Halloween Themed Activities Halloween Themed Activities for Geriatric Patientsfor Geriatric Patients

Jessica SchmidtJessica Schmidt

My program involves geriatric patient(s) participating in Halloween themed My program involves geriatric patient(s) participating in Halloween themed activities. activities.

The instructor uses music, sculpture, imagery, movement, food, a word program, The instructor uses music, sculpture, imagery, movement, food, a word program, photography and a themed event to implement the TTAP method. photography and a themed event to implement the TTAP method.

The TTAP method correlates to therapeutic recreation because it is enhancing the The TTAP method correlates to therapeutic recreation because it is enhancing the patients five domains in the areas of cognitive, social, physical, spiritual, and patients five domains in the areas of cognitive, social, physical, spiritual, and emotional.emotional.

The participant(s) will use the mind, improve social skills, learn to be more The participant(s) will use the mind, improve social skills, learn to be more creative, develop physical abilities through movement, apply internal reflection, creative, develop physical abilities through movement, apply internal reflection, and be able to be more expressive towards others.and be able to be more expressive towards others.

Goals:Goals: The geriatric population has a The geriatric population has a

lower physical activeness and lower physical activeness and stamina. The movement stamina. The movement program will assist in the program will assist in the physical abilities.physical abilities.

Cognition is decreasing and Cognition is decreasing and through this program they will through this program they will be able to use their minds more. be able to use their minds more. Hopefully the cognitive abilities Hopefully the cognitive abilities will increase.will increase.

The patient(s) will find The patient(s) will find happiness through new and happiness through new and creative programs.creative programs.

This population is more reserved This population is more reserved so through the special event so through the special event activity, the patient(s) will activity, the patient(s) will socialize more often.socialize more often.

Step 1: ThemeStep 1: Theme Halloween Activities for Halloween Activities for Geriatrics Geriatrics

My program involves My program involves geriatric patient(s) geriatric patient(s) participating in Halloween participating in Halloween themed activities.themed activities.

The instructor starts off the The instructor starts off the program by asking the program by asking the participant(s), “What are participant(s), “What are your favorite things about your favorite things about Halloween?” and “What do Halloween?” and “What do you remember about you remember about Halloween as a child?” Halloween as a child?” Then the patient(s) inform Then the patient(s) inform the instructor of their the instructor of their favorite things and favorite things and memories about Halloween.memories about Halloween.

Step 2: MusicStep 2: Music Sounds of Halloween Sounds of Halloween

The music played is scary noises and The music played is scary noises and songs related to Halloween.songs related to Halloween.

The patient(s) will listen to the music The patient(s) will listen to the music and reflect on their childhood and reflect on their childhood memories.memories.

This activity will stimulate cognition This activity will stimulate cognition by having patient(s) reflect back to by having patient(s) reflect back to past memories of the Halloween past memories of the Halloween season.season.

Step 3: ImageryStep 3: Imagery Halloween Pictures Halloween Pictures

After listening to the music, After listening to the music, the patient(s) are asked to the patient(s) are asked to draw a picture of something draw a picture of something that reminds them of that reminds them of Halloween or a memory of Halloween or a memory of Halloween.Halloween.

The participant(s) are asked The participant(s) are asked to be creative and use their to be creative and use their imagination. The patient(s) imagination. The patient(s) can add as much as desired can add as much as desired to their picture to better to their picture to better create a memorable and create a memorable and decorative image.decorative image.

Step 4: MovementStep 4: Movement Dancing to Halloween music Dancing to Halloween music

Participant(s) will dance Participant(s) will dance to Halloween music at to Halloween music at the Halloween party.the Halloween party.

This will benefit the This will benefit the partcipant(s) because partcipant(s) because dancing is an excellent dancing is an excellent form of exercise and form of exercise and will make the patient(s) will make the patient(s) more mobile.more mobile.

Step 5: SculptureStep 5: Sculpture Halloween Figure Halloween Figure

During this activity, the During this activity, the patient(s) will use play-doh patient(s) will use play-doh to sculpt a figure that to sculpt a figure that reminds them of Halloween.reminds them of Halloween.

The participant(s) can use The participant(s) can use different colors to better different colors to better create a more lifelike create a more lifelike Halloween figure.Halloween figure.

This helps in cognitive This helps in cognitive thinking because the thinking because the patient(s) have to be able to patient(s) have to be able to remember and then sculpt remember and then sculpt things from this particular things from this particular holiday. The patient(s) have holiday. The patient(s) have to be able to remember what to be able to remember what images represent images represent Halloween.Halloween.

Step 6: Word ProgramStep 6: Word Program Scary Stories Scary Stories

From the sculpture project, From the sculpture project, the patient(s) will listen to the patient(s) will listen to scary stories. scary stories.

The instructor of the activity The instructor of the activity will pause during the story will pause during the story to ask the patient(s) ideas to ask the patient(s) ideas and comments about the and comments about the story and possible endings.story and possible endings.

This activity will assist in This activity will assist in improving cognitive and improving cognitive and social skills because the social skills because the patient(s) will use his/her patient(s) will use his/her mind, which will improve mind, which will improve his/her interaction habits. his/her interaction habits.

Step 7: Food ProgramStep 7: Food Program Halloween Candy Halloween Candy

In this program, Halloween In this program, Halloween Candy will be handed out to the Candy will be handed out to the participant(s).participant(s).

Different candy will be brought Different candy will be brought in, in order to include patient(s) in in, in order to include patient(s) in the Halloween traditions and to the Halloween traditions and to bring back the memories of the bring back the memories of the Halloween holiday.Halloween holiday.

This is a fun and traditional way This is a fun and traditional way to enjoy Halloween like the way it to enjoy Halloween like the way it was enjoyed in the past.was enjoyed in the past.

The food (candy) activity can be The food (candy) activity can be discussed amongst the discussed amongst the participant(s) and the instructor. participant(s) and the instructor. The food can be a topic of The food can be a topic of conversation (ex: what was their conversation (ex: what was their favorite candy, the neighborhood favorite candy, the neighborhood they trick-or-treated in, etc.) for they trick-or-treated in, etc.) for the patient(s). This will enhance the patient(s). This will enhance cognitive skills and social cognitive skills and social abilities. abilities.

Step 8: PhotographyStep 8: Photography Picture with handmade mask Picture with handmade mask

The instructor will take a picture of the patient(s) with the The instructor will take a picture of the patient(s) with the handmade mask created.handmade mask created.

After the picture is taken, it will be placed in a frame. The After the picture is taken, it will be placed in a frame. The patient(s) will receive a frame that can be decorated with patient(s) will receive a frame that can be decorated with assorted art materials. This will enhance creativity and assorted art materials. This will enhance creativity and cognitive thought.cognitive thought.

Step 9: Special EventStep 9: Special Event Halloween Party with other Halloween Party with other patients patients

The special event will include the patient(s) participating in the festivities The special event will include the patient(s) participating in the festivities of the Halloween party program.of the Halloween party program.

There will be music, dancing, decorations, food and much more.There will be music, dancing, decorations, food and much more. This program will enhance social skills between the participant(s) and This program will enhance social skills between the participant(s) and

other patients attending the Halloween party program.other patients attending the Halloween party program.

ConclusionConclusion This program is a fun and creative This program is a fun and creative

learning experience for geriatric learning experience for geriatric patients. This method of themed patients. This method of themed programming is an excellent way programming is an excellent way for patients to improve their skills for patients to improve their skills cognitively, socially, physically, cognitively, socially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. My spiritually, and emotionally. My program demonstrated that if the program demonstrated that if the patient participates, the program patient participates, the program will definitely improve the will definitely improve the participant(s) weak areas in the participant(s) weak areas in the domains. domains.

The art activities and photography The art activities and photography program topped off the program topped off the experience with the patient(s) not experience with the patient(s) not only leaving the activity being only leaving the activity being able to recall what they learned, able to recall what they learned, but also being able to reflect on but also being able to reflect on the happy experience that they the happy experience that they were apart of.were apart of.

Additional PicturesAdditional Pictures