Decentralizing Activities

Activities Director, Lynsey Capone, started working at Hale Makua Wailuku in July of last year and she has done a tremendous job at finding new ways and activities to imbue residents' daily lives with variety and spontaneity, the antidote to boredom. According to Lynsey, "No one program or activity will occupy everyone, ever. With this understanding, we have set out to decentralize activities at Hale Makua Wailuku. We have a core group that involves most individuals, but in the neighborhood day rooms we also have smaller groups. This allows for more individual-appropriate alternatives for residents who are not interested in Bingo games or baking that are regularly scheduled on the calendar."

Some of the benefits that we anticipate arising from the decentralization of activities are:

• Residents with limited attention spans and impaired cognitive skills will remain engaged in diversional tasks and activities for longer periods of time when the activities are throughout the neighborhoods rather than a traditionally structured group
• Residents can utilize their exiting skills and abilities, which are the antidotes to helplessness
• There is an enhanced relationship between residents and staff, as it helps staff to view residents as a person rather than a diagnosis

Our Activities teams encourage residents to participate in regularly scheduled events and activities designed to improve their quality of life. Activities such as crafts, games, classes, and special celebrations are scheduled daily. Yoga and shuffle board are just a couple of the new activities that Wailuku residents are able to choose from. The Activities staff also encourages residents to develop and cultivate their own interests and hobbies.