It’s Almost Halloween; Here’s How to Celebrate on The Memory Unit.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… holidays matter on The Memory Unit. Most of us have been celebrating the same holidays (with usually the same traditions) our whole life. Using activities that tap into these long-term memories and feel-good emotions are some of the best ways to boost engagement when working with individuals living with dementia. And we’re all about maximizing quality of life over here!

Whether you’re a Therapist or a Life Enrichment Director, these Halloween ideas are made for you!

Host a Door Decorating Contest

Setting up decorations is such an easy way to get everyone involved. It’s a task that can be broken up into several sessions and the finished product can be enjoyed by everyone. I like to use things that are both visually pleasing and familiar.

Leaves, pumpkins, bats, ghosts, black cats, candy. Nothing scary, just fun Halloween decor to spruce up the facility. In years past, we’ve actually assigned a staff member to each resident door. This gets everyone involved and allows the staff to interact directly with the residents to help them create a fun door decoration.

Have a Halloween-Themed Dance Group

You might not realize how many classic oldies and jazz songs there are that have a Halloween feel to them. I shared a fun playlist last week for just this occasion!

Paint Some Pumpkins

You may have noticed that pumpkin painting is ‘trending’ on social media right now. Perhaps more than actual carving.

I like having the option to either carve or paint because it engages in classic memories while accounting for safety concerns and sensory needs. And have you seen that trick that uses a rubber mallet and metal cookie cutters?! So easy and safe and something I know my Residents will enjoy!

Host a Costume Contest

I think it goes without saying that if you can find a costume that’s easy to wear while working, do it. I’ve seen so much joy in my Residents when most of the staff get dressed up for Halloween.

There are some great and easy ways to also make simple costumes together that the Residents can also wear and feel comfortable in. Try to pick costume ideas that are either generic or that relate to the era in which your Residents lived and thrived. In other words, dress like characters they would recognize. Keep it relevant for your Residents rather than for you, it’s more fun that way.

Do Some Indoor Trick-or-Treating

This is a great way to get the whole facility involved. Encourage each ‘officed’ staff member to have a Halloween bucket filled with treats to share with the Residents and staff. It could be candy, little sensory items (safe ones of course), or little Halloween costume accessories like headbands or necklaces. This will encourage goal-based ambulation/mobility throughout the unit and can be tailored to meet various cognitive levels.

Now, let’s talk about making this skilled.

As with any intervention, you have to use your Activity Analysis skills. So the key questions you need to ask yourself:

Why am I doing this with my Resident?
What deficit’s or needs do they continue to show?
What goals have I (or the OTR) written in the care plan?
How can this activity address those needs and goals?

Your Resident might need to address community setting tolerance for safety and emotional regulation.

Literally any of these activities will address that. The focus will be on maximizing the Resident’s ability to easily transition to the task and remain in the activity for the duration. Document how many cues are required to initiate/transition to the activity and how long the Resident could tolerate the activity before self-terminating.

Your Resident might need to address cognitive function such as direction following, sequencing, problem solving, etc.

Again, most of these activities will address that. The focus will be on maximizing these skills, as evidenced by an ability to complete the task with the least amount of cues. Document how much cueing was required for each step of the task, how much assist was required for each step of the task, the aspects of the task that were the easiest, the aspects that were the most challenging, and any other notable behaviors.

Your Resident might need to address standing, balance, and mobility.

The obvious intervention idea for these skills Trick-or-Treating and a Dance Group. Door Decorating can always be completed in standing. You could also Paint Pumpkins while standing, and work together to find spots on the unit to place them as decoration.

When documenting these mobility tasks, you’ll want to include standing balance grades, the amount of rest breaks, the amount of physical assist and cues provided, as well as the cognitive attention demonstration throughout and the ability to tolerate the task as a whole.

I hope these ideas spark the creative juices for you if you’re feeling stuck! Pop off in the comments with other ideas and beloved therapy activities!