Preparing For Your Busy Easter Activity Schedule

At different points in the year it can be incredibly busy for AC's  and with Easter coming up that is no exception.

I am one to encourage you in your role from the side lines and cheer you on to succeed for your own self worth and for your residents.
Lots of you see posts and wonderful things other AC's do and arrange and then feel inadequate or limited because you have no budget or very little budget.
Firstly, work within the remit of what you have and your capabilities and most importantly those of your residents.

 Some AC's do different themed activities on whatever recognized day it is for example, hug a tree day, this kind of activity planning is too busy in my opinion.
I would encourage you to stick to the main cultural themes for your residents, the odd occasional international themed day that you feel is relevant to your residents is okay and can be fun.

Particularly if you are working with dementia residents, keep it simple and relevant and more inclusive of whatever they like to do, and always include those things in  your planning.

Easter Preparation Ideas-

As we have Easter coming up I have listed practical low budget activities you can plan-

Easter Egg Garland- Cut out Easter egg shapes and get the residents to paint them and decorate them and tie them together and hang them up.

Make Pace Eggs- This is a British tradition of boiling normal hen eggs and using food dye to colour them and they where eaten over Easter and given as gifts.

Make Easter Themed Biscuits - Go to the internet, look for a simple recipe and bake and use Easter themed cookie cutters.

Simnel Cake - Make a traditional Easter cake it is a fruit cake and has rolled marzipan  icing on it and 12 balls  of marzipan placed around the top of it and one in the centre to represent Christ and the 12 disciples.

Bake Cup Cakes- Asda do a 25p cake mix all you do is add an egg and mix it and  divide into your cake ups. Once baked let the residents decorate them.

Egg Race- Make your own egg race track and get residents to roll their boiled eggs and see how far they go.

Egg and Spoon Race- Use boiled eggs and a table spoon and create a space that you wheel people up and down to do a race of those who can walk can walk the race.

Easter Egg Hunt- Place eggs around the care home, gardens etc and get the residents and their relatives involved to hunt them out.

Easter Service- Arrange for an Easter Service to be held in the home or arrange for those who can to attend  their local church .

Local Pet Rescue Centre Visit- Ask your local pet rescue centre if they would bring in their rabbits and other animals for a short visit for an Easter treat for your residents.

Easter Cards and Baskets- Make Easter cards and baskets to be given out to friends and loved ones.

Easter Tea Time Party- Invite relatives and friends to come for tea and use your finest china, sing songs together to have a good time. 

Easter Bonnet Competition- Get old hats or visit the pound shop and get ribbons, cut out pictures , etc and make an Easter bonnet and get the manager to judge the best one.

Easter Raffle- Ask for donations from staff, family, local business and do a raffle and raise some money for your resident's fund.  

Reminiscence- Talk about Easter how it was for them when they were growing up and ask everyone to share their experience. Talk about traditions people practiced.

I hope you have found this blog useful and feel inspired to celebrate Easter, it is a wonderful time of the year with nature providing beautiful flowers and the birds nesting etc.

Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub.
Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free.

You can join the group here -
.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-
 To get your free copy of our ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly"

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

Happy Easter in advance.

Wishing you all well and until next time keep shining .

Love,

Ann Marie xxx 

Activity Provision For All In Mixed Groups

 Activity Coordinators are truly amazing people as we have such a mixed bag of things to deal with and one of the biggest issues everyone faces is how to deal with everyone in your groups, make sure everyone is equally included and the how to juggle the disruptions that occur at times in groups.

As you will know  from experience you have different people at different stages of dementia, some people who are only in a care home due to a physical disability but mentally are stable and normal.
And as AC you have to juggle  and meet all  these needs of each resident.

www.lovejoycentre.co.uk

Here is a few things to help you -

  Provision of Meaningful Activities in A Care Setting.

 To begin we need to understand what the definition of activity is and that it is essential to human existence, health and well being.

 It has the potential to restore, maintain and improve physical and mental health. Our individual personality, life history, interests, values and beliefs influence our choice of activity. 

What we do helps to define who we are. The urge to engage in purposeful and meaningful activity is a basic human drive. 

This in-built motivation does not diminish or disappear as people age, but the common effects of aging, such as reduced vision, poor hearing and the increased incidence of arthritis and dementia, can affect an individual’s ability to participate in activities. (Occupational College 2007)



 It is important to consider the following important facts – 

Match the right activity to the correct skill set of the resident.

 Ensuring the activity is age appropriate. 

The activity will have these set components to consider as well

Physical-range of movement, strength, co-ordination, physical endurance and speed. 

Sensory- this enables us to interpret and interact with the world around us. 

Smell, kinaesthetic, touch, sight, hearing and taste. 

Cognitive-memory, problem solving, logical thought processes, ability to organise oneself and time effectively, communication. 

Emotional- Internal drives and belief’s motivate and enable us to do. Borne out of culture, life experiences in turn influence our choice of activities. 

Social interaction- with other people and the development of relationships influences and motivates our selection of and participation in activity. 

Meaningful activities should be enjoyable, and may be linked to hobbies or interests that the person enjoyed before the diagnosis of dementia. 

 Activities such as taking a walk, cooking or painting can help preserve dignity and self-esteem. 

Some of the most beneficial activities can be simple, everyday tasks such as setting the table for a meal or folding clothes. They can help a person with dementia feel connected to normal life and can maximize choice and control.


Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub.
Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free.

You can join the group here -
.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-
 To get your free copy of our ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly"

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

Did you know I do AC Awards each year? It's oopen to anyone who is an AC here is the link to vote 

http://lovejoycentre.co.uk/nomination-form

Wishing you all well and until next time keep shining.

Love,

Ann Marie xxx 

The Importance Of Having A Personal Vision As An AC

Being an AC can often be over whelming, time consuming and a  challenge when you have the pressures of people's expectations on you. In addition to that we often put pressure on ourselves and end up feeling over whelmed, burnt out, unappreciated, over worked and unhappy.

It is imperative that you have a work vision so you can stay focused on what your objectives are,  know why you are doing what you do and to remind yourself on the bad days what it is all about.

  Vision  Setting

 You have to set goals for yourself, to give you purpose and vision. When you set your goals you are stating your intention, aligning yourself and amazingly your subconscious helps you to activate them to be manifested in your life. From a practical point you know what you want to aim for and achieve.

 Personal  Vision  Setting Tips

 I'll give you some vision setting tips to make the most out of your goals that define your over all vision-

 1. Always state your goals in the positive - Because your mind works mostly in pictures it cannot form an image of what you don't want. You just can't say 'don't think about a pink elephant' while not thinking about a pink elephant. It's impossible. You only can focus your attention on something else, something you do want to picture or think of. Tell in your stated goals what you do want.

 2. Keep the goal within your control - Don't let the achieving of your goal be dependent on the support or good will of others. You are responsible for your achievement so keep that responsibility where it belongs, with you.

 3. List your goals in detail - Make them as clear as you can. The more details you can put in the easier your subconscious mind can work them out.

 4. Be aware that your goals are, as we call it, 'ecological'- They should be in harmony with your purpose and your other goals. Keep in mind that you will get resistance and could sabotage yourself if you don't harmonize your goals. 

5. State your goals in the present tense as if they are already achieved. The mind can only work in the present. It is the only moment that really exists. If you act, in your mind, as if your goal achieving is done you are aligned with it. In fact, in the non-physical world your goal is already achieved. The physical world will reach that point soon.




Obviously having a personal vision is important but I want you to think of a work based one. So things you need to consider  is that anything goes in your vision, after all it is your vision so for example my work vision is to provide activity sessions that include everyone I work with. To promote social skills and provide a platform for each person who engages in an activity session I facilitate to be able to express themselves, feel validated and leave the session feeling positive and that their self esteem is high. 

I know your respective care homes will have a vision, objectives etc but you need to have your own personal one that you use to focus yourself and what you do with your residents.
 It will help motivate you as to why you do what you do and what the purpose of it is all about for you.

The Perils of Having No Vision

If you don’t have a vision for your career as an AC then you will loose focus, feel disheartened and not know what you need to do to improve, change or what you are doing well, it is the same for freelance AC's too. Here are the perils of not having a vision-

• You can often have no idea whether you’re doing well or badly
• No direction 
• Have no measurement in your development to compare.
• No track of what you can do differently.
• Nothing to encourage, propel you forward.  

If you DO have a vision you are very clear about what you’re trying to achieve and by when. This in turn means that you can make decisions based on whether you think it will take you closer to or further away from your vision. If you DO have a vision you will be able to work out exactly your main objectives you are trying to achieve, it will be the one that brings you closer to your vision.



Your Vision

Having a vision makes a really tangible difference to the way you perceive yourself as a health care professional providing for the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental well being of all you work with.

 Can you see that you need to understand the importance of  what you want to achieve from your job or freelance business or you will not be able to make decisions based on that goal, and you won’t know if you hit it?

This is really, really important.

I believe that this is the key to fulfilling your potential as an AC whether an in house one or a freelance AC. It is the only way that you will be able to get that laser focus that propels you forward and helps you to achieve all of your goals and dreams.

Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub.
Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free.

You can join the group here -
.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-
 To get your free copy of our ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly"

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

Wishing you all well and until next time keep shining .

Love,

Ann Marie xxx 

The AC's CQC Checklist For Inspection!

 It's the time of year when your respective care homes have either had an inspection or are due one sometime. I want to explore this topic in detail with you, as many AC's ask me about this and panic.

Firstly, don't panic.As you read on you will find the information and checklist a good tool to use in your preparation.

Add caption

 Firstly, if your home rating is a good then usually you are inspected every two years unless something has happened significantly to warrant an inspection.

 If your home's rating was adequate or needed  improvement in an area specifically then unannounced inspections will occur, so always be ready.

Also when inspections do take place sometimes, the inspectors may only want to see  certain areas of the home  for example, they may come and just check the medication records, care plans or activities, etc and this is called a focused inspection or do a full in depth inspection which can be anything from a day to 3 days and with more then one inspector and this is called a comprehensive inspection .

Also when an inspector comes, it is not uncommon for you as the person providing activities  to be interviewed and even for the inspector to observe you facilitating an activity session.
Don't be nervous, just answer any questions truthfully and as  accurately as you can. 

It is also your opportunity to raise any concerns to the inspector that you may have about the home and the service provided. Their feedback  to the owners of the home is ALWAYS taken seriously.

Also mention all the good positive aspects of the home and what you do in your role.

Here is a list for you to check against to prepare for inspection and if you do these things anyway, you will have nothing to worry about-

Signing in book- ALWAYS ensure there is a photo album by the signing in book at the entrance that show cases your activity sessions with the residents. If for any reason you are not there when an inspection takes place, you have clearly demonstrated what does go on in the home, also it is good for the relatives to see what their loved ones get up to. It gives a clear impression that activities do take place.

Weekly/Monthly Schedule  Displayed-  Always ensure there is a clear weekly or monthly schedule displayed on the notice board that is very visible to all. Ensure each resident has a copy and that you have a copy in their care-plan and activity records folder. This is what is looked for and if there is not one displayed it will immediately draw attention to that fact and also make sure it is up to date.

Display Boards- Main display boards should be full of the residents art work, whatever theme you are following, pictures of activity sessions etc. Blank display boards tell of no activity, it is an opportunity once again to highlight what is going  on in the home, also helps the resident's to orientate themselves with the current themes and again shows that regular stuff is going on. And once again if you are not there, it would highlight what work you have done with your residents.

Record Keeping- Always make sure you have recorded your activity sessions done in main communal areas in a book or diary that clearly states the time, date, all who participated and what activity took place and a short summary of what you did and how people engaged.
Also you need to ensure you shown person centeredness in planning your activities and have taken the whole person into account. So showing records of life story books and other recorded information showing that time has been taken to find out what people enjoy is also important.
 And also individual personal activity logs must be kept as well. 

PAT Testing- If you use any electrical items in your activities such as laminators,CD players, DVD players , etc always make sure they are PAT tested to prove they have been checked by a qualified electrician.

Risk Assessments- If you are planning an activity for an example  an outing make sure you have  written a risk assessment and if the risk assessment has a review date on it, make sure it has been reviewed and recorded and all parties that are meant to sign has signed it.
What you have to remember is that when inspectors come in they want to get to the to the heart of people’s experiences of care and support, the focus of the  inspection is on the quality and safety of services, based on the things that matter to people. 

They therefore ask five key questions about the service,  which are is it : 

---

Safe: you are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

Effective: your care, treatment and support achieves good outcomes, helps you to maintain quality of life and is based on the best available evidence.

Caring: staff involve and treat you with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

Responsive: services are organised so that they meet your needs.

Well-led: the leadership, management and governance of the organisation make sure it's providing high-quality care that's based around your individual needs, that it encourages learning and innovation, and that it promotes an open and fair culture.

Things such as the decor, labels on doors, pictures in the corridors all make a difference to the residents  enjoyment of their environment. So displaying what you do with the residents is paramount.
Finally, take time to read and review other homes reports who have managed to get outstanding by just doing little things, like  one report I read of a home who got outstanding mentioned all the staff walk around with bubbles in their pockets so they can interact with the residents, they will stop and have a chat about their day for a few minutes. It's the little things. You can gleam ideas. 

Please download this useful resource to help you in your activity provision and inspection  -

www.cot.co.uk/living-well-through-activity-care-homes-toolkit-0

Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub.
Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free.

You can join the group here -
.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-
 To get your free copy of our 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 

How to Flourish And Shine in 2017!

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 available which lists all the main events of the year and international dates, so that's a great tool for you to use. See below how to purchase the set from ebay. or email me at lovejoycentre@gmail.com .
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 theasible 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 in case 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 2017 and am always here to support you.

Online Support For you From Me!

Online Academy For AC's Only!

Last  year I established the AC Tastic  Academy an online hub of support for AC's that covers just about everything you need, paper work templates, understanding terms and subject matter, CQC stuff etc and lots  more.
AC Tastic Academy -

Full details of content and price and how to sign up is here- .http://www.actasticacademy.com/signup

Freelance AC Course

If you are thinking about being a freelance AC or want to do this in addition to your current role I have but together a course with 12 modules and accompanying video's to show you how and I am with you every step of the way.
I show you how to do this in 21 days! Anyone ready to change their life for good?

 You can sign up here and get  full information about it -http://lovejoycentre.co.uk/freelance-activity-coordinator-course


Dementia Friendly Products-

I have created a range of dementia friendly products to assist in activity provision. My product range is always evolving  as I continuously create new products for AC's to use in their activity provision. I have sold hundreds of mats, they are stocked and sold by major outlets as well and help you deliver reminiscence in a unique way.Take a look at my online store here-

http://lovejoycentre.co.uk/store


Annual AC Wall Planner and Diary 2017

I have created a useful wall planner that has all the key dates on it for you to help prompt and remind you whats on when. Also this year I have created a diary that has a month at a view, helpful hints and tips for your role and a suggested activity idea for you each month.A wonderful resource for an AC .
You can purchase your 2017 wall planner and diary set here -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272508513570?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Training Courses and Workshops

I do offer 121 mentoring and training  and run workshops through out the year as well. If interested please contact me at lovejoycentre@gmail.com.

Annual Care Show and AC Awards

For the past three years I have been running a successful care show connecting service providers and health professionals together for a day.
Also each May we have our annual Activity Coordinator Awards and this is a big event on our calendar and everyone is welcome to nominate someone nationally, we get good press coverage.
I believe in raising the profile of the AC role and honouring it.


Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub. 
Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free. 

You can join the group here -
.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-
 To get your free copy of our ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly"

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

I just wanted you to all know what resources are available to you as AC's through me no matter where you are in the world.

Wishing you all well and until next time keep shining and I wish you all a shiny active new Year ahead.

Love,

Ann Marie xxx 

Reading Out Aloud, An Overlooked Activity!

Hello! Here we are again  at the end of another year. I have spoken a lot about various activities you can do with the residents you work with. 
Lots of you often ask what is the best type of activity to use with people at varying stages of dementia or other conditions and one activity overlooked or not given much thought is reading out loud to people.

This is a great all inclusive activity for all residents to be involved and here are some of the benefits-

• inform
• entertain
• alleviate anxiety
• alleviate boredom
• alleviate a sense of being isolated
• provide a connection with others
• provide a topic of conversation
• enhance visits in which neither person knows how to proceed
• enhance self-worth, when the elderly person realizes someone cares enough to read to them

Some elderly people have the desire to read as they have always done, but the ability to do so has eroded over the years.

• Their vision may not be as acute (and print in books is generally tiny, as is that in magazines).
• They may not have the physical strength to hold a large-print book for long. (Try it some time. They’re heavy!)
• Their cognitive abilities may have dwindled, making understanding the printed word more difficult.
• They may be dealing with dementia, which complicates many aspects of the reading process.

Reading aloud can answer so many challenges that elderly people face. The Reader Organization in the UK has found that using their shared reading model with people with dementia “shows

• improved mood
• improved concentration
• improved recollection
• greater levels of social interaction”

An article in The Lancet, by Carolyn Banks, a strong advocate for reading aloud to the elderly, states that “to most of the people, the act of reading itself had a soothing effect.” She also found that “Being read to … seems to be as welcome as a touch, whether or not the listeners had been readers or the words have literal meaning any longer.”

Try this,  keep residents abreast of current affairs by reading the newspaper and discuss  what is happening in the world. 

Create reading circles , help stimulate conversation and inclusion of all.

How to Find Suitable Reading Material

Books chosen for read-aloud activities should be mainly literature-based, however other types of reading material is also necessary to attend to individual tastes.

Ask clients what type of stories, news, and poems they enjoyed reading and make a plan for the group session.

For clients who were never interested in reading books, see if you can spark their interest with books about hobbies, politics, current news, religion or cooking.

Suggested reading material:

• Poems – known and unknown poems
• Newspapers columns – Gossip & Gardening columns for example
• Short Stories – Covering a range to topics; Humour, Mysteries, Fables
• Historical tales
• Biographies – Presidents, scientists and other famous people
• Religious passages – Bible, Quran
• Personal letters and Celebration cards
• Catalogues – Clothes, furniture, pets
• Plays – Hamlet, Silas Marner, A Streetcar Named Desire
• TV Programs – Choose what to watch in the coming week
• Travel Brochures – Find places that clients visited
• Magazines – Specialty magazines: boats, fishing, motor-houses
• Comics – Borrow old style comics from libraries
• Recipe books – Very popular with some clients

Give it a try. Also audio books are useful.

And also.......................

Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub. 
Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free. 

You can join the group here -
.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup

I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-
 To get your free copy of our ebook: "10 Top Tips for Engaging and Stimulating Activities With The Elderly"

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

Wishing you all well and a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Love,

Ann Marie xxx 

Extracts from by Beth | Sep 28, 2015 | Ad-Lib Mondays, Empowerment, Reading Aloud to the Elderly 

Free Goodies Up For Grabs!!!!! Today Only !!!!!!

I have created a beautiful wall planner and diary for you! Just £10 for the pair. I can invoice you if that helps so you can get entered into the freebie draw I will be doing .

Up for grabs is a reminiscence box of goodies that you can use with your residents. I will doing the draw at 9pm tonight.

You have to be in it to win it. You can email at lovejoycentre@gmail.com.

Lots of love,

Ann Marie xxxxx