At times, residents may be brought to an area to wait for a meal. Sometimes there are three to five people and they simply sit and wait. I like to gather this group of individuals together where they can enjoy these social minutes with each other.
I gather them close and then I say, “Good morning,” to each one as I shake their hand and look them in the eyes. I ask them how they slept; “did you sleep well? Did you have a dream? Did you wake up hungry?” I then tell them the breakfast menu for the day.
Next I share with them the day, the date, and the month and I use large-print cards to reinforce the words and numbers.
I have other prepared cards that describe various weather patterns (sunny, windy, cold, warm, calm, etc.) and I share with the group the type of morning we have. It’s a bonus if they’re able to look outside.
If there is a special activity that day, I also discuss this as well as their participation at the activity.
Various colored laminated cards are used for simple recall activities; “What color is this?” Build upon that activity by asking, “What color is the sky today?” “What color is your shirt?”
I have a list of songs that I share regularly and this is the one part of the group that elicits the most participation. Old simple songs are best (How Much is that Doggie in the Window?, You are my Sunshine, Peg O’ my Heart, The Old Grey Mare, Mockingbird Hill, This Old House, etc.)
I carry soft stuffed animals on my cart and give them to residents to hold and to use for some of the songs like, “Old McDonald had a Farm.” I try to match the stuffed animals with the season or holiday. I had penguins in January, dogs holding stuffed hearts in February, green bears in March, and so on. I also use the animals for labeling by asking, “What animal is this? What color is your cow?” etc. I also ask if they had any of those animals when they were on the farm.
Ask direct questions that can be answered with one or two words. “Did you ever ride a horse? Did you bake bread when you were on the farm? Did you ever ride on a train?” Whenever you get a “yes” response, dig deeper. “What color was your horse? Did you make cinnamon rolls too? Were you going to visit a relative?” (As a general rule, avoid questions that call for reasoning skills or problem solving and avoid “why” questions if you want participation).
Build upon shareable moments when one of the participants shares a thought, a memory, or gives a response that can be expanded.
This small group interaction can continue for as long as necessary for staff to prepare the meal. I have had groups for ten minutes and I have had them for as long as forty-five minutes. The average group lasts twenty minutes and there is never a lull.
A wide range of skill levels can enjoy this session but it appears to be most beneficial for the lower functioning individuals.
P.S. If using stuffed animals, they will need to be cleaned after use. Place them in a bag or pillowcase with baking soda. This will remove any skin oils from the fur. Shake it well and then place the pillowcase and animals in the freezer for at least 24 hours to kill any dust or skin mites. Wipe the baking soda off with a damp paper towel.
If the animals are small, most can simply be tossed into the washer. Use regular detergent and a delicate cycle. After drying, fluff them up and most will be good to go.
