Courses
Loads of Opportunities for Bringing Generations Together
Discover creative ways to bring younger and older generations together through meaningful group activities, one-to-one engagement, and community partnerships. Explore practical ideas for nursing homes, assisted living, and senior living programs.
Engaging Male Programming: Purpose, Identity, and Dignity
Create meaningful programming for male residents that honors their identity, life history, dignity, and sense of purpose. Learn why some men withdraw, how to rebuild meaningful connections, and practical ways to develop engaging men's groups and individual activities that support participation and quality of life.
Immersive Travel Programming: Bringing the World to Residents
Bring the world to your residents without leaving the building! Learn to create immersive travel experiences that reconnect residents with meaningful places, memories, routines, and cultures. Discover how to transform ordinary spaces using sensory details, develop engaging experiences on small budgets, involve residents and volunteers, and evaluate the impact of your programming.
Back to Nature: Outdoor Programming
Bring the benefits of nature into your Activity Department through meaningful indoor and outdoor experiences. Explore how nature supports comfort, memory, sensory engagement, and emotional connection while learning to create accessible, safe, person-centered activities based on resident interests and preferences. Discover practical ideas you can begin using immediately.
Person-Centered Planning Made Easy
Design meaningful activities that address the real needs behind resident behavior. Learn the psychology of engagement, recognize what residents truly need, and adapt everyday activities to encourage participation, positive behavior, and quality of life. Includes a practical needs-based planning tool you can begin using immediately.
Culture Connections: Connecting Residents with Communities and The World
Refresh your activity program with creative ideas inspired by cultures around the world! Discover how traditions, music, food, games, art, and storytelling can bring new life to familiar activities. Explore meaningful ways to incorporate cultural influences into physical, cognitive, sensory, and social programming while encouraging resident curiosity, connection, and participation.
Flower Power: Enhancing Lives Through Gardening
Discover the therapeutic power of gardening in senior living! Explore how plants, nature, and hands-on horticultural activities can support cognitive, emotional, physical, and social well-being. Learn to create accessible gardening programs, encourage family and community participation, and bring meaningful garden projects, seasonal events, and outdoor experiences to your residents.
Fun With Numbers
Make cognitive stimulation fun, engaging, and accessible with more than 30 creative number games! Explore everything from basic math and everyday life skills to puzzles and interactive group activities. Learn how to introduce, adapt, and incorporate number games for residents across all levels of ability, from memory care to independent living.
Fun With Words
Make cognitive stimulation fun and engaging with more than 30 creative word-game ideas! Discover how familiar word games, letter swaps, word associations, and puzzles can encourage thinking, communication, and participation. Learn how to introduce, adapt, and incorporate activities for residents across different levels of ability, from memory care to independent living.
Giving Back: A Year of Charitable Activities
Help residents discover the joy and purpose of giving back! Explore how charitable activities can encourage meaningful engagement, support well-being, and strengthen connections within your facility and community. Learn to create year-round giving opportunities, monthly service projects, and resident-led initiatives that allow individuals of all abilities to make a positive difference.
Hosting a Bible Study Course
Learn to confidently prepare and lead meaningful Christian Bible studies for interested senior living residents. Explore the foundations of Scripture from a Christian perspective, discover helpful study resources, and learn to create engaging lessons that encourage faith, hope, reflection, and spiritual connection. Includes practical guidance for group Bible studies, individual in-room ministry, and using devotionals, hymnals, and other Christian resources.
Likes, Shares, and Faves: Social Media and Your Activity Program
Discover how social media can enhance activity programming, strengthen community connections, and showcase meaningful resident experiences! Learn to protect resident privacy, choose appropriate platforms, collaborate with your marketing department, and develop engaging content using photos, captions, and hashtags. Explore practical ideas for incorporating social media into your activity program while maintaining a safe, professional online presence.
Pet Therapy: Unconditional Love
Discover how animal companionship can bring comfort, joy, connection, and meaningful engagement to senior living residents! Explore Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA), the benefits of pet visits, and practical ways to introduce animal programs into your facility. Learn about visiting therapy animal teams, in-house pets, appropriate animal screening, and organizations that can help you get started. Includes real-life experiences and useful program resources.
Science for Seniors
Spark curiosity, conversation, and cognitive engagement with fun, hands-on science activities for seniors! Discover how everyday materials like baking soda and vinegar can become fascinating learning experiences. Explore 12 easy experiments, creative holiday science activities, and practical techniques for introducing scientific discovery into your activity calendar. No science background required!
Just for the Theme of It: Thematic Programming
Transform your activity calendar with creative, cohesive themes that bring fresh energy to familiar programs! Learn to develop daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly themes, incorporate existing activities, and collaborate with your interdisciplinary team. Discover practical ways to simplify planning, inspire new ideas, and encourage greater resident participation without adding unnecessary work.
Therapeutically Enhanced Group Activities
Take reminiscence-based activity groups beyond simple conversation! Explore how person-centered psychology, lifespan development, life review, and effective listening can create more meaningful experiences for older adults. Learn practical approaches to encouraging reflection, supporting psychosocial well-being, and sensitively navigating topics such as aging, isolation, personal meaning, and life satisfaction.
Visual Arts for the Aging Population
Discover how visual arts can bring creativity, self-expression, and meaningful connection into the lives of senior living residents! Explore the cognitive, psychological, and social benefits of art while learning effective approaches to planning creative activities for older adults experiencing loss or changes in independence. Includes inspiring real-life examples and a collection of art projects with instructions you can bring directly into your activity program.