Have You Herbed?

Our patients enjoyed growing wheat grass so much, we got a new set of planters to make 3 types of herbs. They are easy to grow and care for, and safe to eat if ingested accidentally. Some patients even remember from day to day how much they grow.

Vanilla Pudding Day

 Vanilla Pudding doesn't have to be boring. To celebrate the day, patients made their own vanilla pudding "sundaes" just the way they like them. This was a sugar reduced option they all loved tremendously.

Chocolate Chip Day

For chocolate chip day, the kitchen made fresh chocolate chip cookies. I gave out a warm prize to each BINGO participant that day.

Peas in a Pod

The patients used modeling clay, a cup, and their love for their offspring to create peas in a pod. They chose a color for the pod to represent themselves, then made peas to represent their children. The clay dried overnight and made a cute momento.

Another Haiku

Haiku day will probably be one I always celebrate. I love exploring Haikus with the patients, and creating one ourselves.

Last month we celebrated new spring with this:

White Easter Lillies

Baby Mice Under the Trees

Green Grass: It is Spring

Mother Ocean

 Art therapy produces wonderful, surprising, unexpected, joyous, messy results. Giving patients a theme and then adding a silhouette on top can be a simple way to bring continuity to a group of projects. I wish the mother and child had been enlarged for this, but I still enjoy the concept.

Photo Props

This month on the birthday party we celebrated "Take Your Best (Photo) Shot" so I made Photo Props for people to pose with.

I can't post the pictures we made, but I did print copies for a wall in the activity room and it has gone over very well. Sometimes I forget that people don't realize the fun things we do without being present, and photos can help them re-live the things they aren't able to visit for.

I think next month we have different props and made it a tradition. The best part of using big cardboard cut outs is that it covers people's midlines and hair- the two biggest reasons people don't like having their photos taken. Copies for families can help them feel like they are making memories with loved ones even when those loved ones have declined from what they once were.

The patients painted the props.