Visiting Loved Ones
At Rest Haven, we firmly believe that our residents do not live in a facility, but rather we work in their home. Therefore, it is our desire to make this setting as inviting and comfortable as possible for every family unit in our care.
Shared activities are a wonderful way to interact and visit with your loved one. They may provide opportunities to evoke past memories and meaningful dialogue. However, not every resident is at the same level of function. Nevertheless, any interaction may work to better the lifestyle of our residents. We are here to serve. Please let us know how we can assist you in your journey with your loved one. It is our desire that this home always provides the perfect climate for visiting, sharing, listening, and caring.
Listed below, there are a number of activities that you can plan with your loved one. Different residents have different capabilities and requirements, so each activity will include suggestions to help you accommodate the needs of your loved one.
Activity Calendar
Every month, we have an activity calendar filled with fun, information, and encouraging activities for your loved one. We welcome you to join in any of our planned activities, such as:
Ice Cream Social
Every Thursday at 2:30pm
Tea Party
Special themes, delicious food, and a time to socialize
Sing Along Friday nights at 7:00pm
Hymn Sing Sunday nights at 7:00pm
Check out our calendar for more scheduled activities every month.
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Memories
Benefits: Mental stimulation
Rest a while. Take a moment to remember with your loved one.
Adaptation:
- Life Story Book: page-by-page questions to pass along a legacy
- Memory Box: create a collection of treasured memories
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Exercise
Benefits: Physical
Exercise is important to maintain mobility, use of muscles and being fit will help make day-to-day activities easier.
Some suggested physical activities:
- Balloon toss
- Leg kicks
- Ball squeeze
- Extension of limbs
- Stretching
- Exercise room
Most exercises can be done sitting down while having a chat, or even while sitting outside enjoying the new pond.
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Nails
Benefits: Relaxation!
We have nail manicure tools, nail strengthener, and color polish (ranging from neutral shades to reds and pinks)
Other possible activities:
- Hand soaking
- Hand massaging with lotions
- Nail shaping
- Nail painting
This can loosen up tight hand muscles and help with arthritic pain in the hands.
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Reading
Benefits: Mental
As a family member, you will know even better than some of the activity personnel which books your loved one will enjoy. We encourage you to bring in a book, or you may use one of our many books in the activity room and library. Your family member will enjoy hearing your familiar voice as you read an old favorite storybook.
Categories to think about:
Fiction (historic, religious, mystery)
Religious (devotionals, Bible)
Newspaper (business, cooking, life)
Picture books
Magazines (Reminisce, Good Housekeeping, Field and Stream)
Trivia books
Adaptation:
- Alternate reading between your and your loved one
- While your loved one reads, point to the line/word with your finger
- Read to your loved one and talk about what you've read
- There are books in the activity room designed for interactive reading. These books will help with conversation and are designed to aid in memory recall.
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Games
Benefits: Mental, fine motor
Games can be an excellent way to spend quality time with your loved one, but some may be confusing for residents. Some games may also be more intimidating than others. Feel free to ask the activity personnel for help in assessing which games would be most appropriate for your loved one. Also, don't be afraid to let your loved one win the game - this can help promote confidence.
Here are some suggested games, along with some tips on how to make them more enjoyable for your loved one:
Sorry
- Lessen the number of players
- Take away some of the pegs and only play with 1 or 2
- Start with the plaer that has the largest number beginning with 6
- The blank domino is used in the same manner as the numbered dominoes
- Only have 2 points to add dominoes to (ends only)
- Use only cards with numbers on them
- Allow cards of similar color, number, or next in counting sequence to be played
- Advise loved ones in making moves
- Pick up card/block and ask which one matches
Videos
Benefits: Mental
You are welcome to bring in a particular video that your loved one enjoys, or borrow any of our videos from the activity room. Our videos include:
- Scriptures with music
- Day of Discovery
- Travelouges
- History, nature, and family-themed stories
Feel free to watch them in your loved one's room, in the activity room (as long as all residents would be able to enjoy the video), the multipurpose room, or conference room. Please ask activity personnel for times that might work best to use our equipment, if needed.
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Crafts
Benefits: Mental, creativity, fine motor
Build a bird house, sand wood, knit, make cards, bookmarks or signs. Other craft ideas:
- Cutting out pictures
- Using stickers
- Stenciling
- Coloring
- Gluing cut outs
The activity room is stocked with many craft supplies that you are welcome to use with the residents.
Adaptations:
- Trace pictures/objects to cut
- Give ideas for placement of stickers, etc
- Suggest words to write
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Horticulture
Benefits: Mental, creativity, fine motor
This is an activity that is still under construction, but will be available soon and could possibly include the following:
- Indoor planting station equipped with pots, soil, tools, and plants
- Outdoor areas for planting vegetables, annuals, and perennials (summer program)
- Seasonal classes providing information and crafts regarding horticulture
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Puzzles
Benefits: Small motor movement, mental
We have many puzzles throughout the building; 1000 piece, 500 piece, 100 piece, 63 piece, and 25 piece varieties. Feel free to ask for whatever size puzzle is appropriate for you and your loved one.
There might be times when you will be doing most of the work, but your loved one will feel as though they have worked with you on an enjoyable activity.
Adaptation:
- Work with your loved one
- Help your loved one by starting out with the straight edges
- As you work on the puzzle, leave obvious places for your loved one and ask them to insert the pieces.
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Building Blocks
Benefits: Mental, fine motor, creativity
We have Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys that can be put together.
Adaptation:
- Suggest designs to build
- Pick out the blocks and let your loved one build
- Ask your loved one for the particular blocks and you build
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Music
If you or someone you know would like to come and play music, either by way of CD/tape or using an instrument, we would greatly encourage it. Your loved one would enjoy music played to them one-on-one, possibly in their room, the conference room, or the multipurpose room. Please ask activity personnel if you would like to play music to a larger group.
Music is a great means of relaxation for tense muscles and worried minds. Music can also be a trigger to treasured shared memories.
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