| March is the month of St. Patrick's Day, the | | | | choose to make. The great thing about crafts is |
| leprechaun, shamrocks, green beer and all things | | | | that you can have several different ones for |
| Irish. If you are an activity director in a nursing | | | | seniors to choose their preference. Not all men |
| home and are planning activities around the Irish | | | | want to make butterflies and flowers. |
| theme for this month, here are some activity | | | | In keeping with the Spring theme for March |
| suggestions to keep in mind. | | | | activities, there are also many outings to do. |
| Trivia games can be on all things green or on | | | | Everyone has been 'cooped up' for months |
| Ireland. A party theme could be the same and | | | | indoors and needs to get out, stretch, feel the |
| there are many crafts to be made in the spirit of | | | | sunshine on their faces and breathe in the spring |
| the Irish too! Ireland is well known for its fabled | | | | air. Some outdoor activities will be dependant on |
| leprechaun, pots of gold at the end of the | | | | where you live. Spring takes longer to arrive |
| rainbow, shamrocks, and beer. Though it is | | | | further north, but as it warms you can take |
| probably advisable not to serve your residents | | | | seniors out to walk around a zoo, an outdoor |
| beer, you can serve many green coloured drinks | | | | market, park, or just get outside for a walk |
| and use food coloring to change the looks of | | | | around the block. |
| many food dishes. Dressing in the spirit of the | | | | Because it is the beginning of Spring, new changes |
| Irish is also very easy for you and the residents, | | | | and new birth, March is a great time to consider |
| just wear green! | | | | small makeovers to freshen things up. From |
| Palm Sunday and Passover sometimes fall in this | | | | hairdos and manicures to moving furniture around |
| month. If you choose to celebrate these dates or | | | | and adding art and new pictures to many walls, in |
| acknowledge them for your religious residents, it | | | | your activities common areas and in residents |
| is also possible to find resources for religious | | | | rooms. As everyone's spirits are lightened with |
| crafts, and trivia online. Christmas and Easter are | | | | the longer days and fresh air, have a group sing |
| usually the times to break out the gospel songs | | | | along or invite in a musician to your facility, |
| that everyone is willing to sing together. So dust | | | | someone you haven't had before. Maybe a new |
| of the CD's and sing along DVD's if you don't | | | | and special talent. Spring is the time to try |
| already use them, and get some instruments to | | | | something new. |
| accompany, if that's what you like. | | | | A sensory stimulating box might be a good |
| Is it Spring you'd prefer to focus on rather than | | | | activity for those that are bed bound. This could |
| the Irish as a month long theme? There is no end | | | | also be a spring theme, an Irish theme or in |
| to the activities you can do for Spring. It's a great | | | | keeping with a religious tone for Passover. Items |
| time to get some potting soil and seeds. The | | | | you can use are stones, candles, flowers, coin |
| smell of the rich compost is a beautiful smell of | | | | chocolates, items shamrock shaped or shaped like |
| spring and every senior can be a part of planting | | | | a cross. Include a gospel CD, Bible or scripture |
| the seeds in the soil for spring flowers to begin. In | | | | promises in some other form. Pictures of Ireland, |
| a few weeks, these will be ready for transplanting | | | | the general outdoors, and different flowers are |
| outdoors or into larger pots for everyone to | | | | good to include too. |
| enjoy. | | | | After months of soups and stews, maybe the |
| Spring crafts could focus on butterflies, flowers, | | | | seniors would like to dig into an ice cream cone or |
| birdhouses and bird feeders. These can be | | | | sundae. Ask them! They may have suggestions |
| relatively simply or more complex for those that | | | | of other things they are just itching to do. Get |
| require less help and supervision. From glitter and | | | | their feedback and see where it takes you. March |
| pom poms to sunflower seeds and wood, you | | | | could be a great month for everyone. |
| can be pretty creative with the crafts you | | | | |