Activity Director Products

GARDEN PLANNING– SMALL GROUP (can be tailored for Room Visit)

Supplies needed: Garden Gloves

Seed Packets (make a small slit in bottom of package & remove seeds)

Small pots

Seed Catalogs

Large pictures of vegetables & fruits (from seed catalogs, calendars…)

Fruits & Vegetable Felts (www.activitydirectorproducts.com)

Group leader encourages discussion about starting our garden. What should be planted in the garden this year? It is never too early to plan. Pass out various seed catalogs and let residents look through catalogs while group discussion is active. Show different garden gloves that have nice colorful prints (you can pick these up for $1 at a dollar store in the spring). If you desire, actually use a pot, potting soil and a live plant. Transplant the small plant into a larger pot while talking about the upcoming garden. Help residents to remember their gardening experiences. Talk about the new upside down tomato plant holder. Should it be tried in the garden?

Note to Group Leader

Look online for garden catalogs. Call the 800 numbers and have them sent to the facility. They will send many of these catalogs. It is recommended to call many companies and get on their mailing lists. These can be used in this group as well as passed out for residents to enjoy.

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MUSCIAL PASS AROUND – SMALL GROUP

Supplies needed: Object to pass around (stuffed animal, ball, folder…etc.)

CD player & music

GAME CARDS (make cards that have actions or recipe names on them)

Have group sit in a circle.

Pass chosen “OBJECT” around the group.

Play fun music while the OBJECT is being passed around.

Stop the music. The person holding the OBJECT when the music stops must draw a card. The person that drew the card must then explain to the group the steps how to do what is on the card. They keep saying the steps until someone gets the answer on the card. Card examples:

CARD – Plant a garden

Steps – Till the soil – Make rows – Plant Seeds – Cover seeds with dirt – Water seeds – Keep weeds out – harvest either flowers/veggies/herbs or fruits

CARD – Make macaroni & cheese

Steps – Get a large pot – Fill it halfway with water – Put it on the stove and bring to a boil – Put in noodles – Bring to a boil – Cook until tender – Drain pasta – Add butter, milk and cheese to pasta – Stir pasta – Season to taste

CARD – Decorate the Christmas Tree

Steps – Go to the attic or garage – Get large box with tree – Drag box to living room - Find other boxes with decorations – Put tree together - Put lights on tree – Put decorations on tree

You can put many actions onto cards to keep it fresh and new. Change up cards for each holiday to help residents with dementia to be in tune with current season.

Some residents will need assistance with the steps. Try to get a companion or someone seated close to resident to give assistance. This can build team spirit and friendships.

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ANTIQUE SPOT LIGHT – SMALL GROUP

Supplies needed: Antique Item/s

Have one or more antiques to talk about during this small group activity. You will find that even with only one antique, you will easily carry on a good conversation.

One question leads to another and another. You can always bring another antique for back up if the conversation gets slow. Also, if you do not know much about how something was used, it is wise to look it up online to get plenty of information in case you are the only person that wants to talk on that particular day.

Antique examples:

Have an old washboard. Talk about how it was used. Did they was everyday or just once a week? Did it get the clothes clean? What type of soap did they use?

Bring an old coffee grinder. Talk about the uses. Where did people buy their coffee? What about during the depression? Was it ever hard to get coffee? Why? Do they remember the first time that they tried coffee as a child? What was that like?

Show old aprons. Display the different patterns. When did women use aprons? Was there a difference in the type of aprons that they wore? Did it really help to protect their clothes? Did they make their own aprons or buy them?

Butter molds. Did their mother make butter from fresh cream? Do they miss homemade butter? Did they have their own cow or purchase the cream to make butter?

Old black telephone. Feel how heavy the phone is compared to newer models. Do they remember the party lines? Does anyone remember their first telephone number?

This activity will stir some memories. You never know where you will end up with these reminiscing conversations. Listen to the group. You will find many more questions to ask by using your residents as your guide.

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WHAT IZ IT? – SMALL GROUP (can be tailored to Room Visit)

Supplies needed: Various gadgets (kitchen utensils, tools, garden tools…) placed in box.

Option 1 - Resident chooses one item from a box. Resident shows item to group and tells what item is used for. Take turns going around the room. Pass item around or show it around the group. Interaction and engaging conversation will make this activity successful.

Option 2 - High functioning residents decided which item description is true out of 2-3 descriptions. Example: Gadget (can opener).

1 description – this item smoothes the edges of used aluminum foil.

2 descriptions – this item opens cans.

3 description – this item opens up nuts that are still in the shell.

Residents choose the right answer. Have several items as this can go quite fast in a group of high functioning residents. Throw in an unknown item every now and then to get all the creative thinking results.

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