a little country greenhouse to take mothers day pictures. Residents and families call and book their photo shoot appointment. Some of the proceeds will benefit the Activity Dept. Just an idea to get families to take mom/grandma/aunty out and have a photo taken. Often times we forget the importance of a photo.

Everyday is a new day with a new set of challenges. I look forward to the day when we can do more! Sometimes I feel so isolated and our folks feel the same way.

Hi Pendar,

I am sorry I do not have any resources you are looking for. You may try and call your area health provider to see if they offer virtual resources (exercise, medication list help, how to keep tripping hazards out of the home, diabetic eating etc) I have used our local health unit for the above presentations in the past. I wish you luck! have a great day!

Have a great day! You are all doing a fantastic job!

thank you!