Fit Minds Interact® Program (Level Maintenance)

September Session Plan No. 2

Copyright © 2011-2016 By Fit Minds Cognitive Health Products Inc. All Rights Reserved. Patent Pending in the USA (61,665,680) and Canada (2,781,253). For more information go to www.fitminds.ca

Session Data

Fit Minds Cognitive Engagement Scale™: Beside each activity you will see an engagement scale. This scale is an assessment on engagement levels which is a good way to determine cognitive interaction. Circle the appropriate number: 1 (Not Very Engaged) thru to 5 (Very Engaged). This is a good way to track which activities are engaging the group and which activities are not.

Physical Warm-up [3-5 minutes] Warm-up exercises: Deep breathing is important to improve oxygen levels in the blood. Focus on

breathing in and out through the nose if possible with mouth closed. Place hands on the belly and breathe out to a five count and in to a five count. The belly should expand on inhale and flatten on exhale. Placing the hands on the belly will help raise body awareness and give a point of focus. Repeat 5 times. Arm Circles—Move the arms slowly in big circles. Feel the stretch through the shoulders. Complete 5 rotations forward and 5 backward. Hands and Fingers—Close and open the hands several times. Place the fingers together, fingertip to fingertip and push the hands together. Relax. Lace the fingers together, flip them around and stretch the arms.

Language Warm-up [3-5 minutes] Opposite Words: Read the word and ask the individual to respond with the opposite of each

word given. south [north]; east [west]; big [small]; stop [go]; up [down]; hard [soft]; hot[cold]; left[right]; big [small]; wet [dry]; here [ there]; heavy [ light]; horizontal [ vertical]; honest [ dishonest]; hungry [ thirsty] increase [ decrease]; inside [ outside]; inhale [ exhale]; junior [ senior]; less [ more]; leader [follower]; long [ short]; loudly [ quietly]; new [old];

Calendar (Orientation) [3-5 minutes] Calendar. Using your activity calendar for the month review the week’s activities. Ask the

following questions: 1. How many days starting with “T” are in this month? 2. Give the date of the next day that starts with the letter “S” 3. What date is three days from today? Seven days from today?

Visual/Spatial Orientation [5-7 minutes]

Knots (download) Give the download to the group and have them match which knots are the same.

Engagement Scale: 1 2 3 4 5

Memory and Critical Thinking [5-7 minutes] I Am a Seven Letter Word (download)

Share the download with each individual in the group but solve the puzzle as a group. You may wish to use an easel. Remember – if an individual has a hard time seeing or hearing they can benefit from having a copy of what you are working on to follow along with.

Engagement Scale: 1 2 3 4 5

Fit Minds Interact® Program (Level Maintenance)

September Session Plan No. 2

Copyright © 2011-2016 By Fit Minds Cognitive Health Products Inc. All Rights Reserved. Patent Pending in the USA (61,665,680) and Canada (2,781,253). For more information go to www.fitminds.ca

Computation [7-10 minutes] Equation Match. (download)

Give each individual an equation matching sheet and see how quickly they can match the equations. To make this exercise easier, have them answer each equation and then match the answers.

Engagement Scale: 1 2 3 4 5

Language and Music [10-15 minutes] Activity: List Animals.

Ask each person in turn to list an animal for the first eight letters of the alphabet. Following are some examples for cuing: A – ant, antelope, aardvark; B – bear, boar, bison, buffalo; C – cat, cow; D – dog, donkey; E – elephant; F – fish, ; G – giraffe, goat; H – horse, hyena.

Engagement Scale: 1 2 3 4 5

Discussion: Adventure Travel Pose the following questions for them to discuss. Make sure you give everyone plenty of time to answer.

1. If you had to choose between an African safari or a camel trip across the Sahara Dessert – which would you choose and why?

2. Would you rather ride a horse or ride an elephant? Why? 3. Which appeals to you more: camping in the wilderness and sitting by a campfire or

vacationing in a resort with a pool and hot tub? Why? 4. Would you ever want to go spelunking – climbing through underground caves? Why or

why not? 5. Would you rather see a total eclipse of the sun or watch the northern lights? Which

would you find more exciting and why?

Engagement Scale: 1 2 3 4 5

Wrap-up [3-5 minutes] A wrap-up ritual is an important framing piece for helping individuals with dementia end

activities. Moments of transition can cause anxiety, so we’ve created a wrap-up ritual for you to use. Feel free to augment it with music or time for tea. To wrap-up the activity tell them the session is ending and you want to give them a little something to take away from the session. Give each individual an affirmation card. Tell them what is happening next on the schedule and tell them when their next Interact session is scheduled.

1

Visual/Spatial Orientation

KNOTS ARE NICE—Instructions & Answers

Match the knots on the left side of the page with the knots on the

right side of the page. Which ones are the same knot?

The answers are shown below for your reference.

For added complexity, ask the individual to try and tie a knot.

Fit Minds Inc. © 2014—2015. All Rights Reserved.

2

Visual/Spatial Orientation

KNOTS ARE NICE

Match the knots on the left side of the page with the knots on the

right side of the page. Which ones are the same knot?

Fit Minds Inc. © 2014—2015. All Rights Reserved.

1

Memory & Critical Thinking

I AM A SEVEN LETTER WORD—Instructions & Answers

Give the individual the puzzle sheet.

Solve each clue to discover what letters are in the

seven letter word. Solve the seven letter word.

Fit Minds Inc. © 2015—2016. All Rights Reserved.

SMALLER

I am a seven letter word

Letters One, Two, Six, Four and Five give out an offensive odour

— SMELL

Six, Seven and Three are a period of time — ERA

One, Six and Three are salty waters that cover the earth

— SEA

Two, Six, Three, Four and One are one of those regular times for eating

— MEALS

What am I?

2

Memory & Critical Thinking

I AM A SEVEN LETTER WORD

Solve each clue to discover what letters are in the

seven letter word.

Solve the seven letter word.

Fit Minds Inc. © 2015—2016. All Rights Reserved.

h

I am a seven letter word

Letters One, Two, Six, Four and Five give out an offensive odor - S M _ L L

Six, Seven and Three are a period of time - E R _

One, Six and Three are salt waters that cover the

earth - S E _

Two, Six, Three, Four and One are one of those regular times for eating - M E A _ S

What am I?

1

Computation

EQUATIONS—Instructions & Answers

Each equation in column 1 shares an answer with an equation in column 2.

Ask the individual to match each equation to its pair based on their answer.

Fit Minds Inc. © 2015—2016. All Rights Reserved.

1 + 7 =

4 + 3 =

4 + 6 =

3 + 2 =

3 + 3 =

= 5 + 2

= 7 + 3

= 6 + 2

= 4 + 1

= 4 + 2

2

Computation

Fit Minds Inc. © 2015—2016. All Rights Reserved.

EQUATIONS

Each equation in column 1 shares an answer with an equation in

column 2. Match each equation to its pair based on their answer.

1 + 7 =

4 + 3 =

4 + 6 =

3 + 2 =

3 + 3 =

= 5 + 2

= 7 + 3

= 6 + 2

= 4 + 1

= 4 + 2

I Am Willing

To Ask For Help

I Forgive Myself

I Choose To

Let Go Of

My Fears

I Focus on Those

Things That Are

Within My Control

Today I Start Over

I Am Willing To Trust

Other People

I Am Patient

With Myself

I Am Grateful