When tasked with providing activities for older people in care homes, it can be difficult to know where to begin. What constitutes an activity? How can you make sure activities are as positive and person-centred as possible? What can you actually do? Written by an experienced activity coordinator, this handbook is an indispensable companion for others in this role. The author provides useful background information on dementia, the importance of activities and how to get to know residents through life story work. She addresses important practical considerations such as how to assess a resident for suitable activities, activity planning, timetabling, budgeting and money-stretching, as well as more subtle issues such as how to enthuse residents and staff to join in and how to deal with resistance from colleagues. An A-Z of inventive ideas and step-by-step instructions for activities as wide-ranging as arts and crafts, cooking, exercise, gardening, meditation, music, reminiscence, themed days and trips out is also included. Offering peer-to-peer advice and encouragement as well as a wealth of practical ideas and suggestions, this is essential reading for all those involved in activity planning, including those with dementia, in care settings. Covers everything from crafts to gradening, knitting, exercise games and cooking, and is a pick for any working in a care home who wants adult-oriented activities. -- Midwest Book Review Through this book, Sarah is able to effectively blend a working practical knowledge of the experience of the person living with dementia and her own creative process. This blend culminates in a practical, creative, hands-on approach to activity coordination. -- Robin Willmott MA, B.Sc., RMN, MBACP, Dementia Education Nurse This book is predominantly aimed at those tasked with providing activities to residents in care homes. It aims to give an overview of the importance of activities, how to go about planning and implementing them and gives practical ideas for a range of activity sessions. The book is well-structured, straightforward and easy to read. The comprehensive resources section at the back of the book is extremely useful Whilst aimed at activity providers, this book has resonance for Occupational Therapists who provide or oversee staff providing group activities for older people and would be useful departmental resource, particularly where there are students or new graduates seeking ideas and inspiration. -- Maggie Lee, Inpatient Lead OT, Older People and Healthy Ageing, CNWL NHS Foundation Trust The realistic and highly practical emphasis of the book and the way it is written in a very user-friendly style, means that everyone working in residential Care Homes would find this book an invaluable tool for their work... This book could comfortably replace endless shelves of notes on activities and is of course much more portable and compact than file pages... this book is a really excellent tool for every Care Home for Older People and is highly recommended to all those who are building a person-centered approach to dementia care. -- Margot Lindsay, Research Department of Mental Health Sciences, European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare Step-by-step instructions and a wealth of creative ideas for activities in care homes, with residents of varying abilities, including those with dementia Sarah Crockett is a day care officer in a county council day care centre. She was previously a care assistant and activities coordinator at a care home in Gloucestershire. In 2008 she reached the finals of Barchester Health Care's Activity Provider of the Year Award, and in 2010 she won the National Association of Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA) Activity Award. In 2009 she qualified as one of the first dementia link workers (DLW) in the UK. She lives in Gloucestershire, UK.