 When a resident moves in, I find it my personal responsibility to find out what makes that person feel young. Every year, I have an "Unbirthday Party" where we make believe it is everyone's birthday and all the residents are able to choose to be any age they wish. It's a lot of fun to walk into the room and say "Happy Birthday Bertha", Happy Birthday Marta". They get a confused look on their face and say "It’s not my birthday?" I explain that we are pretending that it is everybody’s big day and it has NEVER failed, even the grumpiest character has given a smirk and said, "Well happy birthday then!" This is providing I say it with silly enthusiasm and a silly birthday hat on my head!
During the first part of the day, I tie a balloon to every walker and ask them how old they want to be today. My assistant and I do this to every resident in the room while party music is playing. I then put that number on a sticky (brightly colored ones are cheap and colorful) and stick it on them and tell them that for today, they ARE that age. Some want to be 5, some want to be just the age they are, but the majority want to be 21 or 39. I do try to arrange this on a day I have an entertainer and then I can call the show "The Unbirthday Party"." Young at heart “is of course a classic but if you don’t have a performance, you can put on a party cd with "hands up" and the alley cat" and have your own party! Of course, I have Happy Birthday signs everywhere (you can make or get them at the dollar store) and I even have some pin the tail on the donkeys for decorations. Go ahead and play it with their eyes open if you want! You can even play a slow version of musical chairs!
I love my big balloon in the picture that I got at Oriental Trading for $29 and is used over and over. Don't forget to give everyone a pointy hat and noise blower, both available at the dollar store at 8 for $1. Watch their attitude change when the noise maker is in their mouth! They become a child before your eyes! I bring out a huge cake made by our kitchen (or you could make your own cake as a part of the day). I put many candles on the cake and I first explain how lucky we are to get an extra wish this year so think carefully before I come around! I go around to the residents and have a few at a time blow out (or clap out the candles while making a wish (the new thing for sanitary reasons). Most of them wish for health but they're not supposed to tell me! We exchange a huge meaningful hug as if it really were a birthday because it is! In the evening program, I talk about having an attitude of gratitude and how they need to make the most of every day as if it were their birthday.
Some quotes include:
• Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. ~Mark Twain
• You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. ~Douglas MacArthur
• Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis
• Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. ~Jim Fiebig
• Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. ~Samuel Ullman
Notice this day requires no costume but a silly pointed cardboard hat, maybe a few banners, leis and noise makers, but is a proven that we are as young as we let ourselves feel. It is up to you to do it for you and it is up to you to inspire your residents to use that imagination muscle to keep their spirits young. They all feel as young as they say they are. There is no reason why residents shouldn't feel that way every day!
Happy Unbirthday!
|
GINGER'S CREATIVE COSTUMES AND ACTIVITIES