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nursing home activity

Posted: Jun 5, 2012

Going to work at the local nursing home (50 residents) in the evening to help with activities and keep them interested in things. They have not had activity in a couple months as there was no one to do it, and they have made a new position, and I am it.

I need some suggestions as to what we can do for about 20 minutes of activity for them. Most of them are in wheelchairs or not very ambulatory but are mentally pretty good, although in their 90s. We do the usual of being in a circle and kickin the ball back and forth, and some like trivia, but would appreciate some new and different things to do. They are listening to polka and waltz music tapes right now and they are thrilled with that, and a few actually get up and move around a little if they can.

Thanks for your help.

;

I have seen some nursing homes.... - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
using the Wii game console with the elderly. It gets them a bit active, but there are games that would not stress them physically. Just a thought. A good swift game of "hot potatoe" may also spark things up a bit. lol.

How about occasional visits to the home by gentle, - pet-able, therapy animals?

[ In Reply To ..]
I have a cat that is such a ham for attention, if she visited a nursing home and got all that love & petting, she'd be in 7th heaven. Lots of elderly people used to have pets, and had to give them up when they moved to a nursing home. If I were in their shoes, a visiting animal would be the highlight of my day!

Meerkat
=^..^=

I second that, Meerkat !!! Animal therapy - works wonders NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Short games of bingo? (sm) - Bindi

[ In Reply To ..]
When you've got them in a circle, how about getting them to tell their memories? These 90-something-year-olds went through the depression and WW II.

Depending on budget... - Old Nursing Home Volunteer

[ In Reply To ..]
I've seen wheelchair bowling. It's hard to explain, but there is a ramp-like contraption made out of I'm assuming aluminum, whereby they roll up to it in their wheelchair and roll the ball down the contraption. It's got "guards" on it so the ball goes straight down, not willy-nilly.

It's not regulation bowling, smaller pins, smaller balls. You'd need a fairly large recreational area.

need some - thanks

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks-Love the idea about them telling about their lives. I am also a dog sitter, so I bring all my dogs whenever I have one at my house. The bowling sounds good too. I know they have played the bean bag toss too.

I had a friend that would go play the piano and (sm) - yochana

[ In Reply To ..]
the residents would sign the old songs they grew up with. They just loved to sign. The ones that didn't sign enjoyed clapping and tapping their toes to the music.

ideas - been there

[ In Reply To ..]
my mom was in a nursing home for rehab and they did balloon volleyball, big piece puzzles, made their own ice cream sundaes, bingo, singalongs, movies

nursing home activity - need some - Vera

[ In Reply To ..]
What about Bingo. That could be played from wheelchairs. Give some kind of small prizes they could use in the nursing home.

What about a weekly/monthly "show & tell"? - Meerkat - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I remember "Show & Tell" at school... every Friday. It was my favorite day. A few kids would bring a treasured object (or in some cases a pet), and get up in front of the class to tell about it. One day, one of the boys brought his pet tarantula!

I could see a senior version of that, too. They all likely have a treasured photo, or belonging, piece of clothing with a story behind it, or even just a spoken story or memory. They could show it to the group and tell why it's so special to them. If it were a weekly (or maybe better monthly?) event, it would give them time to come up with something they'd like to share each time.

I worked at a nursing home where they - occasionally did wine and cheese tasting

[ In Reply To ..]
for those whose medications would not react badly to the alcohol. I know that many of our residents really enjoyed having a glass of wine now and then and it was a special treat. :)

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