Archive for April, 2010

Arranging flowers picked in the garden

Visiting a friend or relative at their care home can bring a lot of joy. Still, we don’t always know ‘what to do’.  The National Association of Providers of Activities (NAPA) put together a litst of ‘101 things to’ and we adapted it ever so slightly….

1. Talk about what you have been doing since your last visit…
2. Bring photos of family and friends – from days gone by or recent snaps….
3. Create a photo album, frame photos or make a photo collage….
4. Make a special scrapbook, based on personal life history….
5. Help write or tape an autobiography….
6. Share favourite stories and memories…
7. Bring holiday snaps, souvenirs, postcards, even maps and tales of your Journey….
8. Read newspapers and magazines aloud to keep your relatives in touch…
9. Jointly look at magazines with large colourful pictures………
10. Subscribe to relative’s hometown newspaper and bring it along…
11. Read religious or inspirational articles, magazines or books…
12. Read letters from family and friends…
13. Bring messages from family and friends recorded on tape….
14. Bring videotape greetings from family and friends…
15. Help with writing or taping letters and cards…
16. Find a pen pal and help with the project….
17. Create collage poster with pictures cut from magazines…
18. Bring articles related to the season or next holiday to talk about…
19. Have an indoor picnic while visiting….
20. Enjoy a favourite food or beverage which you have specially bought….
21. If you play an instrument offer to do a private concert….
22. Try teaching simple tunes on an instrument…..
23. Sing….hum….together…
24. Play ‘name that tune’ with CDs, tapes, or music on the radio…
25. Listen to music together….
26. Play charades..
27. Wind yarn together for knitting project…
28. Work on a craft project together…..
29. Try drafting or painting together….
30. Make simple gifts for grandchildren…
31. Bring along your sowing basket…button box…..tool kit…to organise together….
32. Bring a bird feeder or bird house to hand outside….
33. Bring book on birds for bird watching….
34. Bring out the mending to do while you visit…
35. Brush, comb, or style your relatives hair…
36. Pamper with make-up, perfume, aftershave, or a manicure…
37. Ask your relative for help in planning your garden & look thru a seed catalogue
38. Plant and look after an indoor window-sill garden together…
39. Create a terrarium together which requires very little care….
40. Play word & trivial games together….
41. Play card, table & board games together….
42. Hold your own tournament or competition and keep running tally of scores…
43. Do crossword puzzles together…
44. Do jigsaw puzzles together….
45. Watch TV together and discuss programmes you’ve seen…
46. Keep up with soaps that your relative watches & discuss…
47. Rent a video tape of an old favourite movie or musical and watch together….
48. Have a session of retail therapy and do some shopping together…..
49. When possible take your relative shopping…..
50. Bring recipes to explore….
51. Bring along a treat you know your relative likes….
52. Go window shopping locally or through a fancy catalogues…..
53. Give a gentle massage using aromatherapy scented oils…..
54. Bring items to stimulate the sense of smell…spices, perfumes or flowers…..
55. Bring different textured fabrics to touch: silk cashmere, velvet etc…..
56. Show slides of recent holidays…..
57. Bring home movies made with camcorder…..
58. Bring grandchildren’s artwork or school papers…
59. Bring a pet to visit….
60. Bring a pet which can stay such as fish….
61. Start a collection or hobby you both enjoy….
62. Invite other residents who share the same hobby to join in….
63. Do physical exercises together…
64. Read a chapter of a novel or a few poems when you visit….
65. Write poetry or a short story together…..
66. Look at and listen to an old-fashioned music box….
67. Make a “joy box” (decorated shoe box) filled with fun and favourite things…..
68. Discuss seasonal changes looking out the window…..
69. Keep a “window diary” of interesting things that happen outside….
70. Keep a Journal of interesting discussion and upcoming events….
71. Make a pot-pourri  together & hang it up to keep the room sweet smelling….
72. Tell jokes to one another……bring along a joke book to keep it going…..
73. Help with writing letters to family and friends…..
74. Surprise your relative and bring along one of their old friends for a visit….
75. Take photos to send to friends and family…..
76. Take a walk together – The Devon Court hotel is just across the road and has a lovely sea-view…..
77. Bring along grand-children and enjoy watching them play…..
78. Bring a baby or small child occasionally…..
79. Help them make items for charity….
80. Celebrate holidays together in home or outside when possible
81. Keep track of favourite sporting events and teams…
82. Learn a new word or words whenever you visit….
83. Challenge your relative in a spelling contest…..
84. Play along with TV game shows or develop your own…..
85. Dance or tap your feet, to your relatives favourite dance music….
86. Bring a travel book or brochure to dream about a fantasy holiday…..
87. Use small rhythm instruments to make your own music….
88. Read the astrology column in a daily paper and talk about it….
89. Play naughts and crosses or similar games…
90. Talk about local landmarks and how the community has changed…..
91. Make a list of relatives’ favourite foods, films, movie stars, music etc..
92. Talk about what you both would do if you win the lottery…..
93. Design and make your own Christmas and holiday cards to send….
94. Toss cards into a hat….
95. Hold your relatives hand and be a good listener….
96. Try your hand at drawing each other’s portraits when possible….
97. With closed eyes see if your relative can guess different flavours you supply….
98. Talk about nursey rhymes and sounds from their childhood….
99. Work on a latch hook rug while you sit and talk…
100. Give a hug and affection when arriving and leaving….