Activities within nursing homes are
an important part of maintaining the health and well being of
residents. Stimulating activities help avoid a slow decline into
depression caused by boredom and provide an extra sparkle to life.
Many residents enjoy taking part in different hobbies and functions,
and visitors as well as staff can participate.
A broad range of programs is directed by
the activities coordinator. A home certified for Medicare and
Medicaid must have someone designated as an activities coordinator.
The planning and implementation of activities comes from requests by
residents, families, staff, and volunteers. The activities are
usually posted on a calendar of events that is available to each
resident and also posted in large print where a wheelchair-bound
resident can easily see it. Examples of a few such activities are:
Monthly
birthday parties to which all residents are invited.
Families and friends may be invited to participate. Volunteers often
help to bring residents to the party and join in the fun.
Celebrations of various holidays,
both secular and religious. Holidays are particularly difficult
times for those away from their own homes, families, and friends.
Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas, Hannukah, Easter, and
Memorial Day are a few examples.
Musical events can be enjoyed
actively or passively depending on the abilities of the residents.
Many homes have sing-alongs in which the residents request their
favorite songs and sing along with a leader. Again, the involvement
of volunteers, families, and friends is crucial to the success of
such a program. Sometimes concerts are given by a church or school
group or friend of the nursing home. Hopefully, the public is
invited to attend, for this allows the residents to provide a source
of pleasure to their community.
Games foster both one-to-one
relationships and group activity. Bingo is a favorite for many, but
bridge, chess, and other games for smaller groups usually are
available. Volunteers and families often are the ones to stimulate
resident interest in a game and they may be able to help arrange
suitable opponents. Contests sometimes are run with work games, and
tournaments are arranged for bridge or game players.
Outdoor activities include
gardening, cookouts, or just enjoying time in the sun alone or with
a friend. Often the staff does not have the time to take the
immobile residents outside. Family and volunteers are relied upon to
make this possible. (See surrogate
family)
Trips and tours to community
events. Some homes have a special resident fund from the sale of
arts and crafts made and sold by the residents to finance
transportation rentals and ticket purchases. Friends or volunteers
may donate to the fund or sometimes the nursing home sets aside
money. Transportation can be a problem for those in wheelchairs, but
the activities coordinator usually can find volunteer drivers who
are taught to cope with the special needs of disabled people. Some
communities have special vans that transport residents in
wheelchairs. Trips outside the home offer variety and mental
stimulation.
Nursing home newsletter,
especially if published by residents. This is an especially valuable
method of expression and uses resident talent that otherwise may lie
idle. Poetry, history, birthdays, and resident and staff personality
profiles are all topics that can be included.
Resident discussion groups.
Sometimes a resident is an expert on a particular subject and will
be the group leader. Other times a volunteer may offer to lead a
discussion group. Topics may include current events, literature, and
religion. The residents choose the topics and those interested
attend.
Exercise fun and physical fitness.
Community leaders often volunteer to lead yoga or other exercise
sessions. Even wheelchair-bound residents find satisfaction in
exercising on a regular basis.
Books. Volunteers may run a
book service, taking a cart of books to the room of immobile
residents. There may be a central library or small bookcases on each
floor. Talking books for the blind may be part of the service.
Families, friends, and volunteers can buy, bring, and hand out
books. Many people help with reading to those unable to see well.
Coffee or cocktail hours.
Policies vary from home to home, but social hours provide a time of
resident interaction. It is a particularly nice time for volunteers,
family, and friends to join the residents.
Arts and crafts programs
separate from occupational therapy frequently are offered by the
activities coordinator. A volunteer, resident, or family member may
lead this program. Also see
creative therapy
Religious services. Every
Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home must, by federal
regulation, provide the opportunity for residents to attend
religious services of their preference. Many nursing homes welcome
denominational groups to provide religious services in the home for
those who wish to attend. Again, this often provides an opportunity
for families and friends to join the resident in worship. The
organization of such services is usually handled by the activities
coordinator.
All
residents should be included in some form of activity:
Of course all residents at a
nursing homes are not elderly. Some have physical disabilities
and/or other health problems. Activities are as important to these
individuals as any other humor being. Care should be taken to tailor
the activities to fit the individual's condition. A qualified
occupational or rehabilitation therapist should have a hand in
matching the the individual's unoccupied time with the chosen
activity (e.g. computers adapted for those with disabilities) (see CR therapy
and devices),
unfortunately due to cost considerations and lack of personnel this
isn't always possible and many residents are often left alone
watching TV or listening to the radio.
Links
regarding nursing home activities:
www.activityconnection.com
- We are an online resource for Activity Directors and Activity
Professionals in Senior Living Environments. Our site is special
because we offer "Ready-to-Go" activities with complete
scripts and downloadable props. Activity Directors and Activity
Professionals will find more than 35 sections that are updated every
month with hundreds of fresh ideas and activities.
http://seniors-site.com/
- For senior citizens, their children, and caregivers
http://seniors.lovetoknow.com/
- Finding interesting nursing
home activities ideas is important for residents,
visitors and staff, helping to ensure a vibrant and stimulating
atmosphere.
www.nursinghomerank.com/
- Nursing homes activities should include getting the residents out
and about to enjoy nature and sight-see. Some patients may even
enjoy going out to lunch, rather than having the similar food each
day. Other activities for nursing homes could include going
shopping, playing bingo, cards, board games, putting puzzles
together, or enjoying other nursing home games with other colleagues
of the facility
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