For my portion of the project, my fellow interns and I decided to work in the activities

department. We were lucky enough to be able to create activities each week for the residents.

We wanted to focus each activity on nutritional information and social/mental health. For the

nutritional information activities, we created a smoothie activity, yogurt bar activity, sugar drink

dosage activity and MyPlate. For the smoothie activity we found three healthy smoothie recipes

and showed the residents how to make them. We also told the residents how it is important

healthy, low sugar ingredients for smoothies. After we made them we let each resident try each

one. This was needed to teach residents healthy options for sweet treats. This activity went very

well, the residents loved the smoothies. The only thing I would do different is not freeze the fruit

the night before the activity, it was hard to cut. Materials needed were fruit, almond milk, nonfat

greek yogurt, peanut butter, and a blender. The next activity was the yogurt bar activity. We

used nonfat greek yogurt and an assortment of fresh fruit and nuts. We let the residents circle

what they anted on a sheet we made for them. This was needed to let residents know the benefits

of eating healthy choices for snacks instead of calorie filled junk food. This went very well, the

residents loved learning about benefits of eating healthy. I would have taken the orders in a

different way, it got confusing because we were running back and forth to every resident.

Materials needed were fresh fruit, yogurt, nuts and granola. The next activity was the sugar

drink activity. We measured out the amount of sugar in grams for each drink being served at

fellowship. We measured enough out for a cup of each one. We showed the residents how much

sugar each rink contained. This was needed to inform the amount of sugar they were consuming

these drinks. We also gave them alternatives to cut down on sugar when they choose to drink

these drinks, such as adding water to dilute the sugar intake. This went very well. The residents

were shocked to see how much sugar each drink contained. I would do nothing differently for
this activity. Materials needed were measuring cup, plastic bags, sugar, cups, juices and markers

for labeling. The next activity was MyPlate activity. We printed out food options being served

weakly at Fellowship Home. We had each resident fix their plate they way they would if it was

real food. After each resident completed this we pulled up the MyPlate guidelines. We then told

residents the benefits of following the MyPlate guidelines. This was needed to teach them what

MyPlate was and the benefits of following the guidelines. This activity went well. The only

thing I would change would be to print off more food options we ran out of certain foods.

Materials needed were printed foods, paper plates, markers and Myplate guidelines.

The next activities focused on more social and mental health. We wanted to create

activities that made them come and interact with us and each other. All of these activities were

needed for their social health. We created three activities that were similar. We had a

valentine’s day, President’s day, and St. Patrick’s day word search. We rewarded each resident

with a piece of candy when the thought of a word. The St. Patrick’s day and valentine’s day

were the same. We let residents say words that reminded them of these holidays. This was

needed for social interaction. I would have done nothing different for this activity. Materials

needed were a white board, markers and candy. Another activity we did was letting the residents

make Valentine’s day wreaths. This was needed for the residents to have social activity with one

another. We also wanted them to have a craft for the holiday. We made a wire hanger circle and

had residents tie different color fabric on the circle to make a wreath. Materials needed were

wire hanger and fabric. The next activity was a make a wish activity. We printed out a

dandelion and had residents paint the end of each dandelion. The reason for this activity was to

let residents “make a wish” when they were finished. Another reason for this was to bring
residents together. The materials needed were paper with dandelion, paint, plates and paint

brushes.