Aged care activity box for emergency departments.

At a recent meeting one of my colleagues proposed we start a dementia activity box for our department. This, I thought, sounds like a particularly good idea, and might even be extended to include some resources for the aged without dementia. As a department, we are very good at providing play equipment and distraction activities for our paediatric patients, but the elderly spend far longer in our care and are oftentimes left staring at the ceiling. For ever. It got me thinking as to what sort of kit we would include in such an activity box. Here are some ideas I came up with for patients with and without dementia (comments welcome): iPod with headphones and selection of appropriate era related music. Albums of selected historical photos, newspaper and magazine articles. Squares of different materials (different colours and textures) that can be folded and stacked as a task. Simple puzzles (including jigsaw type and wooden block types) A puppy1. Knitting (big wool and wooden needles). Set of playing cards (for game of patience etc) Aroma therapy massage oil (e.g. Lavender) to give quick massage to hands/feet. A large portable clock to assist with orientation to time. Paper & crayons/pencils I’m sure some of you already use resources like this in the aged care setting, or perhaps even in your own emergency department. So, a call out for suggestions from readers who: Work in units that already have put such a project into practice. Know of any literature that suppor...
Source: impactEDnurse - Category: Nurses Authors: Tags: the nurses desk: Source Type: blogs