| The ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS PAGE By Sandra Stimson ADC, CALA, CDP Executive Director, Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care |
Dementia Units and Activities:
Many facilities have taken the step of adding locked dementia units. Unfortunately, all too often we are seeing
little or no programming for those residents. Additionally, we are seeing these day rooms with lack of
supervision or not enough staff to work with the residents. Nursing assistants should be rotated into the day
rooms for supervision and to assist the activity staff. It is recommended that activities on these units run 7
days a week from the hours of 9:30 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. Activities play a huge role during the evening hours when
the nursing assistants are providing ADL’s. Your Safety Committees minutes clearly show a higher incidence
of falls and accidents with residents who are left unsupervised in the day rooms during the evening hours. A
strong dementia activity calendar should be designed to include daily music, exercise and reminisce
programs. We recommend that you offer exercise and music programs in the morning. You have less time to
provide activities that require “time” such as crafts and cooking programs due to the lunch hours. In addition,
the residents are confused and have just gotten up. It is a lot to ask of them to complete projects that require
concentration
Props should be utilized during programs as much as possible. The props will offer a visual and keeps their
attention. For the exercise programs you could offer pom poms, maracas, wands, top hats and parachutes. At
no time should ball toss or balloon toss be offered. One, because they are slow to respond so we should not
be throwing anything at them and two, props engages the entire group and keeps their hands strong. The
music programs should include props such as tambourines and musical instruments. We recommend Sing
A Long With Eldersong for this population.
In the afternoon, we recommend horticulture, crafts and cooking programs when meal programs do not
restrict time for activity programs. You can offer these programs at a slower pace and allow time for success
and completion of the activities. A strong dementia calendar offers activities that change on the half hour, are
flexible and geared to the residents interest. Offer coloring activities and simple craft projects, keeping in mind
to make sure all activities are age and ability appropriate. Remember, all activities that you offer, should be
success oriented, failure free, purposeful and meaningful for every resident who is attending that event.
In the evening, we recommend non-stimulating activity programs. Instead offer; reminisce programs, pet
therapy, doll therapy, Wake Up Program, Timeslips, folding towels or easy to understand movies. We do not
recommend that the TV be shown except for light movies.
Remember to offer parallel programming. For those residents who cannot participate in an activity, have a
table set up with tactile items. These items could be things to touch (pat mats) sorting items (poker chips and
large buttons), folding items (towels and wash cloths). If they are low functioning you could offer a sensory
room filled with bubble tubes, fish tanks, aromatherapy, music and tactile items. These rooms offer many
benefits for the dementia challenged resident who still requires stimulation.
The day rooms should have many self-recreation items, such as jewelry boxes, theme boxes, sorting and
folding items, theme books, sewing cards and magazines. These are items that can be given to the residents
where there are no planned group programs.
If you need suggestions for dementia calendars, or props for programs (click on party supplies) & resources,
please go to www.activitytherapy.com
Many facilities have taken the step of adding locked dementia units. Unfortunately, all too often we are seeing
little or no programming for those residents. Additionally, we are seeing these day rooms with lack of
supervision or not enough staff to work with the residents. Nursing assistants should be rotated into the day
rooms for supervision and to assist the activity staff. It is recommended that activities on these units run 7
days a week from the hours of 9:30 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. Activities play a huge role during the evening hours when
the nursing assistants are providing ADL’s. Your Safety Committees minutes clearly show a higher incidence
of falls and accidents with residents who are left unsupervised in the day rooms during the evening hours. A
strong dementia activity calendar should be designed to include daily music, exercise and reminisce
programs. We recommend that you offer exercise and music programs in the morning. You have less time to
provide activities that require “time” such as crafts and cooking programs due to the lunch hours. In addition,
the residents are confused and have just gotten up. It is a lot to ask of them to complete projects that require
concentration
Props should be utilized during programs as much as possible. The props will offer a visual and keeps their
attention. For the exercise programs you could offer pom poms, maracas, wands, top hats and parachutes. At
no time should ball toss or balloon toss be offered. One, because they are slow to respond so we should not
be throwing anything at them and two, props engages the entire group and keeps their hands strong. The
music programs should include props such as tambourines and musical instruments. We recommend Sing
A Long With Eldersong for this population.
In the afternoon, we recommend horticulture, crafts and cooking programs when meal programs do not
restrict time for activity programs. You can offer these programs at a slower pace and allow time for success
and completion of the activities. A strong dementia calendar offers activities that change on the half hour, are
flexible and geared to the residents interest. Offer coloring activities and simple craft projects, keeping in mind
to make sure all activities are age and ability appropriate. Remember, all activities that you offer, should be
success oriented, failure free, purposeful and meaningful for every resident who is attending that event.
In the evening, we recommend non-stimulating activity programs. Instead offer; reminisce programs, pet
therapy, doll therapy, Wake Up Program, Timeslips, folding towels or easy to understand movies. We do not
recommend that the TV be shown except for light movies.
Remember to offer parallel programming. For those residents who cannot participate in an activity, have a
table set up with tactile items. These items could be things to touch (pat mats) sorting items (poker chips and
large buttons), folding items (towels and wash cloths). If they are low functioning you could offer a sensory
room filled with bubble tubes, fish tanks, aromatherapy, music and tactile items. These rooms offer many
benefits for the dementia challenged resident who still requires stimulation.
The day rooms should have many self-recreation items, such as jewelry boxes, theme boxes, sorting and
folding items, theme books, sewing cards and magazines. These are items that can be given to the residents
where there are no planned group programs.
If you need suggestions for dementia calendars, or props for programs (click on party supplies) & resources,
please go to www.activitytherapy.com
| ABOUT SANDRA Sandra Stimson has experience as a corporate consultant, Corporate Trainer and National Speaker. Her experience is in long term care, as Activity Director, Director of Alzheimer's Units and Assistant Administrator of a 550 bed long term care county home. She is Co-founder of Pet Express Pet Therapy Club, is a Life Replay Specialist. Sandra implements dementia units nationwide. Sandra has written several books, Volunteer Management Essentials for Long Term Care and Pet Express Pet Therapy Program. Sandra has been a facilitator for Alzheimer's support groups and is the Awards Chair for the NJ Association of Activity Professionals. Sandra is the Executive Director of National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners http://www.nccdp.org Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care offers resources for health care professionals in many areas of dementia care, care plans, Snoezelen products, dementia activity calendars, adult day care calendars, sensory calendars, reminisce videos for dementia, activity books, and dates to remember, party supplies, resources and links. |
| Copyright 2004-2006 The Activity Director's Office All rights reserved |
| Music: "Peg of My Heart" furnished by Heart and Soul Music "Providing Quality Music for Nursing Homes" |
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