Meaningful activity programming for residents with dementia

Meaningful Activity Programming for Residents

with DementiaDUSTY LINN, LCSW, CDP, BC-AC, CARE(S), CVW, POSITIVE APPROACH INSTRUCTOR

COPYRIGHT DUSTY LINN CONSULTING, INC. 2019

Meaningful programming for residents with dementiaSmall Groups

Shorter Time Frames

Sensory Focus

Layered Activities

Process not Product

Create a YES environment

Plan for Success

Successful Ideas


Small groupsMore individualized attention neededSafety

Engagement

Tag F248Cognitive Impairment

Shorter attention span

Communication Difficulties

Evolving of Programming in Nursing Facilities

No more than 7 people


Shorter time framesTag F2483 to 5 minutes

Ability to focus is limited

Memory is impaired

Visual memory – not recalling how to use an object

More frequent activities

More items to engage with


Sensory focusedThe world speaks to me through my 5 senses

Visually stimulating

I can touch and interact with it

Rhythm is a strength – hearing

No fear of putting it in my mouth

Smells closely linked to memory


Layered activitiesLayered Physical activity

◦ Ball toss – 3 minutes

◦ Dancing – 5 minutes

◦ Bean Bag Toss – 3 minutes

◦ Washers – 3 minutes

Layered Spiritual activity◦ Prayer – 1 minute

◦ Instruments and singing – 5 minutes

◦ Recite familiar scripture – 2 minutes

◦ Use pictures of familiar Bible stories – 3 minutes


Layered activitiesLayered Creative activity

◦ Finger painting – 5 minutes

◦ Stickers – 2 minutes

◦ Putting on display – 3 minutes

Layered Sensory activity◦ Outside to pick flower – 5 minutes

◦ “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” – 2 minutes

◦ Pictures of flower arrangements/Reminisce – 2 minutes

◦ Flower arranging – 2 minutes


Layered activitiesLayered Pleasure/Comfort activity

◦ Cookbook viewing – 5 minutes

◦ Reminisce…My favorite – 3 minutes

◦ Bake & decorate cookies – 7 minutes


Process not productENGAGEMENT!!!

Break things down into multiple steps

Think “projects”

Don’t rely on verbal instruction

Demonstration is vital

Redefine success


Create a “yes” environmentNO! NO! NO!

Increases agitation

Communication is frustrated

Relationship is damaged

Evaluate environment

Create a safe space

Encourage engagementDoctor’s office & magazine


Plan for successIndividualized programHistory

Boxes

Bags

May need 1:1 approach

Focus on long term history

Rely on what does not require verbal instruction

Challenge within their comfort zone


Plan for successCognitive in AM

Physical in PM

Go outside!!!!

Shorter, more frequent activities

Include variety

When something worksWhy?

Repeat, repeat, repeat


Plan for successRepetition is not just needed it’s required

Try not to stop a successful activity

Think outside the box

Create positive experiencesBuilds relationships

Deters behaviors

Reduces need for medications

Tired people rest better


Plan for successMeaningful environmental engagement

Failure free activities

Household tasks


Successful ideas- theme bagsTheme bags

Sensory focused

Long term memory

Recreates an experience related to a memory

Rotation of items

No instruction needed


Successful ideas – theme bags1.Baby theme

1.Blanket

2.Diaper

3.Baby doll

4.Baby lotion

5.Lullaby CD

6.Rattle


Successful ideas – theme bags1.Holiday theme – Valentine’s Day

1.Love songs

2.Famous pictures of couples

3.Dancing/Singing animals

4.Heart cut outs

5.Valentine’s card – big one


Successful ideas – theme bags1.Cleaning theme

1.Rags

2.Spray bottle

3.Duster

4.Lemon scent/Orange scent spray

2.Cooking theme1.Spoons

2.Spatula

3.Big bowl

4.Measuring cups

5.Scents from kitchen


Successful ideas – theme bags1.Hunting theme

1.Turkey call

2.Rattling horns

3.Orange vest

4.Camouflage hat

5.Hunting magazine pictures

2.Seasonal theme


Successful ideas – theme bagsMonthly Theme Bag

Conversation starters

Memory prompts


Successful ideas – theme bagsDemonstration


Successful ideas – spark of lifeOriginated by Dementia Care Australia

Theme focused

Individual recognition

Being “it” with a positive approach

Invitations – club

Music!!!

Modifications


Successful ideas – spark of lifeCovered foam board with wrapping paper

Use paper plates and Velcro

Write clues on back of paper plate

Use a theme

Someone is “it” – wears a special form of identification

Selects the plate

Residents finish the line or complete the task together


Successful ideas – spark of lifeHunting

◦ Camo paper

◦ Orange plates

◦ “It” wears an orange vest or a camo hat

◦ Pictures of “big ones”

◦ Pictures of guns

◦ Give your best turkey sound

◦ Finish the line “One in the hand is worth…”

◦ Show me how you aim that gun


Successful ideas – spark of lifeFarm

◦ Red wrapping paper

◦ Animal face plates

◦ “It” wears a vest with animals all over the fabric

◦ Give your best cattle call

◦ The name of the farmer we sing about (begin to sing “Old McDonald”)

◦ Name that sound (See n Say)

◦ Finish the line “He is stubborn as a …”


Successful ideas – spark of lifeMovies Silver wrapping paper

Black and gold plates

“It” wears a boa

Famous Faces – movie stars to name and/or talk about how handsome/beautiful they are

Finish the Line “Frankly Scarlet, I don’t…”

Do your best 3 stooges impression

Doris Day song “Que sera, sera….”


Successful ideas – spark of lifeDemonstration


Successful ideas – Montessori methodThe Philosophies of Montessori:

• To Focus on an individual’s abilities, not deficits• To Engage in meaningful activities• To Allow for highest level of functioning possible• To Enhance self-esteem• To Provide meaningful, social roles


Successful ideas – Montessori methodCreate a “YES” environment

Readily accessible activities at all times

Spontaneous activities encouraged

Personalized but available to all

Peer learning

Sensory processing and learning combined


Successful ideas – Montessori methodCan utilize “stations”

Activity boxes on shelves or in bags or out on the table for accessibility

Focuses on muscle memory and restoring muscle memory

Increases failure free activities


Successful ideas –Montessori methodPractice buttons, hooks and buckles on a colorful piece of material using large-sized items

Practice opening a lock attached to a wooden box.

Matching plastic fruit they hold to pictures on a cloth or place mat.

Placing three different colored balls into matching cups. If the task it too difficult, one color of the balls and cups would be removed. If it is still too difficult, only one color would be used until the person was able to achieve success with the task.

Flower arranging

Cooking class


Successful ideas – Montessori methodLeaf cleaning

Polishing shoes or silver

Filling salt and pepper shakers

Puzzles – using calendars

Bell Game

Table setting

Coin sorting


Successful ideas – Montessori methodDemonstration


Documents

Meaningful activity programming for residents with dementia