Being an AC makes you feel at times like you're spinning 10 plates at a time! Often if not AC's are left to get on with it, with little or no formal training and expected to pull everything off.
It is often a lament I hear all too often. And whilst AC's are being all things to everyone they have to facilitate a session as well.
This can at times prove a challenge so here are a few suggestions for you -
Remember to concentrate on the process of an activity and not the results. It does not matter if you never get the puzzle put together. What matters is that your resident or loved one enjoyed the time spent on it and felt useful.
1. Attitude - You must have a positive attitude towards older people and a commitment to provide stimulating, quality activities and social events.
2. Preparation - This is the key to everything in making sure your session is a success and enjoyable. If you’re doing art, make sure you have enough materials to go round, etc. You can also prepare the residents by announcing what you will be doing a few days beforehand so they are aware and it builds expectancy.
3. Use a ’I can list’ - When creating activities for residents, ask them what they can and cannot do; ask family members too and make a list that details the resident's’ physical, cognitive, communication and socializing abilities. Use this information to build a person-centered activity plan for them.
4. Distractions - Prior to an activity taking place try to eliminate any external distractions, i.e. turn the TV off. Avoid sitting residents together who do not get on and place those who are hard of hearing near you so they can hear.
5. Keep it simple - Use clear, concise language and do not over complicate instructions when facilitating a session.
6. Resources – Use the internet to research activity ideas and find inspiration. Ask fellow colleagues for their ideas and get recommendations of good therapists to use; save your budget - if you’re lucky enough to have one - and use your imagination to create activities.
Use your imagination to be creative
7. The Feely Game - This is a simple but great idea for a sensory game. All you need is a bag or an old plastic tub/box with a mixture of things in it that are safe and have different textures. Place them in the tub or bag and ask each resident to close their eyes and try to guess what the item is before pulling it out.
8. Reminiscence - You can use anything to help trigger memories - photos, items collected on outings, etc.
9. Hand Tennis – This is a very cost effective activity. Blow up a balloon and use it to play hand tennis. Simply gently tap the balloon from you to the resident using your hands. This is a good gentle exercise that always causes much laughter.
10. Think outside of the box - Do not limit yourself or your residents by defeatist thinking! At least try something new and gently encourage them to do the same. If they don’t like whatever the new activity is, you know to try something different next time. Different activities will appeal to different people
11. Outside Activity- Have you considered changing the environment that you hold your activity session? If the weather is nice outside move your activity session to the garden, It would make a pleasant change and open up a good state change perspective for your residents and also arranging outings too will have lots of pluses. It will help your residents connect with the outside community life again and be a refreshing change.
Hope this helps you. Until next time keep time.
Keep Shining,
Love,
Ann Marie x
