Judi Parkinson's Blog - ACTIVITY RESOURCES

Watching DVDs and Television in Aged Care Facilities

nospam@example.com (RV Team) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:41:09 +1100

On our Share-Time Pictures Facebook page I have shared a photo from that wonderful classic movie - The Sound of Music. The image includes the cast as they appeared in the movie 45 years ago and a second photo of the stars today. If you are able to use an iPad or similar with your person in care, the image may be viewable when enlarged. Did they go and see it in the 60's? What was a favourite moment in the movie? What is a favourite song from the movie? Did they see the stage show on Broadway? I was a teenager in my high school choir in the 1960s and we sang every song, or at least it seemed we knew them all. Enjoy a sing-along with a CD or the movie or perhaps a piano or guitar.

DVD VIEWING TIPS: If you are planning to view the movie on a DVD, or any other movie or program on television or screen, I have written a suggestions to support the viewing experience.

TALKING RETRO & THE NEW

nospam@example.com (RV Team) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:49:00 +1100

Technology is advancing quickly, too quickly sometimes. We get one piece of technology and then the domino effect kicks in and we have to upgrade one thing after another to support the first upgrade. As I did last year with a new computer, etc., etc., etc. I'd like to share a little story that you may like to include in your DVD viewing times with care-recipients if you don't already do it. It is continuing on from last weeks ideas of themes beyond the theme of the movie - Tuning in to the interests of your share-time viewer.

Talking Tech with a Resident

I was at a care facility to view our movies when I noticed one of the Recreational Activities Officers gave the DVD case to a gentleman seated in front of the television. He knew he was going to watch a movie. She talked about the new technology. She showed him the disc inside and verbally compared it to the old tapes that we used to use. She reminded him of the old VHS cases. She chattered about the new ways of doing things, the similar shape of the case but how much thinner cases are these days. She explained how the movie was on a disc like a small 45-rpm record. He didn't say much really but he was engaged. He just nodded and occasionally said with interest 'yes' and 'mmm' when she paused to listen. All the time he turned the DVD case around in his hands and studied it. The RAO must have know his background and his interests. It was a time of social interaction, reminiscence and new learning.

It's often the little, everyday things that are important and engaging for our care-recipients. This is why my work is focused on familiar experiences that support the individual's place within society and thereby assist their self-identity and well being.

Please feel free to leave a story or comment below) on our Facebook page or on our Carers Feedback page (anonymous is OK)

MIX 'N MATCH ACTIVITIES

nospam@example.com (RV Team) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:35:00 +1100

This is the last post (for now ) of themed suggestions in the series for our new Vegetable Patch DVD.

There is more to The Crozzle Collection DVD than just an occasional use of a themed crossword puzzle as a group activity or one-on-one interaction using a laptop or television. Some of my DVDs include a crozzle activity others have a different kind of word game or word recognition included in a movie.

People in care as a result of Alzheimer's disease often enjoy word games. When I was conducting diversional therapy sessions we sometimes enjoyed a game using 5 large dice with a letter printed on each side. Residents enjoyed calling out a word beginning with a letter showing or sometimes finding a few letters that formed a word. Finding words within a word, as in the Moments in Lavender movie, were always popular too.

In two of the movies on The Vegetable Patch DVD there is a short and longer sequence of pumpkin soup being made. These steps are also on the Crozzle DVD. Where there is a procedure involved, such as the cooking and building themes I have structured the words to appear in the correct sequence for the activity being described.

Naturally, the running times on each crozzle varies according to the number of words. The number of words and minutes are included on the back of the DVD cover. For example Cooking Pumpkin Soup has 14 words and runs for 81/2 minutes. The running time stated for each crozzle is for when you let it play through without hitting chapter stop to dash to the completed word which will shorten the playing time. Also, the playing time could stretch out as a group chats when you click pause for discussion or reminiscent moments. I suggest always being ready to click pause when comments or laughter are taking over. The 3 seconds pause between letters appearing allows time for a group or individual to spell out the word.

If your themed activity is COOKING and your group would enjoy a couple of puzzles then use the pumpkin soup crozzle and the Making Marmalade crozzle from the Oranges and Lemons DVD, perhaps play the Making Pavlova 10 minute quiet movie from that DVD at the end of the cooking themed activities.

If your themed activity is GARDENING when you play the Vegetable Patch DVD movies then there are garden themed crosswords on The Crozzle Collection to choose from: Building a Garden Wall, The Things Gardeners Do and Old Fashioned Garden Flowers. Or MIX "N MATCH movies from In the garden DVD: The 10 minute movie titled Busy in the Garden would go well with the Vegetable Patch in a gardening theme as it is also about domestic, backyard gardening storytelling.

Info about The Crozzle Collection DVD is available at Interactive Resources on DVD & CD

More about The Crozzle Collection and also the crozzles on our DVDs is at our DVD Viewing Tips page

Picture: Cooking Pumpkin Soup: from The Vegetable Patch, Tales from the Vegie Patch and The Crozzle Collection

Previous Posts on The Vegetable Patch theme: The Vegetable Patch DVD - Making a Tussie Mussie - Vegie Patch Ideas

Vegie Patch Ideas

nospam@example.com (RV Team) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:55:00 +1100

Two weeks ago I talked about the main movie on The Vegetable Patch DVD and last week the Making a Tussie Mussie movie. On The vegetable Patch DVD there are another two movies. As with other DVDs in the Share-Time Pictures' collection I include a variety of movies on the same DVD theme. We all have good days and bad days, busy days and quiet days. Our person in care is no different. Some days they may want engaging and stimulating activities, another day perhaps they prefer quiet music or watch the slowly presented images that accompany the music. If you work in a care facility then you are providing activities for a group of people which may be experiencing a mixture of these feelings. A DT has suggested that while doing an activity play the themed 28 minute movie for frail people in care who are not able to participate to support the themed experience for them.

Building a Vegie Patch is an 11 minute relaxing movie intended for a frailer person in care or someone who is restless. It is designed for men an woman who have enjoyed building a vegie patch and growing their vegies. Many of the images are presented for 6 - 12 seconds to allow time for engagement and avoid over tiring with too many visuals. There is a little planting of the seedlings towards the end. The quieter, relaxing movies may be more enjoyed as a non-verbal experience. We don't usually talk all through a movie do we.

Tales from the Vegie Patch is a fun movie. My fun movies on the DVDs are designed for chatting and reminiscing. Click pause at anytime! I usually add a little predicted humour. Just one or two incidents is sufficient and these are usually captured during On Location Bloopers :) Sometimes I also add a recognizable myth, a tale or anecdote from everyday life. It provides a fun subject for discussion or debate as to how it should be done or was done or was told. There are no right or wrong answers. In this movie I have created artworks to describe a couple of the tales. These are: Children not liking their vegies and where we were told babies come from. I feel this takes the reality out of the visual situation and presents it better as just storytelling. I hope you enjoy the movies.

We have a beaut Special Package on sale at Share-Time Pictures!!

DVD & Besides Bingo - for just $77.00 - More Info

The Vegetable Patch (DVD with 4 movies) PLUS Besides Bingo Resource Manual by Lauretta Kaldor Activities (Printed, Bound & Ready-to-Use)

I've put these together as Lauretta includes a great section for activities suited for use with the Vegetable Patch DVD and creating a Vegie patch in a facility, private home or day care centre that is suitable for a person in care to enjoy. Lots of ideas, planning templates, a training program for facilitators and more!

MAKING A TUSSIE MUSSIE

nospam@example.com (RV Team) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:13:00 +1100

Making a Tussie Mussie is a 16 minute movie on the themed DVD The Vegetable Patch. All the flowers used in the Tussie Mussie are introduced at the start of the movie. They are for 12 seconds to allow time for a Resident or person in care to recognize the flower and then name it. The words also appear on a plain black background for easy recognition and spelling out loud if desired. There are six Chapter Stops periodically through the actual creating of the posy. This allows you to move a bit quicker through the steps if you are using the movie before an activity. The full version is suitable after the activity.

Tussie Mussies were often carried by ladies in the Victorian days. A Google search will find a variety of posies and information. The one I made in the film is large. As an activity I would suggest just enough flowers and herbs for easy handling and perhaps wrapping them in a large paper doily. Avoid too many different, strong fragrances and consider any allergies. If your facility has a sensory garden it is an ideal opportunity for a different interpretation and experience of your herbs and flowers. Or you may like to have a display of different herbs or flowers, or photos of them, and chat about their favourite flowers or herbs for cooking.

Perhaps a Victorian Doll would be available for display and handling. When I was a teenager my grandmother told me about her first long dress, taffeta, with a bustle. Perhaps your residents will recall similar stories. If you are taking the Victorian era as your theme for this movie there are a few old photos of Victorian dress, creating a scent bag and a girl having her hair tied in rags on the Moments in Lavender DVD movies.

I have accompanied this movie with a selection of delicate Baroque music. It seemed to compliment the lightness and relaxed atmosphere of the imagery. Not included in the preview are the sounds of the birds and our wind-chimes. I created the posy on our veranda so the birds sound lovely in the background with the old fashioned Baroque music.

Next Week: More suggestions for The Vegetable Patch DVD - Last Week: The Vegetable Patch DVD

More information is available at http://sharetimepictures.com.au/DVDs--and--Previews.php