Group Activities with Older Adults


Book Description

Provides the tools you require to develop and implement a range of activities for older adults. Structured around the ten areas of activity need, this book is a resource of activity ideas with hints, tips and suggestions for successful planning and delivery, and guidance on recording and evaluating activity programmes.




Geriatric Activities


Book Description




Group Work with Older Adults


Book Description

"This book is designed to aid therapists and trained group facilitators who conduct discussion groups for geriatric clients. It offers 85 exercises to broaden group topics relevant to aging. Some of the exercises have been updated from those that appeared in the author's earlier publication, Group Work With Elders. Many are brand new. These exercises combine the important geriatric therapy techniques of Reminiscence, Validation, and Remotivation to energize group discussion and foster renewal of hope."--Publisher.




Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults


Book Description

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.




Failure-Free Activities for the Alzheimer's Patient


Book Description

The family, voluntary or professional caregiver to the Alzheimer's patient can use these activities in the home or care facility. Guidance is given on matching activities to patients' potentials, thereby avoiding stress and frustration of failure and mistakes, reinforcing self-esteem, alertness and satisfaction. Appendices list useful information. Recommended by the Alzheimer's Disease Society (UK) and the American Alzheimer's Disease Association. '...a splendid volume...my patients' relatives find it very helpful.' Professor G.K.Wilcock, BSc DM FRCP




Group Techniques for Aging Adults


Book Description

Elders can struggle with issues of social isolation and self-esteem, and benefit from having positive coping skills at their disposal. The practical ideas Kathie Erwin imparts in this second edition help mental health professionals working with elderly populations to create an interactive, multi-modal program that addresses the issues and needs elders have. The group modalities are defined in holistic contexts of mind, body, society, and spirituality. Among the group modalities are reminiscence, bibliotherapy, remotivation, humor, expressive art, and therapeutic writing and sacred spaces, which are new to this edition. Mental health professionals appreciate the practical and detailed guidelines for how to design, implement, and monitor progress for various types of group modalities that allow them to put theory into practice easily. Their elder clients will benefit from the methods they develop in group to deal with problems such as isolation and reduced social networks.




Activities With Developmentally Disabled Elderly and Older Adults


Book Description

Learn how to effectively plan and deliver activities for the growing number of older people with developmental disabilities. Activities With Developmentally Disabled Elderly and Older Adults is an innovative new book that aims to stimulate interest and continued support for recreation program development and implementation among developmental disability and aging service systems. Particularly useful for human service professionals working in the areas of developmental disabilities and aging, this practical volume will also be of interest to researchers, educators, and students interested in recreation services with older adults who are developmentally disabled. The older adult population with developmental disabilities (DD) continues to grow rapidly, yet little is known about their needs and interests. In this book a wide variety of authors share innovative and creative strategies for programming activities with older adults with DD. They focus on diverse issues, services, and programs from researchers, educators, and practitioners, represented varied disciplines. Each chapter demonstrates the diversity that makes serving a growing number of older individuals with DD both challenging and rewarding. Among the wealth of information you will find in Activities With Developmentally Disabled Elderly and Older Adults are discussions on the characteristics of this population and challenge activity professionals to seek innovative program strategies to appropriately serve individuals with DD companionship/friendship, physical functioning, and retirement adjustment issues that confront older adults who have lived with lifelong disabling conditions how a continuum of recreational activities is needed to provide meaningful experiences to elders with developmental disabilities how to design therapeutic recreation programs survey instruments that can be used to gain information about the needs of elderly persons with DD how to find specific programs and services that are age appropriate and foster creative expression and positive self-esteem a rationale for the development of integrated recreation programs




The Good Practice Guide to Therapeutic Activities with Older People in Care Settings


Book Description

Offers a guideline on what constitutes good practice in activity provision. This guide presents: a benchmark against which activity providers can measure and evaluate their practice; clear links to national standards; and guidance for care home owners who wish to respond to the government initiatives on providing activities for their clients.




Nutrition Care of the Older Adult: a Handbook for Dietetics Professionals Working Throughout the Continuum of Care


Book Description

Completely revised with new chapters and sections covering everything the health-care provider needs to know when working with the older adult either at home or in nursing and long-term care facilities. Chapters cover factors affecting nutrition, nutrition and disease, nutritional assessment, dining challenges and regulatory compliance. This scientifically sound and practical resource for new and experienced nutrition professionals includes new forms, resources, the food guide pyramid for older adults and an index of tales.




Getting to Know the Life Stories of Older Adults


Book Description

Positive relationships begin with people enjoying one another. This fresh look at reminiscence uses fun-filled, lively activities to help people laugh with, as well as learn from, each other. The engaging program will foster understanding and build a sense of community through meaningful interaction. Nine in-depth group exercises and more than 30 informal mini-exercises cover broad topics such as individuals' backgrounds, personal preferences, and social history. Games, discussion, storytelling, and other interactive methods are used to reveal participants' unique characteristics, experiences, and interests. Substantial benefits will result including expanded self-awareness and self-esteem strengthened relationships among participants, families, and caregivers disclosure of useful information for personalizing care enhanced brain functioning Appropriate for people of all ages, but aimed particularly at older adults, these activities can be used in long-term care settings, assisted living facilities, adult day centers, and senior centers. The exercises can also be adapted for one-on-one use in home or community settings and used with intergenerational groups. Each main exercise is completely scripted and easy-to-implement with minimal preparation. The manual also includes adaptations for people with dementia, additional resource lists, and a CD-ROM with printable handouts. Every person is unique--use these activities to discover, celebrate, and benefit from the experience and individuality of older adults.