Gloria Hoffner, of Guitar by Gloria and Science for Seniors shared this with me.
Re-Creative Resources Magazine has named The Sterling Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Activity Department as winner of the June 2011 STAR Award for outstanding activity programs, highlighting The Great Ticket Turn-In. Sterling is located at 318 South Orange Street in Media.
Nancy Newman, is Sterling Activity Director. Kelley Smith, Sterling Activity Assistant, created The Great Ticket Turn-In. Activity department members are: Joan DiSciullo, Sharyn Carr, Carole Erricson, Joyce McCormick, Inna Melnyk, Louise Smith, Jean Walker and Gloria Hoffner.
The Great Ticket Turn-In brings together residents who enjoy different program events into a shared day of fun!
Here is how it works....
Throughout the year residents receive tickets when they participate in programs at Sterling. These tickets may be redeemed weekly for snacks, toiletries, etc. and can be used twice each year for The Great Ticket Turn-In.
Newman selects a date for the event and posts it on the calendar. Residents then have two weeks to turn in all their tickets to Smith. She counts the tickets and makes a master list of residents and their number of tickets - this list is a secret until the day of The Great Ticket Turn-In.
On that day, Sterling's dining room becomes a Game Show Stage! Smith - dressed in formal wear and a blond wig - is the Vanna White of Sterling. As residents "Ohh” and "aah" a collection of goodies are modeled in Carol Merrill style by Smith. The special prizes, gathered by Newman and her staff who watch local store sales for bargains, range from purses to costume jewelry, perfume and aftershave to hats and men's wear to handmade afghans.
Residents gathered in a horseshoe wait in anticipation as Smith then announces the resident with the most tickets - last time the winner had 1,662 tickets!!! The winner is then invited to "Come on Down!" They may select ANY gift. When they have chosen, the residents and staff clap and each winner has their photo taken with 'Vanna'.
As the event continues, the resident with the next highest number of participation tickets selects a prize. When everyone who has turned in tickets has received a prize, anyone who did not have any tickets selects a gift from a table filled with smaller prizes. Everyone at the event, all residents, receive a prize and enjoy their own Queen (or King) for a Day moment.
And there are special contests - all residents have an equal chance on the grand prize - recently a jewelry box - for guessing the total number of tickets collected. The last time this was 10, 554 tickets. The resident who guessed closest without going over guessed 9,000 tickets. There is also The Great Ticket Turn Over-Under Flip, an all resident heads and tails game where the winner wins 25 tickets to start them on their way for the next Great Ticket Turn-In.
The Great Ticket Turn-In has become a resident favorite. Family members attend, residents congratulate the top ticket holders for weeks afterward, and gifts are shown off with pride. But most of all this activity encourages all residents to come out, be engaged in activities and try new programs throughout the year.
Congratulations to Sterling Nursing and Rehab Center on Orange Street, Media, PA for winning the June 2011 Star Award.
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Showing posts with label gloria hoffner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gloria hoffner. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Science for Seniors? What's that?
Gloria Hoffner, a resident here in Delaware County has started a new activity program called Science for Seniors. If you asked her about it, I think the first thing she would tell you is seniors are interested in learning and having fun. Just because they are older does not mean they cannot learn something new or be reminded of something they learned early in life.
Her program Science for Seniors is catching on quite rapidly. She is teaching at Sterling Nursing and Rehab Center in Media, PA. The residents there love Gloria's classes and are quite interested and look forward to what Gloria will come up with next for class. Sterling continues to be a fore runner in activities and recently won a Star Award for their activities including the Great Ticket Turn In. To read about their award and the Great Ticket game, click HERE. To read all about Science for Seniors, click HERE.
Her program Science for Seniors is catching on quite rapidly. She is teaching at Sterling Nursing and Rehab Center in Media, PA. The residents there love Gloria's classes and are quite interested and look forward to what Gloria will come up with next for class. Sterling continues to be a fore runner in activities and recently won a Star Award for their activities including the Great Ticket Turn In. To read about their award and the Great Ticket game, click HERE. To read all about Science for Seniors, click HERE.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Making Music: Chichester Alumni Band -Open to All
This blog submitted by guest blogger, Gloria Hoffner, owner of Guitar With Gloria, proud member of Chichester Alumni Band.
Americans love music! We play it in our elevators, use it to calm us in dental chairs, turn up the iPod volume to tune out our parents, remember it as we recall our childhoods, and celebrate it annually during Making Music Week, May 1 through 7th 2011. In fact, according to a 2006 Gallop Poll, Americans make up the most musical country on the planet!
The survey found, U.S. residents purchase 42.7 percent of all musical instruments in the world. Our closest competitor is Japan at 15.6 percent.
Fifty-two percent of all American homes have at least one musician and forty percent have two or more musicians. Most of these musicians were introduced to music through a parent or a teacher.
Eighty five percent of Americans believe music is very important to the quality of life – and a whopping 67 percent wish they played an instrument!
This is no surprise to the members of the Chichester Alumni Community Band – now 24 years old and going strong. The band brings together beginners and experts, young in years and young at heart, who played in a school band, a community youth group, a church praise band, a drum and bugle corp or alone on their back porch. Chichester Alumni Community Band musicians have one common goal - to play music for their community. The band performs at local parades, summer concerts and once a month at a long term care facility.
Listening to the band perform benefits seniors who attend the concerts. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Gerntological Nursing found that nursing home residents who listened to 20 minutes of music experienced less stress and better sleep patterns than those in a control group who did not listen to music.
The art of making music also has health benefits for musicians. In the book, “The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” author Norman Doidge, said,“ The more we participate in mentally stimulating activities, the less likely we are to get Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Not all activities are equal in this regard. Those that involve genuine concentration – studying a musical instrument, playing board games, reading and dancing – are associated with a lower risk for dementia.”
So in May as we celebrate Making Music Week, as well as Nursing Home Week May 8 – 14, 2011and National Older Americans Month consider dusting off that drum, getting that high school flute down from the closet shelf, finding the trombone your mother paid for from her grocery savings and come join the Chichester Alumni Community Band! Membership is open to everyone no matter where you live and what school you attended. No audition, no pressure, no homework – just fun and healthy mental stimulation.
We meet Tuesday evenings, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Reliance Fire Company in Chichester. Come for a listen, come to ask about possible dates we might perform for your group - come and be welcomed to enjoy the music!
Americans love music! We play it in our elevators, use it to calm us in dental chairs, turn up the iPod volume to tune out our parents, remember it as we recall our childhoods, and celebrate it annually during Making Music Week, May 1 through 7th 2011. In fact, according to a 2006 Gallop Poll, Americans make up the most musical country on the planet!
The survey found, U.S. residents purchase 42.7 percent of all musical instruments in the world. Our closest competitor is Japan at 15.6 percent.
Fifty-two percent of all American homes have at least one musician and forty percent have two or more musicians. Most of these musicians were introduced to music through a parent or a teacher.
Eighty five percent of Americans believe music is very important to the quality of life – and a whopping 67 percent wish they played an instrument!
This is no surprise to the members of the Chichester Alumni Community Band – now 24 years old and going strong. The band brings together beginners and experts, young in years and young at heart, who played in a school band, a community youth group, a church praise band, a drum and bugle corp or alone on their back porch. Chichester Alumni Community Band musicians have one common goal - to play music for their community. The band performs at local parades, summer concerts and once a month at a long term care facility.
Listening to the band perform benefits seniors who attend the concerts. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Gerntological Nursing found that nursing home residents who listened to 20 minutes of music experienced less stress and better sleep patterns than those in a control group who did not listen to music.
The art of making music also has health benefits for musicians. In the book, “The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” author Norman Doidge, said,“ The more we participate in mentally stimulating activities, the less likely we are to get Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Not all activities are equal in this regard. Those that involve genuine concentration – studying a musical instrument, playing board games, reading and dancing – are associated with a lower risk for dementia.”
So in May as we celebrate Making Music Week, as well as Nursing Home Week May 8 – 14, 2011and National Older Americans Month consider dusting off that drum, getting that high school flute down from the closet shelf, finding the trombone your mother paid for from her grocery savings and come join the Chichester Alumni Community Band! Membership is open to everyone no matter where you live and what school you attended. No audition, no pressure, no homework – just fun and healthy mental stimulation.
We meet Tuesday evenings, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Reliance Fire Company in Chichester. Come for a listen, come to ask about possible dates we might perform for your group - come and be welcomed to enjoy the music!
Monday, January 17, 2011
National Activity Professionals Week: Guitar with Gloria, Cooking, Shopping,BINGO
National Activity Professionals Week January 16 – 22, 2011
Ask a random number of people, different ages, different backgrounds, etc. to expressed their first thoughts on the words, ‘nursing home.’ The usual results: old people, rocking chairs, pudding, and boredom.
Yes, 65 percent of the approximately 1.5 million residents of a nursing home are over age 85, according to studies by Medicare (2008, the most recent year). Yes, there are rocking chairs as well as lounge chairs, dining room chairs, etc. and yes, pudding is on the menu. However, the one word that does not describe a 21st century nursing home is“boredom”!
Instead, residents experience daily activities from art lessons to poker games, and trips to malls, theaters, and social gatherings! There are religious programs, cooking classes, poetry, book and garden clubs, theme parties and dinners, live music, games of chance and visitors of all ages. These daily activities are provided for residents of nursing homes, as well as independent retirement communities, assisted living facilities, community senior centers and adult day centers through the tireless work of activity professionals.
This is National Activity Professionals Week – January 16 – 22, 2011 – designated by the National Association of Activity Professionals, an organization whose members are dedicated to serving the elderly. The profession began in 1987 when the U.S. Congress recognized that along with serving the physical health needs of nursing home residents, the facility must provide trained individuals to serve the residents’ social, physical and mental health needs. Federal and state laws require long term care facilities to provide and document activities of all residents. A nursing home can be cited by the government agencies for failing to provide appropriate activities to all residents.
Activity professionals are trained and certified to provide for residents with special needs, including those on vents and individuals with dementia. These professionals plan activities designed to work side-by-side the medical staff and with residents’ family members. Every day, activity professionals provide large group activities, such as musical sing-a-longs and worship services, small group activities, such as card games, and one-on-one activities including large print books and magazines, audio books, in-room movies, crafts, and friendly visits from trained therapy pets.
It is not unusual for activity professionals to assist as residents who never painted and watch as they become artists late in life and for a group sing-a-long of old time radio favorites to bring smiles and active discussion of the residents’ memory of their trip to see, “Old Blue Eyes”.
Yes, there are still some bingo games at nursing homes, but activity professionals also provide daily mostly general public unknown programs that stimulate the mind! These include science lessons, history days, math and memory games – all in keeping with the most recent research that a healthy human brain can and will continue to grow new neuropaths as long as it continues to learn new information. (The Mature Mind by Gene Cohen).
The federal Medical office estimates that 50 percent of nursing home residents have no family members and 60 percent of residents have no outside visitors. For these residents, and for residents with loving friends and family, it is the activity professional who provides the engaging fun and life enriching atmosphere that promotes healthy lives every day.
This article written by and emailed to me for this blog by Gloria Hoffner, a Certified Activity Professional and winner of the 2010 NCCAP Best Practice Award. Ms. Hoffner will be speaking at the NAAP Convention Mrytle Beach, SC March 30 - April 3, 2011. To read more about her or Guitar with Gloria, click HERE.
Ask a random number of people, different ages, different backgrounds, etc. to expressed their first thoughts on the words, ‘nursing home.’ The usual results: old people, rocking chairs, pudding, and boredom.
Yes, 65 percent of the approximately 1.5 million residents of a nursing home are over age 85, according to studies by Medicare (2008, the most recent year). Yes, there are rocking chairs as well as lounge chairs, dining room chairs, etc. and yes, pudding is on the menu. However, the one word that does not describe a 21st century nursing home is“boredom”!
Instead, residents experience daily activities from art lessons to poker games, and trips to malls, theaters, and social gatherings! There are religious programs, cooking classes, poetry, book and garden clubs, theme parties and dinners, live music, games of chance and visitors of all ages. These daily activities are provided for residents of nursing homes, as well as independent retirement communities, assisted living facilities, community senior centers and adult day centers through the tireless work of activity professionals.
This is National Activity Professionals Week – January 16 – 22, 2011 – designated by the National Association of Activity Professionals, an organization whose members are dedicated to serving the elderly. The profession began in 1987 when the U.S. Congress recognized that along with serving the physical health needs of nursing home residents, the facility must provide trained individuals to serve the residents’ social, physical and mental health needs. Federal and state laws require long term care facilities to provide and document activities of all residents. A nursing home can be cited by the government agencies for failing to provide appropriate activities to all residents.
Activity professionals are trained and certified to provide for residents with special needs, including those on vents and individuals with dementia. These professionals plan activities designed to work side-by-side the medical staff and with residents’ family members. Every day, activity professionals provide large group activities, such as musical sing-a-longs and worship services, small group activities, such as card games, and one-on-one activities including large print books and magazines, audio books, in-room movies, crafts, and friendly visits from trained therapy pets.
It is not unusual for activity professionals to assist as residents who never painted and watch as they become artists late in life and for a group sing-a-long of old time radio favorites to bring smiles and active discussion of the residents’ memory of their trip to see, “Old Blue Eyes”.
Yes, there are still some bingo games at nursing homes, but activity professionals also provide daily mostly general public unknown programs that stimulate the mind! These include science lessons, history days, math and memory games – all in keeping with the most recent research that a healthy human brain can and will continue to grow new neuropaths as long as it continues to learn new information. (The Mature Mind by Gene Cohen).
The federal Medical office estimates that 50 percent of nursing home residents have no family members and 60 percent of residents have no outside visitors. For these residents, and for residents with loving friends and family, it is the activity professional who provides the engaging fun and life enriching atmosphere that promotes healthy lives every day.
This article written by and emailed to me for this blog by Gloria Hoffner, a Certified Activity Professional and winner of the 2010 NCCAP Best Practice Award. Ms. Hoffner will be speaking at the NAAP Convention Mrytle Beach, SC March 30 - April 3, 2011. To read more about her or Guitar with Gloria, click HERE.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sterling Nursing Home Media, PA Wins National Best Practices Award
Sterling Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is pleased to announce the Sterling Activity Department has won the 2010 National Certification Council for Activity Professionals’ (NCCAP) Best Practices Award.
Selected as first in the nation from entries submitted by retirement communities, assisted living facilities, adult day care and nursing homes across the United States, the award was presented by the NCCAP at their annual symposium held recently (June 4 -5th) in Ohio. NCCAP is the only national certification body specifically serving senior populations.
Under the leadership of Nancy Newman, Sterling Activity Director, the award recognized the monthly Sterling Science Program during which residents enjoy learning about scientific discoveries and current events through hands-on experiments, such as a model volcano built by Kelley Smith, Sterling activity assistant with science information provided by Gloria Hoffner, a Sterling musician.
Sterling’s activity department provides residents with a wealth of daily activities including music, art lessons, cooking demonstrations, garden club, men’s poker club, religious services, brain strengthening games, pet therapy and in season bar-b-qs and box lunch socials. Special events include carnivals with games of chance and mouth watering funnel cake, guest entertainers, garden tea parties with strolling musicians, and holiday theme parties from a festival musical Flag Day celebration to Halloween costume parades!
The residents enjoy outings to local sights including Redwood, a community center in Upland with live music and dancing, as well as trips to local stores, baseball games in season, Hedgerow Theatre, church dinners, and the senior center.
And every day, sometimes twice a day, Sterling presents residents with individual birthday cakes and celebrations because Sterling believes each special resident deserves recognition on their special day! To learn more about Sterling, click HERE.
The information in this blog was reported to me by Gloria Hoffner of Guitar with Gloria.
Selected as first in the nation from entries submitted by retirement communities, assisted living facilities, adult day care and nursing homes across the United States, the award was presented by the NCCAP at their annual symposium held recently (June 4 -5th) in Ohio. NCCAP is the only national certification body specifically serving senior populations.
Under the leadership of Nancy Newman, Sterling Activity Director, the award recognized the monthly Sterling Science Program during which residents enjoy learning about scientific discoveries and current events through hands-on experiments, such as a model volcano built by Kelley Smith, Sterling activity assistant with science information provided by Gloria Hoffner, a Sterling musician.
Sterling’s activity department provides residents with a wealth of daily activities including music, art lessons, cooking demonstrations, garden club, men’s poker club, religious services, brain strengthening games, pet therapy and in season bar-b-qs and box lunch socials. Special events include carnivals with games of chance and mouth watering funnel cake, guest entertainers, garden tea parties with strolling musicians, and holiday theme parties from a festival musical Flag Day celebration to Halloween costume parades!
The residents enjoy outings to local sights including Redwood, a community center in Upland with live music and dancing, as well as trips to local stores, baseball games in season, Hedgerow Theatre, church dinners, and the senior center.
And every day, sometimes twice a day, Sterling presents residents with individual birthday cakes and celebrations because Sterling believes each special resident deserves recognition on their special day! To learn more about Sterling, click HERE.
The information in this blog was reported to me by Gloria Hoffner of Guitar with Gloria.
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