© 2020, Daily Sparkle™ from Everyday Miracles Ltd. All rights reserved. www.dailysparkle.co.uk

February 2020

Date Staff Topic & Column Suggestions Type LinksCraftFull weaving is very difficult, at any age. However, there are some lovely simple weaving kits online and from craft shops that require less dexterityFamily and FriendsMany people live far from family and friends. Some of these will phone to speak to relatives and residents they know, but why not reverse the process? With consent, set up a phone call from a resident. Keeping in touch and feeling connected is important for everyoneExerciseLightweight hula-hoops are a great way to have some fun and some exercise at the same timeEntertainment (Get the Mail on Sunday on 2nd February)The Gambols' were a favourite comic strip that used to be in the Daily Express. But you can still look at and read to residents the latest Gambols goings on as they are now printed every Sunday in the Mail on SundayCSTExtend the quiz - think of, or look up and give clues, some more words beginning with Ex…..Personal Care (link also with OTY on 19th February)Ideal for your hairdresser to use these two OTY articles, one mainly on men's haircuts, and one on the hairstyles and hair products of the 1950s for women. SongEnjoy listening to and joining in with these wonderful classic songsFun and SensoryAll ages enjoy blowing and trying to catch bubbles. Use large bubble kits

CONTENT INSPIRED ACTIVITY SESSIONS PLANNER

WWW - Weaving1st http://bit.ly/2npr3Kr

2nd AOTY - Telephone

conversations

(You don’t have to do them all on the same day as publication!)

3rd WWW - Hula-hoops

3rd R OTY -'The Gambols'

3rd Qu - Word Quiz

5th HD OTY - Haircuts

6th Qu - Ivor Novello Songs https://amzn.to/2mUDdLc

9th TLF - Blowing bubbles

© 2020, Daily Sparkle™ from Everyday Miracles Ltd. All rights reserved. www.dailysparkle.co.uk

February 2020

Date Staff Topic & Column Suggestions Type LinksMenu and ChoiceA week of articles linked to food, menu and choice. Today, have a variety of egg sandwiches - some with cress and some without - some with mayonnaise and some withoutMenu and ChoiceChoose one or more of these pies and dishes to put on the menuFood and SensoryAn old favourite - put on as a teatime treat, suggest using more than one of the flavours, and encourage residents to react to the memories evoked by the flavours and texturesTasting and Sensory (see also the follow-up OTY letter on 20th February)Have a tasting session of plain and flavoured crisps. What is the flavour? How would you describe it? What does it remind you of?CST and Family and FriendsHaving tried phoning family and friends - see OTY 2nd February - this time write letters to family and friends. It may just be helping to put a word or two and sign a nice card, or it could be sending a full-page letterMenu Have Special K available for breakfastFilm and ChoiceChoose one of the films based round RAF stories from the quiz. Enjoy a film afternoon of daring exploits and wartime romanceEntertainmentWatch a production of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. Even those who have never seen ballet before may be uplifted and cheered by the artistry of the dancersParticipationIn the quiz, Joan is making a pot of tea with biscuits for her and her neighbour. Arrange for residents who are able to make tea for two with a friend or fellow resident. Risk Assess: care and supervision with kettles and boiling waterCST and FunAsk in a local group of metal detectorists. Chat about their hobby. Could they bring in some of their finds? Could they set up for residents to try their equipment - and find something special?

10th KTLF - Egg and cress

sandwiches

13th K Qu - Pie Puzzle

15th K OTY - Angel Delight

15th K Qu - Crisps

17th A OTY - Writing letters

20th OTD - 'Swan Lake' ballet https://amzn.to/2n0pSRm

Qu - Making a cup of tea

18th K WWW - Special K cereal

19th Qu - Films - RAF stories

21st

22nd M OTY - Metal detecting

© 2020, Daily Sparkle™ from Everyday Miracles Ltd. All rights reserved. www.dailysparkle.co.uk

February 2020

Date Staff Topic & Column Suggestions Type LinksParticipation

Help as much as possible with gardening tasks. Plan to plant some potatoes. Set up seed potatoes for chitting. (See the activity in the March 2020 Resource Pack Activity Booklet for more details)

Treat and SensoryStill available and still one of the most interesting of tastes - Fry's Turkish DelightCST and PoetryYou can find the whole poem ‘Winter-Time’ on www.poemhunter.com. (This is a useful website because it can often find a poem even if someone only remembers one line of it). What are residents' favourite poems? Can they recite all or any part of them? Participation and SensorySet up a washing bowl, special wool detergent such as Lux, Stergene or Woolite and some woollen garments - the smell of wet wool is very evocative, and the feel of it is a great sensory experience. (Link with the theme of Wash Day in the March 2020 Resource Pack Magazine, and see the washing activity in the March Activity Booklet for more details)Art and SensoryPrint colour copies of these paintings from the internet, and get a book containing the work of these artists for people to browse through and discuss/talk about

5) CST stands for Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. Please see the Monthly Plans page at www.dailysparkle.co.uk/monthlyplan for more information

1) Some links may lead to sites designed for children. Care must be taken to adapt these so that you do not in any way patronise or infantilise your residents. Links have been chosen carefully, but are examples only. The Daily Sparkle does not endorse, and is not responsible for, any product or service from these links.2) The Daily Sparkle column codes are:OTD = On This Day WWW = Way We Were OTY = Over To YouTLF = That's Life Qu = Quiz3) Staff Codes: (Where particular members of staff may be specially involved) A - Admin, C - Carers, D - Domestic staff/Cleaners, G - Gardener, H - Handyperson/Maintenance, HD - Hairdresser, K - Kitchen, L - Laundry/Housekeeping, M - Managers, N - Nurses, R - Reception4) Type of activity guide icons are:

28th L WWW - Washing wool

24th WWW - Turkish Delight

26th WWW - Favourite poems https://www.poemhunter.com/

https://amzn.to/2nqMU4b

23rd G OTY - Gardening tasks

28th OTY - The Scottish Colourists