A list of ideas to support engagement in your community, contributed by the experts in the field, it could be you!
Activity Director Resources
Contributed by: NCCAP
www.NCCAP.com
Long-term care communities and their Activity / Life Enrichment Departments are being affected by the COVID-19 virus by having to limit group programming. NCCAP would like to share the following resources for in-room activity programming.
https://www.nccap.org/covid-19-activity-director-resources
AMDA Update on COVID-19
Contributed by: AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
www.paltc.org
During this crisis, AMDA is providing long-term care providers with a variety of tools and resources. Included in their resources are several directly related to the challenge of combating isolation including the following:
Tools
Activities That Older Adults Can Do From Home
Strategies for Mitigating the Emotional Impact of COVID-19
Caring for PALT Residents with Dementia During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Podcast
Mitigating Emotional Impact of COVID-19 with Dr. Lea Watson, MD
Click here to access their webpage, AMDA Up-date on COVID-19
Truths for Communicating in Times of Crisis
Contributed by: The Team of Drive: Outcomes Through Culture
www.cultureoutcomes.com
Video series
Nine Truths About Communicating in Times of Crisis
1. Find Your Team
2. Create Talking Points
3. Resident Communication
4. Spreading Hope Through Communication
5. Aligning Leaders
… more to come
Share Love Not Germs campaign
– Anchoring
– Mantra Meditation
– Positive Affirmations
– Dealing with Negative Thoughts
– Gratitude Jar
– Releasing Tension
Both series are available via YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Provider Wins
The team at Drive has pooled together the best things they are hearing that are happening in senior living during this challenging time.
Click here to see the list of Provider Wins
Tools to Support Empowerment & Communication
Contributed by: AGEcate Training Institute
www.AGEucate.com
Techniques used in Compassionate Touch® provide helpful tips for centering and making connections with individuals living with dementia
Communication: Making a Connection
Dementia Live® provides help with understanding caregiver turnout during these challenging times.
Empowerment Tool for Caregiver Burnout
Brain Exercises
Contributed by: Total Brain Health (TBH)
www.totalbrainhealth.com
“TBH Quiet the Mind” series on Facebook, a variety of stress-relieving activities everyone can do on their own at home. You are invited to use these exercises in whatever way can best serve your community.
“TBH On Demand” cognitive training at home, a complimentary 6-class pre-recorded online brain coaching program hosted by Dr. Cynthia Green. (Worksheets to extend the training are found in the description below the video.)
Ideas for Engagement
Contributed by: Jenni Dill, Life Engagement Specialist, Anthem Memory Care, Aurora, Colorado
- Pen Pals virtual or snail mail
- Video diaries from high school students – emphasis on asking elders for advice and input
- Daily text/photo updates to families – Elders/families divided up amongst leadership team members to keep this communication manageable
- Skype virtual activities – play an instrument, tell jokes, read a story, lead a bible study, canvas and cocktails, cooking demo, etc. Partnering with our intergenerational communities as well as encouraging and empowering families to provide this engagement for their loved ones. (sending ideas and sign-up sheet through SignUpGenius)
- Multiplayer games – virtual Wii tournaments, multiplayer online games (hangman, tic tac toe, crossword puzzles, etc.),
- Collaborative TimeSlips virtual story telling
- Virtual Music! Skype concerts, Drumming & Rhythm Circle, youth recitals
- Scenic Drives/Sightseeing Tours (our Elders, our staff, our van, no social contact).
- Students doing a virtual tour of their campus/homes via FaceTime, GoPro
- I have a group coming dressed up as superheroes to clean the windows on the outside of our community, pick up trash, etc.
- Ramping up Facebook posts for our community to keep family and friends informed about the great things happening within our community while they are not able to visit
Creating a Timeline
Contributed by: Memory Well
www.memorywell.com
Looking for a safe family activity to do with grandparents during the COVID19 crisis? MemoryWell is offering FREE digital life timelines. Families can gather virtually & build a life story with photos, music and videos and learn about their family history. https://www.memorywell.com/family.html
Ideas from the Field
Contributed by: Attendees at the Planetree Webinar
“Let’s Talk about Person-Centered Care During Pandemic”
Cards and Letters
Contributed by: Social Call Program – A Covia Community Service
Do you have residents who are looking for ways to find meaningful things to do during these challenging times? How about sending cheerful, handwritten cards to other Elders! Covia has a program that can support
Options for participating in this program:
- One time:
- I can send 10 cards this week, and provide my own stamps.
- I can send 50 or more cards this week, and request help with postage.
- I can do even more! Let’s chat!
- Ongoing:
- I can send 10 cards per week, and provide my own stamps, for the duration of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates for the US.
- I/my group can send 25 or more cards per week, and request help with postage, for the duration of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates for the US.
- I can do even more! Let’s chat!
Click here for more information or contact the team at Covia if you are interested in participating Social Calls Program. Spread the word, and help us make a difference in someone’s life today!
877-797-7299 or coviaconnections@covia.org
Preference Assessment | Honoring Resident Preferences During Quarantine
Contributed by: PELI
https://preferencebasedliving.com/
Please click here to access the Tip Sheet
Technology as an Alternative to Personal Visits
Contributed by: The Team at iN2L (It’s Never 2 Late)
The team at iN2L knows that through the use of technology, we can help provide reassurance and comfort to residents and their loved ones when in-person visits are restricted.
IN2L Tip Sheet has information on popular websites and ideas for supporting social engagement.
A Fun Idea During Social Distancing
Contributed by: Susan Ostrowski
www.Reading2Connect.com
Susan shares information about Simultaneous Presence Therapy (SPT) as well as information on a site to access communication aides.
Click here to access the tip sheet: A Fun Idea During Social Distancing