Google Earth is an amazing tool for exploring all corners of the earth. During your next one-on-one, ask your resident where they grew up or what their favourite travel destination is. You can then pull up the location on Google Earth so they can experience the joy of being there again. Ask your resident to share their memories and stories with you as they reminisce!
Reading short stories to your residents in memory care can be a great way to spend some quality time together and engage them with a topic that holds personal significance to them. Search online for short stories that are relevant to your resident’s interests. For example, you might search for stories that are related to their hobbies or former profession. You can also use the Poetry Foundation to easily find poems about a certain activity or theme. Print them out or read them from a tablet the next time you spend 1-on-1 time together!
Jenga is a game of skill in which players build a tower of wooden blocks and take turns removing the blocks until someone makes the tower fall. Many people already know and love this game, but have you tried giant Jenga? Play the upscaled version with your residents to add some novelty and excitement to the classic game.
You can purchase giant Jenga sets, but if you know someone who’s handy, DIY giant Jenga is a great beginner woodworking project that can be made cheaply with recycled 2x4s. Here’s a guide!
Create beautiful framed artwork using pressed flowers that your residents can display in their rooms or gift to a loved one. You can purchase dried flowers on Amazon or from a craft store. If you have the time, you can also press your own. This would be a great way to recycle floral centerpieces or preserve a sentimental bouquet. Your residents can experiment with arranging the flowers to their liking and then glue them to a piece of coloured cardstock. Frame the piece for the finishing touch!
This mindfulness activity comes from Healing Forest! Help your residents connect with nature and practice gratitude to foster spiritual wellness.
Bring your residents to a park or nature trail and walk at a comfortable pace. Give everyone a copy of this gratitude scavenger hunt list from Simple Acres. While you walk, focus on your breathing, what you can observe in nature, and finding items from the list! By focusing on the positives, you can release negative thoughts and fill your heart with gratitude.
This fun lawn game can be played with the simplest items! All you need is a frisbee and a bin large enough for the frisbee to land in. Players stand at a distance from the bin or garbage can and try to throw the frisbee into it. You can award points for hitting the bin and for landing in it.
There’s also an official Kan Jam game available for purchase. This set comes with a slot in the can. If players can throw the frisbee through the slot, it’s an instant win!
Ladder ball or ladder golf is a fun lawn game that can easily be played indoors with enough space. The goal of the game is to throw two balls that are attached together with rope (bolas) so they wrap around the rungs of the ladder. Click here to watch a video explaining the rules. You can buy a ladder ball set on Amazon or check at a local sports store.
Sensory activities can reduce anxiety and evoke positive emotions in people of all ages. A sensory pouch is also known as a squish bag or sensory pad. They’re an easy, mess-free, and inexpensive way to create a relaxing sensory experience for your residents in memory care.
To make a sensory pouch, reinforce the sides of a medium-sized Ziploc bag with tape. Fill the bag with something like hair gel, shaving cream, sand, or paint. Add small, soft objects like buttons, beads, coins, or shells. Try to squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can when you seal it.
There are a couple of different routes you can take with sensory bags. You can make them with objects that can be sorted by colour. Or, you can put in nothing but paint to turn them into an art project. Click here for detailed instructions and a video tutorial on how to make sensory bags.
Have you ever tried making homemade ice cream? This easy recipe from Delish takes only 15 minutes to make. Just combine the ingredients in a resealable plastic bag. Your residents will need to shake the bag to make the ice cream form which some may need help with. Make sure you have your favourite toppings on hand to turn this activity into an ice cream social.
Salt dough is perfect for making realistic-looking starfish. To make the dough, all you need is flour, salt, and water. Click here for a recipe and detailed instructions.
To make the starfish, roll some dough into a ball and flatten it. Mark where the arms of the starfish would be and remove the extra dough. Use your hands to shape the starfish form. Add texture to the dough to make it look realistic. You can use a pencil or the bristles of a toothbrush if you don’t want to use something sharp. Let the dough air dry or bake them in the oven.
It’s up to you what you want to do with your starfish. You can paint them, string them together to make a garland, or put them in a jar with sand and seashells to make beautiful beach décor.
