Sunday, July 21, 2013

Developing Appropriate Activities for Seniors


As an Activities Professional employing Seniors living in Memory care residences, Assisted Living and Independent Living residences Now i'm always looking for age appropriate ideas and resources to wait when creating unique styles for my students to like. I have not been able to dig up many sources specifically aimed at people working with mature persons in- especially older people with Alzheimer's or dementia in about Memory Care Residences - and that of which why I have thought we would share my process, projects and tutorials with Activity Professionals and people interested when controling Elders.

The lack of knowledge surprised me since the Senior market is the fastest growing segment over unity magnetic population due to Gentleman s beginning to retire in large numbers. And the Baby Boomers have changed the Senior Care industry significantly since they are demanding better services their particular aged parents. The Boomer generation is predicted to live longer, be active longer and provide a better lifestyle than any retirees before either side. And they are on the expect engaging and interesting creative activities to sign up for as they grow older as well as to need more assistance in their day to day lives.

As I had searched websites, blogs and books, I've found a great number of great information about decorating creative projects and wonderful beauty projects for adults as well- numerous adult focused projects are far too difficult for Seniors to complete without numerous assistance- especially Seniors adjacent to Alzheimer's or Dementia. And since 1 of the many 8 Baby Boomers is anticipated to develop Alzheimer's as they age, appropriate activities for the segment of the population might be ever more important besides.

So how do planning about creating age appropriate projects suitable for students that are the same interesting for Independent Seniors and are able to be completed by Memory Care Residents perhaps? I suggest you create several degrees of your project so the project is appropriate for different ability levels for your personal elder population. This may just mean doing additional warmup work- using pre-cut text-based content, templates or simplified the design of your Memory Care a student. A good portion associated with my art projects within adapted from crafts originally in connection with children- but I only choose projects that look appropriate for adults. Come up with sticks, tempera paint and Elmer's glue don't do! When adapting adult crafts always think about making small changes so this less dexterous older palms or Memory Care residents will be able to complete them with budget friendly assistance.

For example: I recently taught a class for Independent Seniors which were making hand entangled fabric wreaths. Although i felt that a very simple project with myself (I had pre-cut the fabric strip in advance-)and had tried it without any problems, many of my students tired quickly that was had severe arthritis using the hands and it was difficult to allow them to tie lots of knots. My solution was loads modified fabric wreath approach to life where students had a choice of creating the tied knot wreath nor wrapped fabric wreath employing the same fabric strips. With this slight modification everyone managed to participate and create a night time looking wreath for the entire door.

A Few Rules of thumb for creating projects when Memory Care Residents:

1. When creating activities for seniors which may have Alzheimer's or dementia you will want to make sure the activity really is easy with easy-to-follow steps in addition directions, but at one time yields a nice looking final product that the student can are proud of.

2. Projects should be completed within an hour to an hour. A 30-45 minute project is ideal for this segment of the lower Senior population because surgical spans are short likewise residents can become irritated or confused- even physically combative when they are stressed.

3. Don't be too ambitious as part of the art project. Allow each resident for this their own project with a high quality assistance as possible. When you are doing 90% of the work- the actual was either not executed properly a person appropriate for the population.

4. Always consider hand strength and dexterity, hand/eye coordination- possibly even the ability to hear instructions clearly if you use Seniors.

5. Families enjoy travelling to what their parents gained doing while the person has been away-and they like to consider that their loved the person has been engaged and stimulated in your mind and body- so continue residents go home that features a completed project.

Next time we will talk more concerning this between projects for Assisted Living People in the room and Independent Seniors. For the moment, if you would like more makers type of projects MAY VERY WELL create, please check it my blog at http: //elderlife. blogspot. com.

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