Y I I A R R t I ' T l~t:Rt, lNl".t,

Let's Talk!

Fifty topics guaranteed to get discussion stal, ed.

D o you want to improve your patients' self-image, decrease their boredom, increase interac- tion among staff and residents, decrease negative patient behaviors and reinforce positive ones, plus stimula'te verbalization? Group socialization sessions may be the answer. Conducting weekly group sessions just takes a little planning. Limit meetings to 30-45 minutes, have a definite structure, and only include patients who are not disruptive in a group. Begin each meeting by asking residents to give the date, nexl have members recite the names of others (to encourage memory and socialization), then introduce new residents.

Now you're ready to move on to the topic. The session topics listed here are varied and have all been used successfully at a veteran's nursing home. They are designed to stimulate the senses. This is important because the elderly, whether institutionalized or at home, can become pro- gressively nonverbal as the aging process diminishes vision, hearing, and mobility. These 50 topics are general. By personalizing them, you can boost your patients' verbalization and feel- ings of self-worth. Plus, leading a weekly group can be challenging and rewarding for you.

WHAT TO TALK ABOUT

Sensory Sessions

1 Colors: Have residents name the colors of construction paper as you hold up the sheets. Ask if the color makes them feel hot or cold, sad or happy. Let them name objects indoors and outside that are this color. 2 Puppets: Ask residents to tell sto- ries, express feelings, and portray fears, using the puppets. 3 Wildlife: Borrow stuffed animals from a museum or arrange for an ani- mal expert to come to talk. Discuss habitats, mating, foods, pets, and na- ture facts. 4 Famous Lady For A Day: Distribute wigs, hats, and scarves to women resi- dents and have each devise a costume and talk about who she is portraying.

HARRIET BERLINER, RN-C, MSN, ARNP, is coordinator of the geriatric nursing set'vice at Group Health of Puget Sound, Seattle, XyA.

5 Barnyard Visit: Arrange with a local animal shelter or youth group to bring in various animals. Then have the resi- dents discuss proper care for the ani- mals; allow hands-on contact. 6 Surprise Bag: Give each resident a shopping bag containing a variety of smaff, common objects. Ask residents to select an item and discuss how it is used.

�9 7 Botany; Bring in fresh leaves or flow- ers. Ask residents to touch and smell them, then talk about gardens and fa- vorite plants. 8 Halloween: Let the residents "dress up" pumpkins with paint, glue, and glit- ter. They can reminisce about dressing up as a child, and maybe read aloud Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

9 Stuffed Animals: Have residents give the animals names and tell where they might be found in nature, or fic- tion. Discuss the toys the residents had as children.

10 Ladies' Day: Arrange with a cos- metics company to demonstrate prod- ucts geared for elderly skincare. Dis- cuss how residents used to dress up when they were young, fashion changes, and different hair styles.

11 Fashion Show: Ask a local clothing store or specialty shop for the disabled to put on a fashion show. The residents can act as models and you can discuss fashions from powdered wigs to mini- skirts. "I 2 Art Critique: Bring in sculptures and artwork in different media (can of- ten be borrowed from a library or mu- seum). Then discuss different aft forms, likes and dislikes, and favorite artists and their works. Then let the pa- tients touch the artwork and discuss the different textures and effects. 13 Touch Stimulation: Have each re- sident reach into a bag, close his or her eyes, and try to match samples of vari- ous fabric swatches and sandpaper by touch.

GeriatficNursin~..Januarv/February 1991 21

14 Architecture: Using large sheets of paper and markers, draw simple house types and discuss them.

Music Sessions

15 Favorite Music: Get a tape player and cassettes of music from different time periods like the Big Band era. Pa- tients can sing or clap to the music and reminisce about dates and dancing and favorite singers and groups. 16 Sing-a-Long: Have someone play piano or guitar and then you can all sing "old favorites." 17 Percussion "Jam": Borrow instru- ments or make them using common items like combs. Let the residents "play along" to piano or taped music. This is especially fun at holiday times.

Reminiscence Sessions

18 War Stories: Talk about wartime job changes, hardships, rationing, and loss of loved ones. 19 Birthdays: Discuss the ages of par- ticipants, who's the oldest and who's the youngest. How did they celebrate in the past? How would they like to cele- brate now? Ask what age they would like to be again, and why. How old would they like to live to be? 20 Holidays: Each month, discuss holidays and how patients used to cel- ebrate them. 21 Memories: Use tapes or videos of old radio or television comedies and humorous old commercials. Have the residents name all of their favorite co- medians and programs, tell some old jokes, and discuss vaudeville versus the comedians of today. 22 Home Cooking: Bring fresh home- made bread. Then talk about the resi- dents' favorite meals, their own best recipes and helpful hints, and their spe- cial cooking talents. 23 Advertising: Borrow old newspa- pers or magazines from a library and discuss old versus new products. How have things changed? Compare old and current prices. 24 Home Remedies: What did their mother give them when they were sick? Discuss advances in medicine, country doctors, and home remedies. 25 Presidents: Have the elders name all of the presidents, then discuss old campaign slogans, and different par- ties and platforms.

26 spots: Show old sports films and talk about the resident's favorite ath- letes, "superstars," the Olympics, and artificial turf. 27 School Days: Ask residents about their favorite teachers, schools, types of discipline, grading systems, and best subjects. 28 Occupations: Discuss careers and jobs and how they've changed over the years, salaries, equal pay, women in the job market. Ask if they would work for a woman boss. 29 Idols: Have the residents talk about the most influential people in their life. Then ask: Do you think you have emu- lated them? Whom do you feel you have had an affect upon? Can you name some famous world leaders? 30 Old Cars: Pass around photos of old automobiles. What was the resi- dent's first car? What part has the auto played in their life (weddings, rushing wife to hospital to give birth)?

General Discussion

31 Astronomy: Hang up a large poster of the solar system. Then residents can name planets, describe their sizes and compositions, and discuss space trav- el, astronauts, and inventions. Ask if they would like to be astronauts and where they would go. What will future life i n space be like? 32 Geography: Use a large map of the U.S. orthe world. Have residents show where they were born and have lived. Tel( travel stories. 33 Favorite Dinner: Ask residents where they would go? With whom? What would they eat if they could go anywhere in the world? 34 Let's Make A Meal: Use pictures from diet or nutrition posters. Serve sliced fruit and iced tea or punch during discussion. Talk about proper nutri- tion, the four basic food groups, and plan a full day's meals. 35 Love: What does love mean? Should everyone marry? Discuss wed- dings and families, and today's morals versus the past. 36 At The Movies: Have the residents name all the cowboys, comedians, male and female stars, animal stars, villains, movie monsters, and silent film stars they can. 37 Plan A Picnic: Plan the menu, date, and time, and enlist volunteers to bar- becue or arrange for box lunches in- doors. Discuss past family picnics.

38 Ethnic Day: Talk about ethnic sou- venirs, photos, and costumes brought by residents or their families. With the help of families and staff, this can be expanded to include ethnic music, food, and decorations. 39 Politics: Use current events mate- rials like newspapers and magazines. Discuss present world and national events. Talk about different political systems and how they're changing. 40 Travel: Choose a specific country and use slides, posters, or film to start a discussion of dress, customs, foods, products, and travel. Staff can also show vacation films. 41 Guest Speakers: Use the local col- lege and hospital speaker's bureaus, which are often free. 42 Values: Ask the residents what be- liefs and values are important to them. if they had their life to live over, what would they do differently? 43 Shipwrecked: Ask what three things the patients would pack in their suitcase if they knew they were going to be shipwrecked on a desert island. 44 Literature: Discuss favorite au- thors and books, story types, and forms of writing the patients like best. Taping their stories to start a "living li- brary" might be a good idea. 45 Poetry: Choose a poem and read it as a group or have a member read or recite one of his or her favorites. Dis- cuss what it meant, other poems re- membered, and poems they had to memorize as a child. 46 Clowns: Put up posters of clowns or circuses. Talk about the types of clowns they remember, their favorites, and circus memories. What makes people laugh? 47 Life AfterDeath: What are the pa- tients' religious beliefs, concepts of heaven and hell. Do they fear death? Do they believe in reincarnation? 48 Inventions: Discuss the first inven- tions made by man, the most signifi- cant ones, the most harmful. What would the residents like to see in- vented? Is man's life easier or harder today, and why? 49 Pen Pal Club: Contact the local school or Girl Scout troop and ask that they send letters and photos to the re- sidents to be read and answered as a group. 50 Alphabet Soup: As you say each letter of the alphabet, have residents call out people, places, and things that begin with that letter. GN