The project that I undertook this semester was to re-vamp the activities department.

helped create, design, organize, and implement various arts and crafts activities,

nutritional demonstrations, and parties. These are the activities that I took more of a

lead role in creating and implementing. However, the other interns and I worked as a

collective to ensure all the activities were as successful as we could make them.

Tea Party

What we did: The interns filled up the tea pots with hot water and went around and

served them. We helped each resident pick out what kind of tea that they wanted to try.

Everyone wore special hats and really got into the spirit of it. We took silly pictures with

props that the activities staff had purchased.

Why it was needed: It was just a way to get everyone involved and included. The

fellowship home is a big family and one of its major focuses is making this place feel like

home to the residents. The tea party was about getting everyone out of their rooms

where they were spending time alone and getting them to make more friends. In a way

this place kind of reminds me of college. Nobody is here to tell you what to do so until

you make friends you spend a lot of time alone in your room. For some people alone

time is therapeutic but for other people it is unhealthy. It can have negative effects on

people. Loneliness has a direct correlation to physical and mental health. A study

published in the National Academy of Sciences found that social isolation and

loneliness is associated with a higher risk of mortality in seniors. Loneliness is a risk

factor for poor overall cognitive performance, faster cognitive decline, depression, and
the onset of dementia. The national academy of sciences also found a correlation

between loneliness and long term illness.

Outcome: this was more of what I call just a feel good activity to get the residents to be

around one another and talk amongst themselves. It was also a good way for us to get

to know them better. We got to learn some names and they learned ours

Resident reaction: was very positive. Everyone enjoyed it really well and we were asked

to plan another one or have more activities like this. I heard no complaints from any

resident.

Material needed: we had several tea pots-large and small with pretty designs on them.

We had to fill each one with hot water then pour them into tea cups for each resident.

We had several kinds of tea for them to pick from.

What could be differently: I wouldn’t change anything. The activity was successful and

we got positive feedback from the residents.

Attendance: 15 people

Smoothie Activity

What we did: Showed the resident show to make easy, nutritious, filling smoothies. We

used easily accessible ingredients that they could get at any of the grocery stores

nearby. They can use the blenders in the kitchen anytime they want and there are

Walmart/Kroger trips once a week they can get ingredients from. They can either go on

the shopping trips or send an intern/ activity staff to get things for them. We gave the
smoothies fun names like Funky Monkey which was our peanut butter and banana

smoothie.

Why it was needed: In a facility like this, nutrition is something to be mindful of while

living here. Studies show that a good diet in your later years reduces the risk of

osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Your metabolism slows down as

you get older, so you have to tweak the way that you consume food over time. There

are also certain nutrients that you need to consume more of. Such as calcium and

vitamin D for bone health and fiber which can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Some

residents can come in with a BMI that puts them into the overweight or obese category

and they never improve their BMI because they become more sedentary and consume

more food because it is readily available.

On the flip side of this you have malnutrition. Some elderly people can get depressed or

stressed out when their independence is gone and they move into a foreign place. They

might not have someone to make them eat during meal time. Smoothies are an easy

way to get underweight residents to consume calories and important nutrients.

To give the residents alternative snacks to the Chex mix, cookies, and cheez-its which

are in the bistro area of the dining room. Gaining weight in a facility like this is very easy

because there is so many snacks that are easily accessible to the residents and some

in their older age don’t understand what consuming things in moderation is.

Evaluation of activity: the activity was successful. The kitchen staff was encouraged to

start having more smoothies in the morning for breakfast because of how much the

residents liked this activity. Several of the residents asked for a print off of our recipes.
This activity is what gave us the idea to start having handouts with each activity we

planned. Giving the residents something to read and follow along with as we were

speaking to them will engage them more in the activity.

What would be done differently: maybe have the smoothies pre-made because that part

was kind of hectic, but at the same time the residents enjoyed seeing what we were

putting in the blender and watching everything. Maybe have one blender per smoothie

we were making so we didn't have to stop and clean one out before continuing. Also

Will and I thought we should freeze the fruit because we bought it the day before the

activity, so when the time came to cut it up and use it- it was very hard. It took Alex and

I a while to get it all cut up. We also overshot how much ingredients we needed so we

ended up with a lot of extra fruit.

Materials needed: two blenders, peanut butter, almond milk, strawberries, bananas,

blueberries, Greek yogurt, and mini paper cups. Mrs. Collene brought a blender from

home and the fellowship home had one that we used. We got all the ingredients from

Kroger.

Outcome: residents were made aware that there are alternative snacks they can make

themselves that are healthy

Resident reaction: very positive. They had fun trying the different smoothies we had and

wanted us to share the recipes with them as well as the kitchen staff for them to start

making the ones we created. They encouraged us to do more food things with them.

We also learned that some of them are very outspoken. We were definitely made aware

of which smoothies they like and which ones they didn’t think we made correctly.
Attendance: 16

Parfait Bar Activity

What we did: Set up a parfait bar with different toppings. We explained why we picked

each topping-like what was good about it. We also explained why the type of yogurt we

picked out is better for you than other kinds of yogurt. Then we took their orders

individually and made them. I collected the order sheets while Alex and William made

them then I passed each one out.

Why it was needed: this was another activity to give a snack alternative to the residents

something that is more healthy than the Chex mix, cookies, cheeze-it’s that they have

available at the bistro.

Evaluation of the activity: there was a huge attendance which was wonderful. It helped

that we went around and invited people individually instead of just having it on the

calendar and making an announcement on the PA system. Inviting people in that way

just makes them feel more included and more inclined to go because they don’t want to

disappoint us.

What would be done differently: I would find a better way to do orders, but I’m not sure

how we could’ve made it better. The residents just got impatient because we could only

do so many at one time and so the big attendance made it take a while

Outcome: residents got healthy snack alternative

Materials Needed: the toppings- blackberries, granola, blueberries, almonds, honey,

strawberries, bananas, and Greek Yogurt. We got these things from Kroger.
Resident Reaction: Most of them love trying new things and several of them asked for

second helpings, so we got positive feedback. They just really enjoy watching us make

things

Attendance: 22 plus Dr. Kaninjing. This by far was the best turn out at any activity that

we had.

Norovirus Flyer

In February we also had a norovirus scare in Milledgeville. This building as a whole has

its own ecosystem, so outsiders pose a risk to them by bringing in illnesses. Well you

cannot just tell family members not to come and visit. You have to just hope they have

common sense to not come if they are sick. Illness spreads quickly in here. Usually

several people get sick at once because they share so many common spaces together.

We let the residents know about illnesses that are going around. We were so worried

about one of the residents catching the virus and passing it around that for our weekly

shopping trip we went the opposite direction from Milledgeville to a different town to

grocery shop.

What we did: I created a flyer explaining the symptoms of norovirus, what the virus is,

what causes it, how to wash their hands correctly, and what to avoid doing. We gave it

to all of the residents when we delivered their mail. We also gave them to the kitchen

staff as well as posted it around the building on the bulletin boards.

Why it was needed: we created it because the norovirus was being spread around

Milledgeville, so we wanted the residents to be aware of what it was, how they could get

it, and what to do to help prevent getting it.

Evaluation of the activity: the only reaction/feedback i got was from the kitchen staff that

was appreciative to have the information because they didn’t know that the virus was

going around town. The residents never said anything about it.

What would be done differently: maybe having a meeting with all of the residents that

went over the handout instead of just passing it out because they might not have read it.

Outcome: residents were made aware of a serious illness and how to keep themselves

from getting it. Illnesses spread like wildfire in facilities like this. So it is important for

residents to know how to protect themselves

Materials Needed: I made it on the library computer and printed it out in the front office.

Resident Reaction: none

Attendance: every resident and staff

Word Game Activity

What we did: on Valentine’s Day we did a word association game. We had the residents

come up with phrases that had the word “heart” in it. Everyone came up with at least

one phrase and many of them came up with several phrases. We gave out a piece of

candy each time someone said a phrase and then I wrote it on the board so we could

keep track of what was already said. There were only a few times that I had to help the

group create a phrase when there was a lull. It helped that Mrs. Collene had a book of

heart phrases that her mother had written which is where we got the idea for the activity.

Why it was needed: word associations are a good way to get their minds working and it

is interactive. They helped each other come up with phrases, so they used teamwork to
create ones. Simple activities like this one help to stimulate them in a way that they

aren’t normal stimulated.

Evaluation of the activity: successful. They came up with over 50 different phrases.

What would be done differently: I don’t think there would be anything done differently

because there was good attendance and they seemed to enjoy it.

Outcome: fun friendly and all-inclusive activity

Materials Needed: white board, marker, candy, Mrs. Collene’s book

Resident Reaction: they really enjoyed it and we were asked to do more things like this

which is why we did a president’s day trivia and a St. Patrick’s Day word association.

Attendance: 17 people participated. I was surprised at the amount of residents that

came and participated. I honestly didn’t think this would be an activity that so many of

them were interested in. It was definitely an all-inclusive activity because even visually

impaired residents could participate and the ones who can’t hear as well were able to

because we spoke loudly and the residents that could hear helped out the ones who

couldn’t.

Sweetener Activity

What we did: printed out a handout about artificial and natural sweeteners that helped

summarize what we actually presented. I did a lot of research beforehand and only used
credible sources like I was taught by Dr. Kaninjing. And I actually learned a lot, so doing

this research for them was also beneficial for me. But, I stressed the importance of

reading the nutrition labels to see what food is sweetened with and talked to them about

how just because the label says “no sugar added” that there is still sugar in there. I

talked about how they can reduce their sugar intake and the positive effects that

reducing their intake can have on their bodies. I also did some research on how people

say that artificial sweeteners can lead to cancer and gave them a list of the ones that

have been approved.

Why it was needed: This was a topic that we were asked to do by the residents after we

did the sugar activity. So many of them asked about artificial sweeteners and we didn’t

know the answers, so we decided to do some research to give them accurate

information. We decided to do it right after the menu review that happens on Tuesdays

that way they wouldn’t have to move to another location.

Attendance: There were about 12 people that were there.

Evaluation: I don’t know if their attention spans were taken up by the menu review or

what, but only a few seemed interested in what I was saying. I gave a handout to them,

so hopefully they read them and absorbed some information. I know at least two of

them were paying attention because they asked questions.

What would be done differently: I am not sure what we should have done differently. We

got the information that residents asked for and presented it to them in a smaller area,

so that it would seem more personable and they could all hear what we were saying.

Materials needed: a printer to print out the handouts

Resident reaction: mixed because the few that paid attention enjoyed hearing about it,

but it seemed like several were just bored. This was definitely one of the least

successful activities that we did this semester.

These are a few other projects that I took more of a “backseat” role in:

Tissue Paper Flower Activity

What we did: We had the residents make flowers out of tissue paper. We taught them

how to fold the paper then attach a pipe cleaner in the middle and fan the paper out to

make the petals.

Why it was needed: This was a good way to get the residents to use their fine motor

skills with their hands. We also used the flowers to decorate various tables in The

Fellowship Home.

Evaluation: this was a successful activity. Several residents were able to recall their

childhood crafts.

What would be done differently: It took a long time for the residents to decide what color

paper to put together, so it might have been easier to have premade stacks and get

them to choose what stack they wanted.

Materials needed: tissue paper, pipe cleaners, and scissors.

Outcome: the residents created tissue paper flowers that were displayed throughout the

facility.
Resident reaction:

Attendance: 15

Fabric Wreath Making:

What we did: we had strips of fabric pre-cut for the residents to attach to a wire circle to

make a wreath.

Why it was needed: it got their minds to be creative and helped them focus. It was also

helpful for their find motor skills.

Evaluation: it was challenging for some of the residents and some of the residents were

unable to finish the whole thing so the other interns and I had to.

Resident reaction: They enjoyed it, but they did find it challenging to do because it was

a lot of fine motor skills. However, none of them really complained about it.

Attendance: 14

Mardi Gras Cookie Decorating

What we did: We had sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles for the residents to decorate

cookies with Mardi Gras colors. We had tables set up with a small plate, an icing

spreader, and a necklace. We also played jazz/Mardi Gras music in the background and

asked residents to share any personal experiences they have had with Mardi Gras or

visiting New Orleans.

Why it was needed: We did this activity to have something fun going on and celebrate

Mardi Gras. They also got to use creative skills and fine motor skills by spreading the

icing and decorating the cookies.

Evaluation of the activity: This was a successful activity, but there was a low turnout.

What would be done differently: We would have spread the word more about this

activity. There could have easily been more residents in attendance.

Outcome: The residents decorated a cookie.

Materials needed: Cookies, icing, sprinkles, paper plates, and popsicle sticks.

Resident Reaction: They enjoyed this activity. They were very appreciative that we are

planning activities for them.

Attendance: 7