5 Pillars of Engagement
Prelude’s engagement program focuses on giving each resident a sense of worth, autonomy, social confidence, hope and enjoyment in each day.
Our engagement programming is based on the belief that every resident has a capacity for growth no matter where they are in their memory loss journey.
Further, it is geared toward putting smiles on their faces and laughter in their hearts. We know that although they may not always remember what we did or said, the feeling we leave them with will linger.
In creating our engagement calendar we strive to include time from five of our guiding pillars for each of our residents every day.
1. Mind
To stimulate thinking and concentration we challenge our resident’s minds with conversation, trivia, games and puzzles. We reminisce with them one-on-one and in small groups. We use sensory activities to stimulate the 5 senses.
2. Physical
To get our residents moving, we get creative. We volley balloons around the dining room, play catch or kickball on the patio, or encourage participation in some simple chair exercises to the beat of the music.
3. Spiritual
To support our residents’ spirituality and faith, we read God’s word and inspirational stories and engage with them in daily devotions. We help our residents’ to recall bible verses, sing their favorite hymns, and pray with them one-on-one.
4. Music
To tap into deeper memories, shift moods, and stimulate positive interactions and cognitive function, we listen to musical favorites, sing songs, and dance along to our favorite tunes.
5. Service
To remind our residents’ of their amazing purpose here on earth we perform “acts of kindness”. We package meals, tie fleece blankets, roll bandages, and write cards for our caregivers to show them how much we appreciate them.
Allowing for contemplative time:
If you come to our cottages while we are engaging our residents with any of these pillars, you will find them conversing, reminiscing, laughing, taking pride in their successes or simply appreciating the moment.
But should you come to find them at rest, be assured that down time, too, is often intentional at Prelude. We allow for this down time, because we know that contemplative times are as important as time of activity. Quiet time gives our residents a stable environment. More than this, we find that there’s value for our residents in “just being” at this final stage of life.