National Activity Professionals Week January 16 – 22, 2011
Ask a random number of people, different ages, different backgrounds, etc. to expressed their first thoughts on the words, ‘nursing home.’ The usual results: old people, rocking chairs, pudding, and boredom.
Yes, 65 percent of the approximately 1.5 million residents of a nursing home are over age 85, according to studies by Medicare (2008, the most recent year). Yes, there are rocking chairs as well as lounge chairs, dining room chairs, etc. and yes, pudding is on the menu. However, the one word that does not describe a 21st century nursing home is“boredom”!
Instead, residents experience daily activities from art lessons to poker games, and trips to malls, theaters, and social gatherings! There are religious programs, cooking classes, poetry, book and garden clubs, theme parties and dinners, live music, games of chance and visitors of all ages. These daily activities are provided for residents of nursing homes, as well as independent retirement communities, assisted living facilities, community senior centers and adult day centers through the tireless work of activity professionals.
This is National Activity Professionals Week – January 16 – 22, 2011 – designated by the National Association of Activity Professionals, an organization whose members are dedicated to serving the elderly. The profession began in 1987 when the U.S. Congress recognized that along with serving the physical health needs of nursing home residents, the facility must provide trained individuals to serve the residents’ social, physical and mental health needs. Federal and state laws require long term care facilities to provide and document activities of all residents. A nursing home can be cited by the government agencies for failing to provide appropriate activities to all residents.
Activity professionals are trained and certified to provide for residents with special needs, including those on vents and individuals with dementia. These professionals plan activities designed to work side-by-side the medical staff and with residents’ family members. Every day, activity professionals provide large group activities, such as musical sing-a-longs and worship services, small group activities, such as card games, and one-on-one activities including large print books and magazines, audio books, in-room movies, crafts, and friendly visits from trained therapy pets.
It is not unusual for activity professionals to assist as residents who never painted and watch as they become artists late in life and for a group sing-a-long of old time radio favorites to bring smiles and active discussion of the residents’ memory of their trip to see, “Old Blue Eyes”.
Yes, there are still some bingo games at nursing homes, but activity professionals also provide daily mostly general public unknown programs that stimulate the mind! These include science lessons, history days, math and memory games – all in keeping with the most recent research that a healthy human brain can and will continue to grow new neuropaths as long as it continues to learn new information. (The Mature Mind by Gene Cohen).
The federal Medical office estimates that 50 percent of nursing home residents have no family members and 60 percent of residents have no outside visitors. For these residents, and for residents with loving friends and family, it is the activity professional who provides the engaging fun and life enriching atmosphere that promotes healthy lives every day.
This article written by and emailed to me for this blog by Gloria Hoffner, a Certified Activity Professional and winner of the 2010 NCCAP Best Practice Award. Ms. Hoffner will be speaking at the NAAP Convention Mrytle Beach, SC March 30 - April 3, 2011. To read more about her or Guitar with Gloria, click HERE.
Guitar with Gloria & Science for Seniors *registered trademark
Gloria Hoffner
311 Summit Rd.
Media, PA 19063
ph: 610-209-0964
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Guitar with Gloria & Science for Seniors
My Blog - updated the first of each month with a free Science for Seniors experiment!
Published articles:
- Monday, January 17, 2011
National Activity Professionals Week: Guitar with Gloria, Cooking, Shopping,BINGO
My story...
I started playing guitar 40 years ago.. In 2006 I was asked to play guitar two hours a week at a local nursing home. I LOVED the job - the residents, the staff, the sharing.... in 2007 I launched - Guitar with Gloria & Science for Seniors.
I feel I am truly blessed in my work. I look forward each morning to going to work, greeting old and new faces, singing, smiling, laughing and seeing the joy of music reflected back at me!
When you hire me you get my very best 100 percent every time! My goal is to see everyone participating and having fun.
Recently, I played at a nursing home where a resident was brought into a day room by a nurse and the moment the wheelchair wheels stopped the resident said, "Take me back to my room. My legs hurt. I just want to go to bed." The attendent insisted the resident stay for the sing-a-long. Within two songs the resident was singing!When the hour was up the resident was smiling, joking with me, asking when I would be back for another sing-a-long, talking to others in the room.... THAT is the power of music!
Published article -
The Power of Music
(written by Gloria Hoffner and published in Retirement Living)
I have a question for every Baby Boomer (and Gen-xer) reading this – How many of you know all the words to the theme song from “Gilligan’s Island”?
If you answered, YES, then you now know exactly how seniors know all the words to, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”. Science and experience have proven the music we love from our teens through our twenties is the music we love all our lives. It connects us with special times from romance to work to vacations and even our cars and homes.
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Oliver W. Sacks, author of Musicophilia : and Other Tales of Music and the Brain, found on the New York Times bestseller list, devotes a chapter in the book to how music affects people with dementia.
A neurologist, Sacks’ research shows even after the disease has stolen the ability to read or speak, often a person with dementia can remember all the lyrics to a favorite song –and often are pulled into the present moment through music.
I have witnessed the power of music to help revive memories. At one nursing home, I was told a resident with dementia was a former Girl Scout leader. I played Girl Scout songs for her. Not only did she remember the songs and sing along with me, but two weeks later she told her visiting children all about our sing along! Her children and the nursing home administrator were amazed this resident was able to retain this short term memory when she could not remember any other recent events.
Residents with intact memories also benefit from the power of live music. They find a common interest with a room mate or their dining table group, they enjoy the sensory experience, and they recall memories of people and places.
An independent living senior told me, “Thank you for playing that song. It reminded me of my brother.” A woman from Italy who did not speak English, recognized the tune of a childhood hymn and joined in by singing the words in Italian. And an assisted living couple said, “The song you played was playing the night we met.”
Best of all, residents often leave a live music activity humming and/or singing a favorite song.
Studies by the National Institute of Nursing Research have proven listening to music can reduce patient pain levels. The National Institute of Education and Health Sciences found music tempo can affect and improve mood and heart rate.
For every Boomer who sings “Hey Jude” in the shower and buys tickets to Beatlemania, there are nursing home residents who swooned to Frank Sinatra and danced to Perry Como. Live music can make the connection between memories and present day enjoyment.
Bringing a smile to your heart and a song to your lips is the mission of Guitar with Gloria.
Gloria Hoffner
311 Summit Rd.
Media, PA 19063
ph: 610-209-0964
Guitarwi
