Straw Fireworks

Honestly, the fireworks were not my favorite thing this year. Living in the suburbs in a state where private citizens can set them off legally, they went on late into the night, many nights around the 4th of July. My family couldn't wait for our neighbors to run out of them so we could get back to a full night's sleep before waking up early.

However I loved the patients' straw fireworks crafts. I grabbed a bunch of bendy straws and sent the tips around before securing them with a rubber band. The patients selected a background and then different colored "fireworks" as we reminisced about Independence day traditions.

Ladybug Rocks

What's something achievable and on a medium that doesn't cost any money?

Lately you may find me outside next to the walkway grabbing a few rocks before afternoon activities. Once the patients paint them and they dry, I place them back in the mix for staff and visitors to come upon as they enter the building.

This project was ladybugs, relatively easy but still cute.

Swanky Suit Day

When the activity assistant came in to give me a planning day, I relished it.

The idea I was most excited about was Swanky Suit Day. On this day, I asked staff to bring in a change of clothes that was their fanciest outfit. You know, the one you wore to prom or your daughter's wedding. When they had time, I asked that they change into their outfit and strut in front of the patients along the hand drawn "red carpet". The prize for this was a rose which patients got to deliver and in the meantime enjoy the sight and smell of.

The dietary department obliged my request for fancy black and white cupcakes for the Swanky social in the afternoon.

Fireflies

I had been looking forward to this project and it went so well I believe next time we'll do it on canvases. The marketing director for my company collects works of art made by our dementia patients to sell and raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.

I encouraged the patients to chose a darker background, then paint their mason jar a lighter shade before gluing on the fireflies. Regardless of the participation in the art portion, all the patients got to reminisce about fireflies and catching them in Summer.

Ice Cream Soda Day

Ice cream soda day was  big hit. The dietary manager suggested orange soda in addition to my request for coke and root beer. That turned out to be the most sought after flavor. The patients said it tasted like "orangecicle".

Birthdays

To make the monthly patient birthday party special, I have started not only to have banners, singing, and a poem, but also interactive food and photo props that go with the theme for the day. For the month shown above, the patients decorated cookies with bits of their choice instead of just receiving a pre-made cupcake. Then we took pictures with cut outs of mermaids, pirates, and surfers. The photos can be enjoyed on a special board all month long to remind us to celebrate the patients spending their birthdays in our geriatric psychiatric facility.

Donut You Love CNA's?

The patients celebrated CNA's with a banner of ringed donuts with their names on it. The patients have been coloring those donuts for weeks!

To continue the ring theme, the patients wrote everyone's name on a card that said "We like you so wanna put a ring on you" and taped ring pops to them. One patient hand delivered them to the staff who were working that day. I've done this before and it went over just as well at my new job as it has in the past.