Posts Tagged ‘national assisted living week’
3 Ways to Celebrate National Assisted Living Week
National Assisted Living Week is an annual holiday in which we take a week during the month of September to honor the residents in assisted living, as well as recognize the value our assisted living staff provides, not only to the residents for whom they are caring, but to the community as a whole. Each year the week has a different theme, and this year, the theme is Compassion, Community, Caring.
Because National Assisted Living Week is an opportunity to celebrate both assisted living staff and the residents they serve, we thought this would be a great opportunity to share some ideas about how you can celebrate National Assisted Living Week with both staff and residents of your local assisted living community.
Adopt a Resident
Many residents of assisted living communities have either lost touch with their family members or even outlived them, which can leave them feeling lonely and isolated. One of the best ways to celebrate National Assisted Living Week is to adopt a resident in your local assisted living community and visit them regularly so they have someone to talk to and they do not have to feel so isolated.
Remember to take some time to show your appreciation for the staff who are taking care of your adopted resident. It could be a small gift or treat, or just a sincere thank you when you come for your visits.
Share Photos
Photos are one of the best ways to save and share memories. The traditional method of presenting a framed photo is always nice, but these days you also have the option of having the photo printed onto a pillow, a blanket, or even clothing.
If you have a loved one in assisted living (or you have adopted a resident) a great way to celebrate both the resident and the staff is to take a picture of the resident with one or more of their caretakers. Then you can print multiple copies of the picture and present one copy to the resident and another copy to their caretaker(s).
Create Art Together
Art projects are always a great activity to do in groups. They allow you to express yourself while having a good time with other people. You can invite both staff and residents of your local assisted living community to participate in your art project. You can paint rocks with inspirational quotes, or paint flower pots to brighten someone’s day. Encourage both the staff and residents to create a piece of artwork they can then exchange to express their appreciation for one another.
At Stillwater Senior Living, we plan all kinds of activities to keep our residents engaged, giving them opportunities to interact with each other, as well as our staff. We get excited about National Assisted Living Week each and every year, and this year is no different, especially with all the challenges we have faced throughout the year. If you are wondering what we have planned for National Assisted Living Week this year, just reach out.
National Assisted Living Week
Every day we work to help our residents live the best lives possible, and while we’re always grateful for the opportunity to work with these incredible people, once a year there’s a week in which we get to really celebrate our jobs.
This year that week is starting on September 9thand going through September 15th. It’s the 23rdannual National Assisted Living Week, which was established by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) to provide opportunities for residents, their friends and family, staff, and volunteers to recognize the role assisted living plays in caring for older Americans and those with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia.
Each year, National Assisted Living Week has a theme and this year’s theme is “Capture the Moment.” The theme has a few goals, including inspiring residents to seize the day and realize their dreams, while also encouraging staff and volunteers to think of the short moments and small interactions with residents as the ones that really define their care. Finally, this theme will hopefully help the country at large to realize that, contrary to popular belief, those living in assisted living have not yet reached the end of the line.
While the wordplay in the title of this year’s theme intentionally evokes thoughts of photography and videography, it’s not just about capturing today’s moments. It’s also about providing an opportunity for residents to look back over their lives at the things they’ve seen and done and experienced, as well as the people they’ve known. Photos and videos can be a great way to help residents accomplish this, especially those with degenerative diseases who might not be able to remember some of the most significant moments in their lives.
If you’re looking for activities for your assisted living community to do to celebrate this year’s National Assisted Living Week, we’ve got you covered:
Portable cameras
Arm everyone with a camera: residents, visitors, and staff. You can either use disposable cameras and then take them in to get the film developed, or you can use polaroid cameras so everyone can see the results immediately. It’s best to stick to physical cameras, rather than smart phones, since many older people don’t know how to use smart phones properly and could get confused.
But everyone knows how to use a physical camera and polaroids give the added pleasure of watching the picture come to life before your eyes. On the other hand, disposable cameras are just as easy to use, cost effective, and the delay in getting to see the photos provides extra joy as everyone gets to see photos they don’t even remember taking – or they do remember, but the picture didn’t turn out quite like they thought it would.
Drawing
You can think outside the box when it comes to “capture the moment” and capture it with pencil and paper instead of a camera. This might be difficult for some of the older residents, but it could be fun for the more artistically inclined staff and visitors to draw residents and share the results.
Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking is a great way to reminisce. It gives residents a chance to think about their lives as a story as they organize their scrapbooks by grouping photos together. They’re also creative and just a fun way to spend time.
We’ve just scratched the surface of the possibilities here. Don’t be afraid to dig a little deeper into your creative well and think up fun ways for you and your residents/loved ones to celebrate National Assisted Living Week.
Here at Stillwater Senior Living, we treat our residents like family. Our apartments include studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites. They are designed with security features, maximum accessibility, and include walk-out patois with a full range of amenities for the entire family.
CONTACT US today for more information and a tour of our beautiful state-of-the-art community.