Activity Ideas

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We’ve all heard it said that laughter is the best medicine. And a good laugh feels great, too! Numerous studies demonstrate the positive effects of laughter in the nursing home. Here are just a few:

• Increases energy
• Provides natural pain relief
• Soothes anxiety
• Increases oxygen intake
• Improves sleep
• Decreases depression
• Fosters communication
• Improves circulation
• Promotes socialization
• Increases staff satisfaction
• Reduces blood pressure
• Lifts the spirits of those around us

[Read more…] about How To Add Laughter To The Nursing Home

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

I worked at the nursing home for about five years before our on-site children’s center opened. This allowed me to witness the amazing impact children have on the lives of nursing home residents. And it’s a two-way street; the residents benefit the kids just as much as the kids benefit the residents. Here’s how:

Residents have a positive impact on children:

• Kids learn to accept people who are living with disabilities and impairments.

• Children are less likely to display ageism when they grow up around multiple generations.

• Kids enjoy the extra unconditional love they receive from the residents.

[Read more…] about Benefits Of An On-site Children’s Center

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

As I explain in my previous post, sometimes it’s challenging to comply with food safety regulations when residents make food other people will eat. For this reason, baking mug cakes is a terrific activity. It’s easy to measure out the ingredients in advance, so each resident only handles the food they’ll eat themselves.

Activities that include baking are helpful to residents because they trigger memories and lead to reminiscing. They also use various senses, such as sight, smell, and taste. The scent of freshly baked food enhances the appetite, and residents feel a sense of accomplishment in the finished product.

[Read more…] about How To Make Easy & Delicious Mug Cakes

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

As I point out in my post about coupons for the military, our residents enjoy activities that involve giving to others. That’s why I encourage you to offer your residents the opportunity to take part in Operation Christmas Child.

Here’s what Operation Christmas Child is all about as quoted from their website:

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, demonstrates God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, shares the Good News of Jesus Christ. We collect and send simple shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to children affected by war, poverty, disaster, famine, and disease. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 146 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

[Read more…] about How To Participate In Operation Christmas Child

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

A favorite activity of residents living in our memory care unit is making collages from pictures clipped out of magazines. Besides having fun, I believe this project benefits our residents in several ways:

• Art projects that involve drawing or painting often intimidate residents. However, anyone can make a beautiful collage.

• The pictures trigger memories. When I ask a resident to tell me about a particular picture, they often recall a story about their childhood, family, or a joyful event in their life.

• This craft project is very inexpensive. (I’ll tell you more about that in a minute!)

• The collages spark conversations between residents as they compare pictures. They also laugh together when someone finds a particularly funny picture.

• Family members show interest in the pictures chosen by their loved one. The collages often trigger happy memories for them, too.

• When we hang the collages in the residents’ rooms, it sparks conversations between the residents and staff.

[Read more…] about How To Get Free Magazines For Craft Projects