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By Debbie Hommel, ACC, CTRS
 The traditional nursing home or medical day care resident is
often generalized as a very elderly, gray haired person. However,
the activity professional is becoming increasingly challenged
by special needs residents or clients. One type of special needs
resident/client is the individual who is younger than the majority
of the population.
Young adults, who range in
age from mid-20's to late 50's, have significantly different
needs and interests than the traditional geriatric individual
who is often over 70 years old. In addition to cohort differences,
specific knowledge is needed to understand and address any acute,
chronic or catastrophic condition that has provoked the need
for the young adult to seek long term care. Additionally, there
might be significant psycho-social issues associated with the
need to be admitted to a long term care setting.
In creating a program or specific
activities for the younger adult, program content needs to focus
on appropriate cohort related topics and interests. Music, discussion
groups, crafts, socials, trivia and any type of game should
be relevant to someone who lived in the current era. In many
cases, if the resident/client is close to the age of the activity
staff - activities that the staff would enjoy are relevant to
offer to the residents in the same age group. Additional program
content would need to offer the residents opportunities for
personal growth, adjustment and adaptation to their individual
disabilities.
Specific Programming Options
Craft Clubs: More current crafts and creative opportunities
should be available. Scrap booking, art classes, printmaking,
stenciling and similar crafts may be of more interest to the
younger person. Having an instructor from Michaels or the local
craft store introduce the crafts would give it more appeal.
Involving the younger resident in shopping trips to the craft
store would involve them in the selection process. >
Discussion groups: Or RAP
sessions which focus on the era of this generation. News, history,
events and topics from the 1960s' through the present would
be of greater interest to the younger resident. The internet
is a great resource for historical/trivia information from these
eras. One
fun site offers the #1 song for a particular day in history.
Resident birthdays or year they graduated high school could
be selected with the specific songs discussed.
Word games and Trivia: Typical
with a younger focus would interest this resident. Soduku groups,
Trivial Pursuit and Outburst type games may be appealing.
Guest speakers: Speakers from
local colleges, vocational schools, and interest clubs in the
area may provide topics of interest to the younger resident.
Scheduling classes where the younger resident would sign up
for a series of lectures on a topic of interest would give them
a sense of direction. Upon completion of the classes, the "student"
would receive a certificate. Pursuing formal education via the
local community college or on line education is another option.
Exercise programs: Exercise
programs using more current music and calling the program Jazzercise
or Chair Aerobics might be more appealing to the younger resident.
Keeping records of attendance and progress provides a sense
of accomplishment.
Movie Nights where refreshments
for a younger crowd are served and current movies are shown
would interest this group. Creating a Movie selection committee
to choose movies of interest is encouraged. Serving snacks of
the younger resident's choosing is encouraged.
Trips into the community: Locations
for trips of interest to younger residents may include the local
mall, restaurants of choice, the craft store, and Barnes and
Noble book store. Creating a Trip Location selection committee
would involve the residents in choosing trip locales.
Interest clubs: Scheduling
a club for the younger residents sometimes is effective, particularly
if the residents are of similar ability and age group. Creating
a special area for them to meet, with privacy and appropriate
support is important. One example might be a "Baby Boomer Club".
Your residents could become official members of the American
Baby Boomers There are plenty of web sites for this age
group (42-62) Baby Boomer
Headquarters and Aging
Hipsters
Special cooking groups: Introducing
appropriate adaptations make this group effective. The residents
can select the menu and a shopping trip to the store can involve
them in the purchasing of food.
Independent leisure materials:
These items need to be available which would include current
magazines of interest, newer table games and videos of interest.
Socials and food activities:
Ordering food from local fast food restaurants while watching
"Oprah" or "Dr. Phil" is often effective. It is fun to generate
debates about the topic during commercials.
Jobs within the community:
Delivering newspapers, welcoming new residents, answering the
phone or watering plants are just some of the jobs they may
assume. Volunteering at other activities might provide some
personal satisfaction to the resident.
Computer access and computer
activities: These are also important for the younger resident.
Adaptive equipment is readily available for computers which
would allow them independence. Once adept at the computer, the
younger resident may be able to create departmental posters,
signs or newsletters for the activity department.
Health and wellness programs:
Such programs focus on diet, stress management, holistic techniques
and alternative medicines and provide a sense of growth and
direction for the younger resident.
Sensory/diversional tasks:
Such programs for the very impaired would need to be tailored
to the age group of those served. Sensory boxes can be created
based on the 1970s' and 80's topics. The same technique utilized
for creating sensory/diversional approaches for the elderly
would apply to the younger resident. It is a matter of collecting
pertinent information and creating an individualized approach
based on the information gathered.
Resources for Young Adult Programming
Assistive
Technology Solutions (for computer access)
New
Horizons (Service organizations for persons with disabilities
- lots of resources on this site)
TR
Directory - has a lot of information on programming for
various populations. There is a page on the site with lots of
programming ideas.
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