Activity Director Ideas Newsletter
September 2023
Activity Idea of the Month
Baking Cookies for First Responders
Invite your senior residents to help you recognize Patriot Day on September 11 by baking a few batches of cookies to deliver to the police and firefighters in your area. (This activity idea is also featured in our September 2023 Assisted Living Activity Calendar.)
Creative Craft of the Month
Salt-Dough Ornaments
Recruit residents to celebrate National Grandparents’ Day on Sunday, September 10 by assembling salt-dough handprint ornaments (by nestofposies-blog.com). For the activity, make a batch of salt-dough to roll out into hearts for residents and their grandchildren to imprint their hands. (This activity idea is also featured in our September 2023 Dementia Activity Calendar.)
Activity Ideas for Male Residents
Male Bonding Activity of the Month
Recognize the beginning of Oktoberfest in Germany on September 16 by hosting a fun German beer tasting for the men. Provide them with beer tasting scorecards (by catchmyparty.com) to rate the beer. (This activity idea is also featured in our September 2023 Men’s Activity Calendar.)
One-on-One Activity of the Month
Invite your resident to help you say good-bye to summer on its last day (on September 22) by setting up one last lemonade stand. Serve a tasty raspberry lemonade (by onceuponachef.com) for passersby to enjoy. (This activity idea is also featured in our September 2023 Weekly-Themed Activity Calendar for Saying Good-Bye to Summer Week.)
Activity Ideas for Dementia Residents
No-Bake Recipe of the Month
Recognize this Labor Day season by paying tribute to different occupations, like florists, by showing residents how to assemble no-bake flower cakes (by itv.com). (This activity idea is also featured in our September 2023 Assisted Living Activity Calendar.)
Sensory Stimulation Activity of the Month
Celebrate the first day of autumn on September 23rd by having residents paint autumn pine cones (by craftyhomeschoolmom.com) in fun autumn colors to hang as decoration. To paint the pine cones, first pour autumn-colored paints onto plates to make it easy for residents to access. Then have residents use cotton swabs to paint the individual scales of the pine cones. Once the paint has dried, use twine to hang the pine cones for the season. (This activity idea is also featured in our September 2023 Dementia Activity Calendar.)
Activity Resource of the Month
National Assisted Living Week
Check out our resource for the month, the National Center for Assisted Living, ahcancal.org, to help you plan fun senior activities for this year’s theme – “Season of Reflection” – for National Assisted Living Week (September 10-16).
Quick Tip:
Start a Newsletter Club featuring your facility’s residents as the writers and editors. Recruit volunteers to type the articles for a fun, monthly one-page newsletter.
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