Hello everyone, If at first you don’t succeed…well, you know the rest: Try, try again! How often do we ask residents to join us for exercise class or another activity, have them say “no”, and we say “ok” and move on to the next person. Then after a few “no thank-you’s” from them, we give […]
Tag: Engagement
Activity Ideas for the Guys this Father’s Day
Hello everyone, Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads and grandfathers! Speaking of dads, sometimes it can be challenging to find activities that the men in your communities find enjoyable. We’ve come up with some ideas for physical activities that may be more appealing to the guys. Lots of these can be done outside […]
Valentine’s Day Dance Contest!
Hello everyone, Valentine’s Day is this Friday and many of you are probably hosting parties in your communities to celebrate the day of LOVE. Well, we LOVE moving and dancing!!! This week at your parties, make sure to put on some music and get everyone dancing. Show us your moves!!! Send us pictures of your […]
Turkey Trot Time!
Hello everyone, Thanksgiving Day is almost here! Before we enjoy our fabulous feasts, it’s fun to work up those appetites with some morning exercise on turkey day! How about hosting a “Turkey Trot” at your community? Turkey trots have become very popular as a way to have fun with family and friends, and often raise […]
How Engaged are Your Residents in Activities?
Hello everyone, When it comes to engaging residents in activities, especially people who have dementia, one size does not fit all. It can be challenging find activities that a particular resident will take part in and enjoy. In addition, communities sometimes rely on nursing assistants to engage residents in activities, and these staff are often […]
If at first you don’t succeed…
Hello everyone, If at first you don’t succeed…well, you know the rest: Try, try again! How often do we ask residents to join us for exercise class or another activity, have them say “no”, and we say “ok” and move on to the next person. Then after a few no thank-you’s from them, we give […]
Approaches to Address Apathy
Hello everyone, We’ve mentioned that apathy is a common challenge for people who have dementia, and is often overlooked because the person with apathy is not generally disruptive to staff or other residents. It is important to remember that apathy is different from depression, as a person who is apathetic is not necessarily sad, but […]
Rest Easy
Hello everyone, We know that evening hours can sometimes be difficult for people with dementia, so this week we have a few ideas for how to help residents relax and get to sleep more easily. Have a staff or a family member give the person a gentle hand or back massage using a lightly scented […]
Are Your Halls Dull?
Hello everyone, This week, we’d like you to think about the environment in your facility and how it may influence behavior and/or encourage or discourage physical activity among your residents. Remember, if we can help residents stay engaged in pleasant ways, then they may be less likely to become anxious, depressed or agitated. They may also […]
Benefits of resident engagement
Hello everyone, A study published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship posed the question, “Is an Engaging or Soothing Environment Associated With the Psychological Well-Being of People with Dementia in Long-Term Care?” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27802364) Well…what do you think the researchers learned? They found that an engaging environment was associated with more positive emotional expressions, and that […]