Encouragement of interpersonal skills.

Provision of sensorial stimulation.

1) To make the song cards: Type the names of songs in A4 paper in large fonts so your residents are able to read it. You can fit 6 songs in each sheet of paper comfortable (or less, it depends on the size of your font). You may use the Ulverscroft Song Book to choose the titles.
(If you work in a culturally diverse facility it would be advisable to choose some songs your residents can identify with such as Volare, Santa Lucia, Amapola, Hava-Nagila, Never on Sundays or any other famous songs from the countries your residents comes from. If you can not find the lyrics for those songs encourage the residents to participate by humming the melody.)

Once the songs have been typed separate them with a texta and laminate them to make it easier to handle and to last longer.

2) Cut retangular strips of cardboard to cover the songs, as many as necessary. If you have 6 songs titles on the A4 you will cut 6 strips of 5cm in width and 20cm long.

3) Cut 50 pieces of square cardboard (15cm by 15cm) and write on each one the name of a song from your list.

How to play the game:

a)      Give each resident a song card plus 6 retangular strip of cardboard to cover the songs as the game progresses.

b)      The Diversional Therapist or Activities Officer places all the square cardboards facing down in front of her on a table. She turns one up and says the name of the song loud and clear.

c)      After all residents ascertain whether they have the music and cover the the title with the retangular strip, the musician and all those present sing the song. If you don’t have a musician, play the CD. The sing-along is very important.

d)  Give out prizes for the winners (small bag of  marshmallows or freddo chocolate).

Eye-hand coordination practice
Fine motor skill exercise

A couple of boxes of beads, separated into medium and large sizes. Tip: go to a second hand shop and buy wooden and plastic necklaces to be pulled apart for use. Alternately there are various shapes of pasta that can be strung.

Demonstrate how to make it, show one neck lace done previously.
Give client a choice of large or medium beads, depending on skill.
Start them up by stringing the first bead and inviting them to do the next.
Put box of beads away if that is distracting or confusing them and hand them 2 or 3 beads at the time. (Attention: Supervision is necessary at all times)

The resident should be encouraged to reminisce and sing-along with you. However even if interaction is not possible due to medical diagnosis use to the same process of talking to the resident and  explaining what you are playing next. You will be surprised at the shift of alertness and kin eye contact and smiles in some of the residents. If you get that sort of reaction you have achieved your goal.

v     a teddy bear,

v      roses,

v     dust shovel,

v     a packet of tea,

v     a wedding veil, and

v     Soft toy dog.

v     The Teddy Bear’s Picnic,

v     Roses of Picardy/Rose of Tralee,

v      My Old Man is a Dustman,

v     Tea for Two,

v      How Much is that Dog in the Window.

Do not feel discouraged if at first there is little response, it pays to persevere in my experience. For variety, point out colours in the resident’s clothes and ask them to remember songs with those colours. Blue Danube, Red Sails in the Sunset, Green leaves and so on. As with all activities there should be a starting and a finishing point, so residents can look forward to the next session. Half an hour to 45 minutes is adequate.

1. Start activity by filling pots and demonstrating planting a seedling or small cutting. You will be surprised how they will get involved in this activity with minimum guidance.
   
   
2. Encourage them to water pots and other plants around facility.
   
   
3. Encourage them to reminisce about they own garden, talk about plants and vegetables they use to plant.
   
   
4. Provide a light weight wheelbarrow for carrying a few pots.

1. Show the pictures one by one to residents and ask them to guess the name of each person.


2. Provide clues where necessary


3. Once the person's name has been guessed correctly, reminisce with residents about this person.

1. Place residents in a large circle well apart from each other lest they hit their neighbours with the rackets.
   
2. Inflate 3 or four balloons and start the game.


3. Make sure that some happy music is playing to add energy to the game. (see music recommendations).

1. A loaf of bread and some butter to make 'sandwiches'.
   
   
2. Dusting tables and shelves encourage 'being helpful'.
   
   
3. Folding kitchen towels assist with reminiscing.


4. Sweeping floors or raking leaves.


5. Drying cutlery and chopping seasonal vegetables (top and tailing beans and shelling peas).


6. Peeling hard boiled eggs.