利用者:MiloDuck340
The Importance of Nursing Home Activities
Many people think a nursing home is a nasty, soul-less place where residents either lie during sex or sit endlessly in a rocking chair, waiting out their days before the inevitable happens. The truth - a minimum of in a good nursing home - is far from that. Lots of people enter a nursing facility when they have plenty of life inside them yet, and look toward many years of fun and companionship, with daily activities to keep both their health and brains active.
Actually, studies have shown that regular stimulating activities help half a decline in depression among nursing home residents, staving off dementia and keeping their spirits as well as their bodies alive. Activities are essential to maintaining residents' mental and physical well-being, and even staff and visiting friends and family can take part - willingly - within the activities a good nursing home provides.
If you are looking to locate a nursing home for any loved one who's still capable of loving life, it's important that you find out what types of activities are on offer - and just how often they are available. Actually, nursing facilities that take Medicare or Medicaid patients need to have a designated activities director to find the proper funding. But how well they carry out their job is one thing you will have to assess yourself...
"I think the residents I speak with who tell me there is nothing to allow them to do but sleep, eat and browse the paper are searching for purpose to get up every day," writes Vicki30CNA on the allnurses.com website. "They don't anticipate the following day as they all run together. And our residents that are not as able get little to no stimulation besides toileting and shower. Several fold bibs every AM and see it as being their 'job', but that job takes them a half hour. Then what, they tell me. I personally don't like to see their last years months days so empty and without purpose. "
If you wish to avoid this from happening to a person you love, read on. A wide variety of activities ought to be on offer at every nursing home, so make sure this is the case when it comes to an elderly care facility. Some residents may enjoy heading out for lunch many times per week, shopping or visiting the local art gallery or cinema. Others will prefer on-site activities that stimulate their hearts and minds.
It might be a good idea to make an appointment with the elderly care activities director to determine what's available. Here is just a number of activities that the good nursing home should willingly provide...
Self-Starting Activities
Great as they require little preparation and may be planned through the residents themselves. They include:
Gardening. Based on residents' scope of mobility and interest, gardening can be as rigorous or as gentle as they want it to be. If there is a real garden that's fantastic, otherwise then hanging baskets, small pots of herbs and indoor cactus or orchid collections can still keep the interest going.
Crafts and arts. Even older residents enjoy making something - especially when they think it's going to a great cause. Knitting blankets, making baby clothes or entering art or photographic contests can keep people busy and enable them to make a contribution to society at the same time.
Games. You may think bingo is easily the most popular nursing home game - and you are right. There is however more to competitive games than just bingo. How about bridge, mah-jong, canasta or chess - there is no limit. One-on-one games are ideal for encouraging closer relationships among residents, and group games are also good for fostering a feeling of community.
Musical-based activities. Don't limit the enjoyment to sing-alongs - you may even have professional musicians among the residents, or you may discover some hidden talents.
Volunteer-led Activities
Nail care, Bible study, beauty salon day - you just need a volunteer with a skill - and also the time to really make a difference in someone's life.
School groups. It may sound cliched, but young people have a lot to learn from oldsters. This could go ahead and take form of Granny teaching little Albertine to knit, or visiting a school once a week and reading to the little ones. Many schools, in fact, encourage people externally - assuming they have been police-checked - to help kids who need a bit extra with one-to-one reading or math exercises.
Neighborhood groups. Those who have a special talent often enjoy visiting nursing facilities on a regular basis and sharing their skills. This can be giving residents massages or reflexology sessions, teaching them a unique aspect about gardening, or giving a discuss growing orchids.
Scout groups. Often, scout troops visit nursing facilities - gathering together to behave fun for example bake chocolate-chop cookies or develop a birdhouse. The two groups can learn from one another and make utilization of each other's skills and skills.
Local charities. People from charities often give their time to seniors, whether that means preparing outings or having a Pet Therapy day when the local vet or employees in the pet shelter bring animals to visit.
Nursing Home-Led Activities
Themed events, such as birthdays or religious celebrations. Some creative residents get together with staff to plan events such as Hawaiian nights, Chinese Year celebrations or Halloween or Thanksgiving festivities. Friends and family could be invited to participate - perhaps even residents of neighboring nursing facilities as well.
Outdoor activities such as barbecues, picnics or perhaps a stroll via a park or garden center. In some cases volunteers might be called onto help residents with mobility issues.
A bit of culture. Visiting the theatre, opera, museum or cinema can take some planning, but its worth it. Again, volunteer helpers and drivers might be necessary.
Alternative therapies. Everyone is able to benefit - so long as they are not too invasive. Massage, yoga or Tai Chi might help residents have fun, get fit and relax.
Keeping people as happy and healthy as possible for as long as possible. both mentally and physically, ought to be the goal of every elderly care. Activities should be varied and interesting, suited to the various abilities, needs and interests from the residents. They must be not only fun but worthwhile, enabling residents to form new relationships, develop new skills, and up their fitness levels.
"We possess a 'senior prom' in May, where the local single Marines escort our residents (wheelchairs and all) for dancing and food, writes CoachCathy around the allnurses.com site. "We have gowns and suits donated through the local thrift stores. Local hair parlors come and perform the hair and nails. All of us have a great time.
"And we had a Winter wonderland theme last December - we made snowmen with diaper boxes painted white - and had a snowman decorating contest. The residents had an indoor snowball fight (with cotton balls). It had been a lot fun!"