Having a nursing home activity calendar can help to provide a sense of security for residents with dementia.  Creating a routine may help dementia patients establish a natural progression of day and night, which may help to diminish Sundowners Syndrome.

The nursing home activity calendar doesn’t need to be a rigid schedule that contains hour by hour activities, but can be a more generalized idea of what will be done in the morning, after lunch and in the evening, providing a sense of stability for the resident.  The nursing home activity calendar will be most effective for helping the residents organize their time if activities are kept uniform, meaning every Monday should contain similar activities, every Tuesday should contain similar activities, etc.

Hanging a large (36 by 48 inch) nursing home activity calendar in a central location in the facility, where everyone can write any changes to the schedule and put specific details about who is working and where they are working, will help the residents feel more secure and better understand their current circumstances.  This may also help relieve any separation anxiety a resident might be feeling with regard to a specific employee or resident, as he or she will be able to see (or be told) when that person will be returning to the facility.

Nursing home activity calendars are a great way to post general announcements.  The Medicare website provides a “Nursing Home Checklist” that can be referenced when choosing a nursing home.  Some quality indicators they advise people to look for when choosing a facility include:

• Nutritious snacks are available upon request
• Residents have access to a personal telephone and television
• There are quiet areas where residents can visit with family and friends

This type of general information can easily be placed on a nursing home activity calendar to inform residents, families and potential admissions that these checklist items are available in the facility.

Naturally, people are also concerned with the qualifications and certifications of the activities staff.   It is a good idea to list this information on the nursing home activity calendar as well, so prospective clients will have it at their fingertips when making their decision on a facility.  The Activity Director’s name and degrees or certifications, along with those of staff personnel and contact information can be listed on the calendar for handy reference.