A penny for your thoughts please

Savvy_Sue

A friend has just moved into one of these complexes and they have a coffee morning at which the non-resident warden shares information and tries to find out what people want. Then she asks who wants to go down the pub for lunch.

They have a gardening sub-committee and some residents enjoy working on the garden. Need to get clear guidelines in place with this: they have a gardener (paid) but they mustn't create too much work for him, so nothing too labour intensive!

Keep Fit at a gentler pace or from a chair might be well received, especially one for the chaps.

Talks: maybe some of them would like to share their experiences? Reminiscence sessions.

Is there a local school who'd like to come in and sing carols? Would some of them like to attend a local carol service?

A tea dance!

Don't expect everyone to want to do everything! My friend is still working, so while she wants to get to know her neighbours she isn't dependent on them for outside stimulation.

Marg

Not a communal activity, as such, but some of the residents may be the oldest members of their families and may be interested in passing on their family history to others.

You could get someone from the local library to advise on research use of computers for those who want to do a family tree, others might be prompted to write their experiences/interesting snippets in a journal/scrapbook. This could follow on from the reminiscences session as suggested by Savvy Sue.

Witsend_2

You have confirmed that my thoughts on this it's just so nice to know that I am on the right track.

Thank you all again for your help:A I just need to get the job now;)

balmaiden

I Worked with the elderly for many years, part of my job was to provide so called "Healthy Living." A quick list of things that we chose to do and was enjoyed

Qizzes covering questions from 1st world war to modern day.

Many competitive games such as scrabble and chess.

Card games, whist and rummy being the most poular.

Of course many many craft sessions covering card making,xmas ornament making knitting crocheting etc etc

Art "lessons" simply providing the materials and encouragement.

Simple keep fit including warm up and warming down and mostly done in the chair.

Old fashioned parlour games. One that was loved was give a letter eg "A" then have 5-10 catagories such as a river, famous person etc answer as many as you can in a given time. Many more like this which stimulated the memory. Some clients used to come and tell me "answers" days later as they had been mulling things over.

That is just a brief snapshot of what was enjoyed by both men and woman.

I forgot, they also liked to entertain each other. Gven a microphone many would sing and/or tell jokes, recite poemsetc. They loved karaoki as well .surprising what modern day songs an 85 year old knows!

Witsend_2

Thank you balmaiden for your advice I must admit we have a Karaoke machine that we have used once and I was thinking that would be a laugh. I love the parlour games I was thinking of 'I went shopping and bought...'

I also have a few off the wall ideas like Antiques valuation day and possibly a weekly farmers market also a weekly wash and oil/water car check as part of the ethos is to share and include local residents.

I really appreciate all your thoughts and hope that my application is strong enough for me to be invited for an interview, the advert has another week to run so fingers crossed x x

Errata

First of all, good luck with your application - fingers crossed.

My mum would have been 89 now and I've been thinking about what songs and singers she'd be singing along to. For her, it would have been Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Alma Cogan, and very, very little Vera Lynn and 'wartime' songs. She certainly knew all the words and would singalong with me to my Elvis, Bill Haley, Everley Brothers records.
I've noticed when I visit a care home and their having singalong session that the songs would be more familiar to the residents parents than the residents themselves, if you see what I mean.

It would be worth thinking about the backgrounds of the people in the complex. The interests and needs of people with a background in say the armed services with officer rank, or the widows of professional men would be very different to those of manual or shop workers.
HTH

Witsend_2

Errata thanks for your advice I was thinking that everyone enjoys last night of the proms (my St Georges Day Celebrations suggestion), Elvis well doesn't everyone? Also I thought I would throw in a bit of ABBA (for the young hippy chicks) as their music is often played. Def Frank with Mac the Knife, My Way etc and Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Bing. However, I take on board your point and I need to do some research once I have found the full extent of the age group.

tealady

Hi I would also check out the local library to see what groups are active in the area as some people may enjoy getting out to meet fresh faces. You could put a few leaflets on the notice board.
A weekly trip to a local library to change books, music and talking books could be another idea. Add it to a shopping trip or visit to a coffee shop.
If you get the job I would be very tempted to move in!

Savvy_Sue

One thing to be aware of is that there will always be the 'awkward squad' - you get them at any age, where whatever is on offer is not what they want, or not at the time they want, or not at the level they want etc. So showing an awareness of how to meet their needs too might be worthwhile. A couple of points, one is that they may genuinely not WANT additional activities, and the other is that involving them in organisation rather than organising on their behalf may be the way to go.

EG my mother organises the whist drive at a local day centre which she and my dad use regularly. NOTHING stops her being there, because she's needed. She attends a few other activities but often 'gives up' on things, especially if 'talks' are involved, simply because she can't hear (or says she can't hear).

Just randomly adding other things she and dad have organised: Knit and Natter (the knitting is optional), other 'crafty' meetings (again, the craft is optional), regular trips by minibus to Sainsbury's, Lidl etc. Those last ones are a real boon for those who don't drive or 'do' internet shopping because getting the cat food in would be a real problem!

Witsend_2

Hi I just wanted to share my good news with you I am so excited as this morning my lovely postie brought me a letter inviting me to an interview:j

Ooooh I'm so thrilled it's a lunch with the residents and relatives selection panel and other members of staff along with other applicants:eek:.

They have requested that I take two items with me something that holds happy memories so I'm taking a picture of my Nan with a poem that I wrote for her. The other is something that represents me as a person and that I would use in my work as an activities facilitator. Well, as there is nothing that really sums me up and what I hope to bring to the job I have decided to make a doll just out of paper to highlight the importance of the role.

I thought the following
Big ears - good listener
Big eyes - able to recognise when someone feels down/ needs help
Big heart - love and kindness
In one hand a screwdriver & paint brush - practical and creative
In the other money - fund raising and charity donations
An apron - protection, health & safety
Expanding arms - giving, big enough for everyone
Odd stripy tights - acknowledging that I can get it wrong at times/ listen to feedback
Wellies with rollerskates on - gardening/ outdoor activities/ Fun
A flower - floristry
A poppy - respect for everyone
A big smile - approachable

I hope that you like my idea, I think that it might make an impression a good one I hope any thoughts? I would love to hear them.

Thanks for all your help and support this could be the start of something wonderful for me fingers crossed :j