Lets Plan March- Activities Ideas For You

I can hardly believe its March already. We have so much to plan, on main theme days ahead in this month and I thought in this blog I would give you all a few suggestions.

 March is a great month with plenty to celebrate and get your residents involved in  and is also a wonderful time of the year as spring is all around us .






So  here is my activity suggestions for March-

Women's International Day 08/03/18 - International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
Take the time to research information on the suffragettes -Emmeline Pankhurst and all that she and many others did for women. 
Create a display and hold discussions  about how they got the right for women to vote and use this as a theme for discussion to talk about how things have changed over the years with your residents.


Take a look at the role of women during WW2- The role of women changed forever during WW2 as they no longer would return to just keeping the home after the war .  Women were called up for war work from March 1941.

Jobs undertaken by women during the war included:

• mechanics
• engineers
• Tank drivers
• Building ships
• Working in factories - making bombs and aircraft parts
• Air raid wardens
• Driving fire engines
• Plumbers
• Ambulance drivers
• WRVS volunteers
• Nurses

Use these various roles as an opportunity for women to discuss their respective roles in WW2 and have a great reminiscence session. Research the internet for more information and make an occasion of it and have a special tea organised to mark the occasion.

Mother's Day 11/03/18 - Mothers day is celebrated all over the world., the day to honour what Mothers do for us. It will be celebrated this coming Sunday the 11th of March in the UK. 

Here are some mother day ideas for activities for you -

1. Cook your residents  favourite meal or get a take away as a treat for them all,  have a fish and chip supper.Arrange  food on nice plates and decorate the table a bit. You could even go all out with candles, flowers, and fancy china!
2. Throw a casual potluck party where you invite the relatives and staff and everyone brings a dish and spends the afternoon relaxing, chatting, and eating together.
3. Bake cookies or cook a favourite dish together. Depending on their abilities and interests, they could work side-by-side with you, prep a few simple ingredients, or keep you company and be your taste tester.
4. Have a Cocktail Hour as  a way to spice up the day in the afternoon. Serve nibbles and make it an occasions for them.
5. Have a sing-a-long or just sit and enjoy their favourite  tunes together.

Commonwealth Day 12/03/18- This is a day were members of the commonwealth celebrate their link with the UK. 

Activity Idea- Celebrate different countries of your choice who are part of the common wealth and create a virtual tour of each country and do food tasting  sessions to sample the food and make it into a cultural day if you have residents and staff from other nations who could share their knowledge and experiences.

St Patricks Day 17/03/18-Saint Patrick's Day (La Fheile Padraig) is a holiday on the 17th of March, named after Saint Patrick (circa AD 387 - 461).

This is a wonderful opportunity to go Irish for the day and celebrate the culture of Ireland, learn about St Patrick, put up bunting, get a local Irish dance school in and sample some guinness 

Easter 30/03/18- .The New Testament states that the resurrection of Jesus, which Easter celebrates, is a foundation of the Christian faith. The resurrection established Jesus as the powerful Son of God and is cited as proof that God will judge the world in righteousness.

Activity Ideas-

Easter Bonnets - Use old straw hats and get the residents to decorate them and even the pound shop sell great decorations in there you can use. Have a competition for the best Easter bonnet hat and also have a parade.

Easter Egg Hunt- Get the residents and their relatives involved in an Easter egg hunt around the home and the in the gardens.

Easter Baskets- Make Easter baskets and fill them with small chocolate eggs to be given out.

Easter Cards- Make  Easter cards that residents can give each  other and to family.

Petting Zoo- Contact local farmers or Petting Zoo that will visit your home to bring in lambs and rabbits etc for a fun afternoon.

 Hope you find this useful. Lots more resources available in my online community.

I have created an online AC Academy that gives you support with all the challenges you face. www.actasticacademy.com.

Don't Be Alone!
Come connect with me on FB and be part of my online community of fellow AC's at  www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

Sign up  to go on my mailing list and get my FREE  ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly" 

Please click below:
http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time.

Keep shining brightly and by the way thank you for being you and doing such a brilliant job.

Love,

Ann Marie x 

Lets Plan February Activities

Hey Everyone, How are you? So we are now in February which is such an exciting month for us to plan for our lovelies.
So in this blog I am going to give  you some activity suggestions for February  so first of all we have Pancake Day on the 13/02/18.
The main themes are all so close together so use the month to create activity sessions to build up to them and then celebrate them on the day.
For Pancake Day use this to start preparations for whatever Easter activities or displays you are doing as well.

Activity Suggestion -

Pancake Day 

 Making Session  13/02/18 - 

Get everyone involved to make a pancake and then to decorate them.

Have a pancake toss competition.

Discuss the traditions of Pancake as it the beginning of Lent.


Valentines Day 14/02/18

1. Create a festive environment
Putting up decorations makes any holiday festive and more special. Valentine’s Day is a great reason to make simple DIY decorations together – save money and do something fun at the same time!

Simple Valentine decoration ideas:

• Hearts everywhere – cut hearts out of colored paper and stick them up around the house.
• Stained glass window – cut hearts out of colored tissue paper and stick them up on a light-filled window. Overlapping them makes beautiful patterns too.

  Movie afternoon tea- have a special tea with love themed cup cakes, get out the special china and choose a nice romantic movie that the residents can enjoy.

A love themed reminiscence session get everyone to share their story of how they fell in love with their spouses and share pictures .

Get relatives involved and so a coffee morning to celebrate Valentine's day and do some themed easy arts and crafts they can do with their loved ones.

Chinese New Year 16/02/18

This year it is the year of the dog. You can do some chinese themed arts and crafts sessions.

Fans- Get your residents to make their own fan with pictures of dogs on them for decorations.

Discussion- Research the meaning of the year of the dog and share facts and cultural facts with your residents, see if anyone every went to China and turn it into a reminiscence session.

Arts and crafts , lots of free printables on line you can use for your groups.

Meal- Have a chinese themed meal to celebrate the New Year.

Hope you find this useful. Lots more resources available in my online community.

I have created an online AC Academy that gives you support with all the challenges you face. www.actasticacademy.com.

Don't Be Alone!
Come connect with me on FB and be part of my online community of fellow AC's at  www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

Sign up  to go on my mailing list and get my FREE  ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly" 

Please click below:
http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time.

Keep shining brightly and by the way thank you for being you and doing such a brilliant job.

Love,

Ann Marie x 

Tips To Manage Inappropriate Sexual Behavior in The Elderly In A Care Setting (IBS)

Hello, What would you do if someone acted sexually inappropriate in one of your sessions? 
This is a topic that not many people wish to discuss but it is a reality that AC's, carers, home managers have to deal with everyday and it is one of those things that until something happens it does not get addressed.

Most people's response to this subject is to laugh it off or ignore it but I want to discuss this and suggest some tips for you.
It is a big issue  for some people who were otherwise never like this before then become inappropriate sexually in their behaviour.

 Sexual incidents can be categorized as sexual talk, such as the use of foul language, describing previous sexual acts, or suggesting sexual encounters; sexual acts such as public masturbation, exposing genitalia, touching others' breasts, buttocks, thighs, or genitalia; and implied sexual acts such as requesting unnecessary genital care or openly reading pornography.

It raises a lot of questions and crossing of boundaries and also is a safeguarding issue. Some of these behaviours can be heightened  through medications people are on for their dementia or other conditions.

   Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia that mainly affects the front and sides of the brain (frontal and temporal lobes) and causes problems with behaviour and language. Dementia is a common cause of inappropriate or increased sexual behavior.







I remember doing a reminiscence session once and a gentleman who had recently been diagnosed with dementia had began to display ISB and the staff warned me.
 During the session, he made very lewd comments which I just ignored and continued. He was very apologetic and thats how that was managed at that stage.

All sorts of situations arise and what are you going to do . When this happens in care homes residents are asked to leave, with correct protocol and risk assessment in place it can be managed. it is an in depth subject but here are a few tips to help you.

Tips to Manage ISB

• Reviewing the patient's sexuality over his or her lifetime;

• Redirecting the individual during an episode; have clear guidelines in the care plan.

• Recommending a caregiver support group to assist with education and venting frustrations;

• Modifying clothing to prevent easy removal; and

• Trying a same-sex caregiver.

Monitor behaviour throughout the day to know whether they can come and be part of an activity group.

Open dialogue with relatives and those involved in the individuals care, to see  what avenues can be exhausted.

Involve GP to see if medication dosage is correct  and have medication reviewed.

Be aware of side effects of medication, especially dementia meds as these can be a catalyst for an  increase in ISB.

Review the situation continually until it is resolved as some episodes are for a just a short period of time.

See if using a reminiscence tool like a life story book can be used as a distraction , so the individual can shift their focus.

I hope this helps to make you aware and a bit more knowledgeable on this subject matter that we all encounter at some point in our AC role. 

I have created an online AC Academy that gives you support with all the challenges you face. www.actasticacademy.com.

Don't Be Alone!
Come connect with me on FB and be part of my online community of fellow AC's at  www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

Sign up  to go on my mailing list and get my FREE  ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly" 

Please click below:
http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time.

Keep shining brightly and by the way thank you for being you and doing such a brilliant job.

Love,

Ann Marie x 

 

How To Plan, Create & Activate Your 2018 Activity Schedule !

So here we are again at the start of a brand New Year. We all fall into the trap of wanting to make change happen, we set our intention and then we don't follow through or people sabotage our good intentions by either poking holes in them, dream stealing them or we give up before we start.

So here is my advice for you, this year I want you to make sure you factor you in the world of the AC bubble.
Make sure as you plan for the year that you have included enough time for you to plan, create and activate your activity sessions well.




Plan
Plan what you want to change, look objectively to see what you can do differently. See if there are other things you can now try with your residents that was on the back burner before, don't be so  dismissive at least try stuff.
Take into account all the traditional themes and customs that the generation of people you work with would of celebrated when they were younger. Remember when you are planning don't be blindsided by what you want but it's what your residents want.
I have created some useful tools for AC's I have a year wall planner  and diary available which lists all the main events of the year and international dates, the diary includes helpful tips and activity suggestions for you for each month, so that's a great tool for you to use. Email me at lovejoycentre@gmail.com for more information which I will send to you, there just a few left.
Think about what you want to achieve  for your residents as a group for example, you should want to increase their self esteem, promote their independence, etc. So when you plan don't just think it's about booking this and that look at the whole picture from a person centered viewpoint

Create AC's are naturally creative and very resourceful beings, it's a case of having to be at times. When you create your activity schedule include your residents, get their input, discuss ideas with them, include them in planning sessions . You would be so surprised at what they can contribute. By doing this as good practice exercise you will also be fulfilling a lot of what CQC look for when they inspect homes. So make sure you document these meeting and planning sessions.

It ticks so many boxes on so many levels for you and your residents. Once again try something, if it is not feasible  be creative and make it feasible. Here is a lovely story I heard of what one home's AC did for her resident. Joan was going to turn 100 years old and her birthday wish was she wanted to have a ride in a hot air balloon and travel over her beloved Cardiff.

So This AC created a basket similar to a hot air balloon one, that she put around Joan's wheel chair then she created a huge balloon from the wall and on  Joan's birthday she put her into the balloon creation and at the same time from a projector showed Cardiff  as if you were looking at it from a hot air balloon's view. There was not a dry eye in the house and Joan was delighted and felt fulfilled.

It is just thinking outside the box. Give it a try.

Now you have planned, created it is time to activate. Get your well planned ideas into fruition.

I know a lot of AC's have to raise funds for their residents so think of ways that you can do that different. Have you ever just asked the owners to give a budget? 

They should really. If not get ideas on internet for low budget activities and approach charities , dance schools, local secondary schools who can come in for free to provide entertainment for your residents. Ask companies to donate to you and your care home. I have at Lovejoy Centre on numerous occasions given away activity products to homes so at least their AC's have something.

Put your hard work together  and see your planned sessions flourish, always have a contingency plan incase something happens.

If you have a plan you will always succeed. 

I wish you a very pleasant New Year as we go full steam ahead into 2018 and am always here to support you.

I have created an online AC Academy that gives you support with all the challenges you face. www.actasticacademy.com.

Don't Be Alone!
Come connect with me on FB and be part of my online community of fellow AC's at  www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

Sign up  to go on my mailing list and get my FREE  ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly" 

Please click below:
http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time.

Keep shining brightly and by the way thank you for being you and doing such a brilliant job.

Love,

Ann Marie x 

Planning 2018, the year ahead....

Planning 2018, the year ahead.....

 As an AC you're probably about to get mid flow into the flurry of Christmas festivities and activities. You need to ask yourself the following-

How has it been for you? Has it been easy or hard? What would you do different? Lots of questions for you.Are just happy to have survived and got through it all?

Well you do have a secret weapon to success and that is called Planning Ahead.

You will always hear me say that if you have an action plan you will always succeed.

Tips For The Year Ahead For Success

1.  Grab one of my year wall year planner's and diaries  I have created for 2018, especially for  AC'S,

I have saved you the hassle and listed all the main theme dates, fun dates and also suggested activities you can do each month for the year ahead. So you plan what ones you wish to use with your resident's. Email me at lovejoycentre@gmail.com for more details if interested.

2. Don't be alone. Come connect with me on FB or other like minded AC's worldwide in my fabulous online community and have  support, encouragement and advice-www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup.

3.Up your game, I have set up the AC Tastic Academy which is your one stop shop for AC's to find all they need for personal development and support in their job role. www.actasticacademy.co.uk

4. Change tact consider trying new activities, don't just dismiss an idea before you try it with your residents it might just work and be the one thing that connects with someone.

5.Before planning your year's schedule of activities make sure you have up to take records of each resident's capabilities and this is taken into account.

6.Please think about you for a few minutes as you plan ahead next year as well. Where do you think you need to change things in order to make your life easier? Do you need to have admin time given to you for your paper work? Consider these things and when planning make sure you schedule enough
 time so you can get ALL aspects of the job done in work time.

7. Consider using your budget on activity equipment that you can use again and again to create a great session . I offer a wide range of activity session products at www.lovejoycentre.co.uk

8.Dare to be different, I alway challenge you all to think outside the box and do creative, innovative
things, do it. For example, bringing in a horse or pony for a pet therapy session.

9. Evidence is key to prove you do all the wonderful things you do. Take pictures, put them on display and have a  photo album by the signing in book so people and health professionals can see the wonderful things you do with your residents.

10.If you're in a home that thinks activities are two a penny and don't make any provision for you to do your job then there lots of things you can do activity wise. sign up here for my free E-book advising you what you can do-http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

I hope you found my blogs useful. I wish you a very merry Christmas and a brilliant New Year full of success and wonderful sessions
.
Keep shining.Until next time.

Love,
Ann Marie xx

AC Guide To Dealing With A Bad Day At Work.

We all experience  bad days at work, they happen from time to time . You can be going through the day and something happens, boom it hits you right in the middle of your eyes and your totally off guard. Your self esteem plummets, you feel alone. You need to take five minutes and breathe.









What Can Cause A Bad Day

1. Difficult residents.
2. Unsupportive people around you.
3. Snotty comments.
 4. Inconsiderate relatives.
5. Entertainment letting you down.
 6. Drama

Firstly, do take time out for yourself, remove yourself from the situation if possible. You have to be determined to let it go, leave it behind you. Don't drag the feelings of negativity into the next day, week or month with you. And if your having to facilitate an activity session don't bring your feelings into the session as it will be difficult for you.

 This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, sums it up well
 Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in,forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

I could not have put it better myself, decide to move on.

Putting It Into Context

 Think about it, will it really matter? What has been said or done in a week's time? A month's time? Probably not. I recently found out that a company that bought my products from me, actually stole my idea and made their own version of my product. What did I do you may ask. I did nothing, yes nothing. I felt cheesed off about it but I decided not to waste my time, energy or money on it. What goes round comes round. I know when you experience things it can knock you for six, but you have to put it into perspective and especially when you work in the care industry, you HAVE to train yourself not to take things personally. Be strong.

AC Tastic Plan of Action For You

 1.Be strong and silent in public.
 2.No ranting.
 3.Get on with your life and job.
 4.Do not post on social media- You could get yourself sacked or have legal action taken against you. I know of people who have lost their jobs venting on social media, so don't do it.
 5.Let it go

Until next time keep shining and remember your worth. Do you like what I have shared? 

 Let me know and also I have created an online AC Academy that gives you support with all the challenges you face. www.actasticacademy.com.

Don't Be Alone!
Come connect with me on FB and be part of my online community of fellow AC's at  www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

Sign up  to go on my mailing list and get my FREE  ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly" 

Please click below:
http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time, keep shining.
Love,
Ann Marie x

Preparing You For Christmas.... Your AC Checklist !

Hello Everyone,  It's just 9 weeks left to Christmas and the count down has begun.
It is one of the busiest times of the year for AC's and if your new at your role it can be very overwhelming. Don't panic. Help is at hand and if you are struggling for ideas this blog will help you and if you need further help come into my facebook group where I share loads of ideas, provide free resources and gives lots of encouragement.

So to help you here is my Christmas checklist for you-

.   


Check List..................

  First of all, sit down with a paper and pen and plan what sort of activities you will be doing this year.
When you write it down you have plan to follow. When you know what you are doing then you can prepare.

1. Panto - Have you booked your Christmas entertainment? If not NOW really is the time to do this. They get pretty booked up fast and the earlier the better. Plan when you are going to have your Christmas main resident's party or theme and BOOK and PLAN exactly what your going to be doing.if you have no budget for one and want to do your own. Then if you are one of my group members  you can access a written one complete with parts and dialogue. You could get staff and residents involved to do one.
2. Carol Service- You can approach local schools or church choirs to come in and lead you in a carol service concert and this can be done anytime in the run up to Christmas, as the month of December is Christmas themed, plan your activity sessions out and the main highlights in the momentum leading up to your main Christmas event.

3. Activity Count Down Suggestions- What I have planned with my groups I work with on a weekly basis is to do planned activity sessions leading up to Christmas as follows, this is just an example -

           Week 1- Salt dough Christmas tree decorations.

           Week 2- Christmas paper angels and Christmas cards.

            Week 3. Putting up the Christmas tree and home decorations.

          Week 4. Do a ginger bread house.

          Week 5. Carol Service for residents and relatives.

          Week 6. Christmas Service for residents.

         Week 7. Panto and Christmas party.

4. Include Everyone- Remember to factor in everyone in all the festivities especially assign time for those who choose to remain in their rooms through choice or cannot get out due to mobility issues.

5. Learn to Delegate- You are not superman or super woman. So what you can delegate out to others to help you with, do it. I know it can be hard for AC's to do this but you might find that your colleagues will want to help. Don't burn yourself out.

6. Making use of relatives- Ask the resident's relatives to get involved to assist you on large projects, you would be surprised that they actually want to help. So ask. Always great to have extra hands to help.

7. Gifts- Buy practical gifts for your resident's, what you know they will use and appreciate, set a realistic budget amount. Again ask for help if lots of gifts and order online well in advance of Christmas rush.

Finally remember YOU. Yes, you. Your important and you have to pace yourself and do your own personal Christmas shopping and planning. So make sure you    

make time for yourself and do not put unnecessary pressure and expectations on yourself. Enjoy your time with your family, leave work at work and give yourself permission to switch off and relax.

Until next time keep shining and remember your worth. Do you like what I have shared? 

 Let me know and also I have created an online AC Academy that gives you support with all the challenges you face. www.actasticacademy.com.

Don't Be Alone!
Come connect with me on FB and be part of my online community of fellow AC's at  www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

Sign up  to go on my mailing list and get my FREE  ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly" 

Please click below:
http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time, keep shining.
Love,
Ann Marie x