Resident Favorites: September 2023

1. Sit-Straights: have you ever heard of these? They’re basically a piece of foam that’s flat on the top and rounded on the bottom. They’re designed to fill in the gap that naturally forms over time between the sling seat of a standard wheelchair and the cushion that the individual sits on. This creates a more firm sitting surface in the wheelchair which for many Residents can feel more comfortable. I’ve been prescribing and trialing these a lot this month. If you’re facility is low on these or you’re looking to recommend some to a Client and/or family, these are some easy-to-access options.

2. Getting Outside: here in New Hampshire, the bulk of the summer was full of rain, and the last few weeks were exceptionally hot. So this month of cooler temperatures with little moisture in the air has been a bit of a reprieve and the Residents have been spending lots of time outside. These plastic sunglasses are great to keep on hand in the clinical setting for group activities outside.

3. Relaxing Music videos: many of the Residents I work with prefer the calmer, softer music to the classic 50s and 60s playlists. These video compilations by Tim Janis showcase beautiful nature scenes while playing soft instrumental hymns that my Residents just love!

4. Jigsaw Puzzles: one of the facilities I work in has recently set up a puzzle table in the community space on the unit. Residents and staff spend the afternoon working on these puzzles together, and it has added to the comradery of the unit. Relish makes some dementia-friendly jigsaw puzzles, and this one creates such as sweet autumn scene.

5. Outdoor Volley Ball Set: this might seem like a random favorite, but the Life Enrichment team recently hosted an outdoor volley ball game with Residents from the entire campus, plus volunteer college students looking to get some community service hours. It was talked about for days after and engaged Residents of all different skills and abilities.

6. Easy-to-Hold Water Thermos: while my Residents aren’t looking to keep up with the Stanley trend, I’ve noticed a lot of them have their own new thermoses to keep ice water on hand throughout the day. This one felt like a great option to me for a few reasons: it’s insulted but not too big or too heavy, it has an easy to grasp handle, and the straw is a silicone texture that isn’t clear so it’s easy to see.