Planning Activities for the Elderly / Seniors – Part 2 of 2

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Video is created by Evolution Point

This is Part 2 of a continuation of a video lesson on doing meaningful activities with your loved ones.

In Part 1, we focused on
WHY we need a good activity program for our loved ones.

In Part 2, we learn about the
GUIDELINES & EXAMPLESwe use to plan a goodactivity program for our loved ones.

When planning activities, the following should be remembered:
– Utilize the interests and past experiences of your loved ones;
– Be flexible. Make adaptations as needed;
– Be sure your loved ones has choices and is allowed to feel in control;
– Be sensitive to your loved ones’ good and bad days;
– Plan a beginning, middle and end of the activity session;
– Adjust the activity to the time of day and the alertness of your loved ones;
– Invite challenge and appeal to your loved ones’ desire for achievement;
– Secure and keep the attention of your loved ones;
– Stop the activity before interest wanes or your loved ones become fatigued;
– Remove distractions;
– Show patience;
– Give positive feed-back;
– Keep the activity moving;
– Emphasize spirit, enjoyment and fun; and
– Avoid doing more than is necessary for your Client;

Activities that encourage physical well-being:
Remember!!! Any physical activity must take into account any medical conditions that your loved ones has and the physical limitations, if any, the condition might necessitate. If in doubt, check with your loved ones before starting the physical activity.
• Playing catch using a light ball or a beanbag or tossing it into a box or basket;
• Dancing or moving to music including moving neck, feet and hands, clapping and gentle twisting and bending at the waist;
• Lifting light weights;
• Walking;
• Do exercises that encourages movement at joints including wrists,
elbows, shoulder, neck, hips, knees and elbows (don’t forget the toes and fingers);
• Do deep breathing exercises;
• Garden or rake leaves;
• Clean out a closet, drawer or cabinet;
• Sort and fold laundry; and
• Remember, when you allow and encourage your Client to do as much of his or her physical care as safely possible, you are adding to his or her over-all physical wellbeing.

Activities that encourage mental well-being:
• Games that use pictures, numbers, shapes, colors, foods, flowers, etc. or looking through magazines to identify familiar objects;
• Using catalogues to go on a shopping trip;
• Discussing current events;
• Completing a cross-word or word game puzzles;
• Playing cards;
• Table games such as checkers, dominoes, Yahtzee;
• Travel books, atlases, old vacation pictures;
• Read or write poems;
• Listen to music and talk about its significance;
• Make out shopping lists;
• Sew or knit;
• Update address book or birthday lists;
• Plan a garden;
• Have a spelling bee;
• Do a jig-saw puzzle; and
• Use your creativity to plan activities that your loved ones will enjoy.

Activities that encourage social and spiritual well-being:
• Plan a special day with them i.e. holidays, dress up, picnic lunch, etc.
• Plan a special dinner or dessert party and have them invite his or her family or neighbors;
• Make a scrapbook or picture album;
• Write a letter to a old friend;
• Make simple gifts for their grandchildren;
• Read books of worship (The Bible, Torah) together;
• Pray or meditate together but never push your own religious beliefs;
• Design and make holiday and birthday cards;
• Have them share his or her favorite memories and stories;
• Take a map and highlight all of the states your loved ones has visited, lived-in or has relatives living in;
• Have them tell you about his or her occupation;
• Read inspirational stories or poems;
• Go “window shopping” in fancy catalogues for things you would never buy; and
• Be creative.

Finally:
• They are often more capable and able to participate in activities than Caregivers believe they are;
• Any well thought out activity, task or action gives their life purpose and meaning;
• When planning activities, remember there is much more to do with them than just watching TV together or playing bingo.
• As a Caregiver, you are challenged every day to be creative and flexible:
– To focus on your loved ones abilities, not limitations;
– Use time in a purposeful way- not just fill time;
– To use activities to support positive behaviors and discourage negative behaviors; and
– Help your loved ones enjoy life.
• Your loves ones were once an active person in his or her home, occupation and community and wants to hold on to those feelings of belonging; and
• You need to show them that you respect and care about him or her.