snick-eakers

In one month we appreciated LPNs and Physical Therapy. The residents made treat bags with medical hats for the "Loving Phenomenal Nurses" and laced up Snickers for the step in the right direction rehab personnel.

Paint and Sip

One of my activities professionals is an artist. Now that he has joined our team, we can host monthly paint and sips. Residents have a beverage of choice, a small canvas, and an instructor to guide them through. They have been pleasantly surprised with the results of their art.

Birthday Bears

A local Church donated hand-sewn bears for our use. I thought they were sweet enough to give residents on their birthday. So far, the birthday boys and girls have seemed to appreciate the soft little gifts.

Friends Giving

After the feast for Thanksgiving lunch, many  residents went off to visit with family members.

For those who didn't have that option, I hosted a Friendsgiving social. Local children donated placemats they made in class. We had various cranberry juices and mini-cupcakes.

In the center of our table was the tree with notes of things people were thankful for. We read them off, added new ones, and talked about Thanksgiving Day trivia.

leaf shaped thankful notes

Be a Turkey

November was a month to celebrate our business office. So, residents donned gloves and made reese pieces filled Turkey gifts to say thanks to all those behind the scenes workers.

Pinata Therapy

As we continue to honor different employees each month, we celebrated Rehab with a fitting physical activity: a hand made leaf pinata cut and decorated by the residents. We did this on the first day of Autumn. One resident volunteer, who has limited use of her left hand, was able to pull leaves off a garland to come spilling out when the pinata was finally cracked. The rehab employees took turns and the resident spectators cheered when candy and thank you cards were finally unleashed.

The Bread and Butter of Assisted Living

I told the women sitting around the table, all of whom were at least in their 80's, that I was going to teach them about making butter. They didn't believe me.

With a few tablespoons of heavy cream, souffle cups, and 5 minutes of arm exercise, I surprised them.

While we shook, the smell of fresh baked bread kneaded the air. The residents had each added one of the ingredients for the loaf.

After the bread machine beeped we swiped creamy fresh butter on hot slices and took big bites.

Visiting children played on the floor with building blocks. The residents speculated on when the youngest would learn to walk.

It was a great day in Assisted Living.

Don't Ever Lego

Crafters might agree with me that there is a very real fear: as soon as you throw away supplies, you think of the perfect use for them.

For this reason I tend to hang on to things like an overflowing bucket of legos. I also feel the urge to include them in activities as soon as possible.

During August, Unit Managers are celebrated. For their appreciate gifts residents chose a few pieces to put together as a paperweight. They also wrote notes of thanks. On the day, I called each manager over individually and had a different resident hand them their present, as well a large chocolate bar and a hug if they wanted it. The residents loved the reaction of the employees.

Olympics

At the beginning of the Olympics, residents helped decorate by cutting colored circles,

making copies of the meaning of the 5 colors, supervising me hanging hoops,

posting the schedule of the games at large community televisions,

and using medicine cup rims and fabric paint to decorate white tee shirts.

We had a Brazilian food taste test. (Hint: there are no lemons in Brazilian lemonade.)

On the last day of the games, we had a social with cheese puffs in ice cream cone "torches".

Calendar Not Bored

Traditionally, the giant calendar board in the skilled nursing part of my work has one a monotone background that we change each month.

I decided we should try something new and use cut scrapbook paper for an entire season.

This has worked beautifully for summer: picnic baskets, fruit, new grass, blue skies, and sand. For fall, I bought hunting scrapbook paper full of leaves and woods and animals in twilight. Of course the residents chose which paper reminded them of the season, and cut out the paper along the lines drawn for them.

Raffling Sunshine

The local car club had a car show in our parking lot. This is the big fundraiser of the year and I was so happy with my department's basket to raffle.

Here is the press release I wrote about the event:


"The *** *** team (including resident families and volunteers) gave their time, energy, and more on July 22nd, 2016. Together they pulled off a great car show on the front lot.

The memories made on this night are sure to last for a long time.

Earlier on that Friday the weather darkened and rain threatened to cancel the opportunity for dozens of unique cars to park outside safely. Instead, a bright sky and light breeze set the stage for residents, families, staff, and visitors to enjoy a great evening.

*** *** would like to thank the *** *** Car Club for having their show with us again this year. Also, they volunteered to have a 50/50 raffle and donated the winnings to the residents. Each person who brought a car to the show was given a *** *** dash plaque to celebrate the day.

Music was provided by **** DJ and listened to by all.

Besides the delicious food for sale, people seemed to enjoy viewing the raffle baskets and buying chances to win. These were donated by all departments from *** ***.

The proceeds of the show were split between the employee Christmas party fund and the resident Christmas party fund. There will be many more ways to raise money for these anticipated events."
 

Lightening Bug Fires

In July, fireflies tell us it's summer. Since most of the residents aren't outside at the time of night when the males emit a light in hopes a female will respond back, we decided to make a decoration instead.

One of my new activities professionals is an artist and I only had to tell him my idea for him to create a fantastic wall piece. Christmas lights poking through really make it unique.

Unlike real lightening bugs, our project is not almost 100% efficient. Therefore we can't keep it plugged in without attending it. It's still nice to turn on and promote discussion.

Gifts for the Laundry Workers

Starting this month, we will celebrate a different group of employees throughout the year.

The residents used clothes pins to attach two snacks to a hanger for each of our wonderful laundry workers.They also wrote thank you notes on cards picked out by the greeting card club. The laundry department is constantly complimented.

Additionally, one of my new activities assistants used his art skills to draw a picture on a canvas with a funny laundry room saying chosen by the residents. Then he filled the remaining space with appreciative signatures.

Life is a Picnic

The residents mentioned summer makes them think of picnics so we changed the Independence day table decorations to suit. Each vase even has a little solo cup and plastic straw. I think they turned out adorable and the residents who made them had a lot of fun.

Independence day

I'm dependent on photo props:

1. making them is an activity in itself. residents enjoy helping to decide what to use, how they should look, coloring  in, etc

2. props keep us oriented to the time of year and special activities coming up

3. when you take someone's photo there is a great chance they will smile

4. prints can be given to residents, family members, and will make great additions to our upcoming scrapbook club

Cold Watermelon on a Sunny Day

Sometimes simple activities are the best. Our watermelon social under the awning, looking into the freshly landscaped courtyard and eating cold melon slices was a great example of this. Yes, I did set aside red balloons to decorate with black "seeds" to add to the mood. Otherwise it was just about sitting back and letting the residents talk to each other about the great weather.

I worked especially hard to invite a new resident who is here on hospice. He doesn't care much for food or being around other people, but he did allow me to convince him to join us in the fresh air. He even ate!

My only regret is that I didn't call it Watermelon Tellin'.

Yes Bologna

This Father's Day I wanted to serve something healthy, and blue. After a quick poll of fathers, I found out that men don't really care about color coordinating their snacks. They also don't care about health at a party.

For our social I picked up a special local bologna, cheese, crackers, cookies, and cupcakes. It took a few phones calls to delis, but the food brought back memories to many residents. We laid out blue tablecloths in the dining room and a favorite band came in to sing and play for the residents. We focused on inviting the men (who are all fathers in some way) but the women who peaked in were welcome to attend. For once, they were outnumbered.

One of the female residents who I took back to her room reminded me of why activities are important, although much different from the medical services offered. She told me that morning had been difficult for her and she prayed for God to help her get through the day. Then, she heard music coming from down the hall.  She could not believe the band took the request for one of her favorite songs. The social "revived her".

I love my job. No bologna.

America's White Table

A Veteran told me to look up "America's White Table" when I asked for advice about making Memorial Day a special day for the residents. I'm so glad he did.

The table honors the men and women who served in America’s Armed Forces

The table is round- to show our everlasting devotion and concern for our fallen and missing comrades.

The cloth is white- symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life, and the blood that was shed, and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith and await answers.

The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our commitment, and continued determination to account for our missing.

A slice of lemon on the plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.

The salt is to remind us of the tears endured by those missing and their families who still seek answers.

The black napkin is a reminder of the isolation, deprivation, and cruel fate our missing.

The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.

The glass is inverted- to symbolize their inability to share this evening with us.

The chair is empty and tilted -they are not here- and will remain so until they return or are accounted for.

"You are not forgotten so long as there is one left in whom your memory remains"

Residents decorated the table centerpieces with flags, I hung bunting on the gazebo, and the Women's Auxiliary donated hand made poppies for each resident to wear.

Tea with Ashley

 Last week I added myself into the schedule. "Tea with Ashley" was busy with me asking residents what cup they'd like and what tea they preferred to fill it with. After we'd all steeped, I asked what June meant to them and got some ideas for decorations for next month. It was great to spend time with the residents that way. They enjoyed the social but suggested crumpets next time. Stay tuned for "Crumpets with Ashley".

Pieces in the Center

In each dining room, we're making additions.

 

The tables are about about to improve.

Plastic flower pot centerpieces,

With a space for decorative inserts.

Today we worked a few to prepare for Memorial Day.

Greetings

My dream job is here.

I am now the Activities Director with three levels of care: skilled nursing, memory care, and assisted living.

As I learn about my new facility, the residents, and my employees, one my first tasks has been to sort the supplies we have. I want to know what activities we can offer the residents, and make sure our budget goes towards materials we don't already have hidden on a shelf.

One thing I will not be purchasing is greeting cards. We have tons. So many, in fact, I put the boxes of them on a cart and started a Greeting Card Club. Assisted Living residents enjoy sorting through the cards to organize them by category. They marry the cards with envelopes. They talk about the lost art of writing a letter.



The cards will be available to residents who'd like to use them. Eventually the Club will be in charge of delivering birthday, anniversary, achievement, and get well notes to the other residents.