What Does the Troubled Teen Industry Have To Do with Elders?

Here it is, within days of when I posted about the need for participants in both short-term recovery-to-work programs and elder communities to find a sense of purpose, the NY Times published an article about the troubled teen industry and Steve Moran published an article about the troubled senior living industry

Find Out What Interests a Person

Residential industries for both troubled kids and challenged elders have a history of over-medicating and isolating, sometimes using physical restraints, to manage community members who "act out." In yesterday's blog post, I mentioned. inspiring a sense of purpose by finding out what interests an individual of any age or stage. Betsy-Best Martini's and Mary Anne Weeks' Long Term Care for Activity Professionals, Social Services Professionals, and Recreational Therapists 7th Edition (p. 95) advises finding out all you can about a person (physical, cognitve/intellectual, social, spiritual, professional/vocational, environmental, creative/expressive/emotional).

Where to start? I created aa lQuality of Life Questionnaire, which can be of value to find out about a person. It may take several meetings for an individual to complete, even with the assistance of family members. There's no one way to start. Just start somewhere. (8-minute workout routine on Facebook) by Andres B Myers and Jaspal Riyait. Okay, so some of these rituals might not be available to acommunity members, but there are many other rituals that are.

Jump Right In

Here's a way to jump right in to find out about what motivates individuals. "The Little Rituals That Keep Us Going," another NY Times article, shared readers' wellness "non-negotiables." Readers reported a range of mini-daily practicies, from pastry with coffee every morning while reading the day's news, to an early morning swim, to a quick play of gin rummy, to counting yellow doors out loud in one's morning walk, to a 20-to-60-minute bird watch from your window. If you like to exercise briefly, check out The Joy Workout Video (8-minute workout routine on Facebook) by Andres B Myers and Jaspal Riyait. Okay, so some of these rituals might not be available to all community members, but there are many other rituals that are.

Start by identifying what little rituals keep YOU going, on a daily basis. Then you can find out what little daily rituals keep others going. You are welcome to share. Contact marinactivitypro@gmail.com.