It's time to think about VOTING!

With the Presidential election right around the corner, it is very important that we do not forget to provide an opportunity for those residents, who are able to do so, to VOTE!

To get started...simply contact your local City Hall. They typcially are able to direct teams in beginning the process.

If you have questions please do not hesistate to call me at: 612.751.0223.

Thanks so much,
Katie

National Assisted Living Week is right around the corner!

**PLEASE SEND PHOTOS FROM YOUR EVENTS THIS WEEK...WE, AT THE GOODMAN GROUP, WOULD LOVE TO SEE!

National Assisted Living Week
September 7th-13th 2008

This year's theme: Filling Life with Love

Ideas/Activity Suggestions for the week:

Sunday, September 7th: National Grandparent's Day-Host a Grandparent's Pancake Breakfast. Send invites to the residents encouraging them to bring their grandchildren, and their families, RSVPs needed. Serve heart shaped pancakes, which advertise and officially kick off the theme for the week, have a harpist playing background music, door prizes, etc. All residents and families are welcome regardless if they have grandchildren. Collaborate with your Marketing Dept. so that resources can be maximized and prospective residents welcomed as well. (this could be your family event for the week)

Monday: Photograph Frenzy- There's no better way to show how one's life has been filled with love than to share favorite photos. Encourage residents to bring a favorite photo, or 2 to share with the group. After every one is done sharing take a photo of the group and have copies made for everyone who participated (place them in nice frames) emphasizing new friendships and memories that are being created at your facility.

Tuesday: Fill your Life with Love Bake Sale-Many of us show others how much we care by baking goodies and sharing timeless recipes. Advertise weeks ahead of time asking families/staff to volunteer by baking an "ever so loved" family dessert, as well as, gather a group of residents and decide up 4-5 of their favorite desserts which the activity team will assist them in making for the bake sale. Instead of selling these items have those who come to enjoy a treat wear a heart shaped sticker for the rest of the day which says, " (insert facility name) is SWEET on me!" (or something like that :))

Wednesday: Valentine's in September-Who doesn't smile when they receive a card? Give all residents a brown bag, or shoe box (depending on how many residents you have), write their name and room number on them, display them in the lobby or common area, leave out cards, markers, etc... encouraging residents to create a Valentine card for a neighbor or 2. Leave the bags out for the day, and have the residents pick up before they go to dinner. The activity staff should make sure that all residents have a card in their bag before the event is over. Watch the smiles unfold at dinner.

Thursday: For the Love of Books-Host a local day care or school age group. Have the class divide into small groups, ask for resident volunteers to read a short book or 2 to the children. Depending on the size of the group, have a take away, purchase small books at a local store for the children to take home and share with their family. Have a resident inscribe a short message inside each book's cover, reminding the child how important it is to read.

Friday: Music of the Heart Marathon-For so many of our residents music has played a big role in their lives. Talk to your favorite musicians, and inquire as to if they would donate a half hour of their time to play for the residents. See how many back to back musical events you can line up. Integrate in a sing-a-long incorporating favorite melodies that everyone likes to sing, a patriotic program focusing on Veteran's in your facility, as well as a spiritual program (perhaps a hymn sing led by a volunteer church group or a chaplain).

Please let me know if you need any assistance planning events, I would be more than willing to assist you. Also, for a complete planning guide go to: http://www.nalw.org/

Horse Racing at Terracina Grand a HUGE Success!

What a fun game! We set up the horse track at the front of the Forum during Happy Hour, as we always attract a large crowd.

After setting up six big round tables for the residents, we play several variations of the game. I start by doing individual games, where residents bet on the horse they want. They pay $1 for a bet, and I give them the number of horse they bet on. 6 horses total. After gathering all bets, we begin the race. There are 2 dice and 16 spaces on the board "horse track." Then I have someone roll the dice. Each time the dice comes up, it tells you which horse advances 1 space. So if a 2 and 6 come up on the dice, then horse 2 and 6 move forward one space. If you have double 3’s, then horse 3 moves 2 spaces. Once one of them reaches the end, that’s the end of the game, and we split up the jack pot depending on who had the winning horse. At the end, the winner takes all (if several residents bet on the same horse, then we split the winnings).

Another variation would be to award 2nd and 3rd place as well. I do this especially when I have a big crowd. We then move to team games. We have 6 six horses, and six big tables set up, so it works out great. Each table then gets a horse, and what cheering we have. I sing the horse racing noise into the microphone, and we’re off. It’s even more fun, when our director comes in to roll the dice. The teams begin cheering for their horses until the finish line. Sometimes we play the team variation just for the thrill of winning, with no money, and other times the players all add $1 for whoever wants to bet at that table, and which ever team wins, we divide it up for those that participated. I have found that this game is another way to have a great time. The more I’m into it, the more the residents are!


Sandy Steinbach
Activities Director
Terracina Grand

Veteran's Club Request...

It's time to update some of the Veteran's Club material that was distributed via the Activity Reference Manual approximately 1 year ago. I guessed this would be the perfect time to begin as we are going to be celebrating Memorial Day on May 26th and many of you will be involving your Veteran's Club.

Would you please email me activities you currently offer or have offered for Veterans living in your facility. I look forward to gathering and distributing new Veteran's Club related ideas to each of the activity teams in the near future.

Remember...

“Our purpose as a (Veteran's) club is to remember, to reconnect, to reminisce, to remind, to represent, to revitalize, to reach out, to recognize and to rejoice in our freedoms!

To remember those who gave the ultimate gift for our freedoms;

To reconnect with those who served to secure and maintain our freedoms;

To reminisce about the time and sacrifices dedicated to preserve our freedoms;

To represent the essence to our freedoms;

To revitalize our spirits and minds through fellowship and education;

To reach out to our Veterans, their spouses, and family members when needed;

To recognize the continued contributions of Veterans to their community;

And to rejoice in our freedoms because Life is Good.”

gms-2/04

Volunteer Appreciation Events Held Across the Country

Many of you recognized and celebrated the volunteers in your facilities in April during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. We continue to value, honor, and support the volunteers that are committed to providing services for our residents. Thank you for your efforts as you worked hard to recognize their talents and hard work!

*Enjoy a summary and some pictures of the Volunteer Appreciation Event at Miramont Pointe in Portland, Oregon.

Shelly Barley, Activity Director, wrote:

We had a great Volunteer Recognition Event at Miramont Pointe during April, which is Volunteer Month. We recognized over 40 volunteers including Community volunteers, Teen Volunteers, In-house Volunteers and our Resident Council members. The theme of our event was, volunteers the heart of the community. Each volunteer was recognized by name with a short description of their volunteer duties. We gave each volunteer a mini tote bag that said “Volunteers the Heart of the Community” on it with a water bottle, a volunteer lapel pin, a pad and pen set, and a granola bar in it. They were so happy with their gifts. We also recognized a volunteer of the year, Audrey Staats who lives at Miramont. We had our own Miramont Pointe Singers (Choral Group) perform a couple numbers and a couple sing-a-long numbers. We also had some wonderful hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. What a fun party and a great opportunity to thank our volunteers. They said they felt so appreciated and special, and that’s what it is all about.

National Nurse's Week May 6th-12th

The theme for National Nurses Week is

Nurses: Making a Difference Every Day

Don't forget to send a BIG thank you to the nursing/clinical team that you work with. We appreciate the support and assistance they provide to the activity teams. We couldn't do it without them!