Using innovation to develop meaningful experiences for people with dementia
Fishing is one of those experiences that connects our mind, body and nature. We all have at least one memory of going fishing with our father, having friends who told tall tales about fishing or at the least we are interested by the unique equipment and techniques fishermen use to catch that lunker!
It is so much fun to go on a fishing trip but sometimes, for whatever reason, when a trip to the local river to go fishing is not possible it is fun to have some fishing alternatives! I am excited to share with you a program that Dawna Cappello a TRA designed and found to be a great experience for the residents with dementia she cares for.
"Going Fishing Program"
Created by: Dawna Cappello, TRA, with guest Michael Cappello, husband and fisherman
Program: To engage, stimulate, and empower residents utilizing fishing gear, including but not limited to: large saltwater fishing reel, fresh water fishing pole with reel, fishing bobbers, safe fishing lures (such as rubber worms, NO HOOKS!), tackle box, rubber boots, pictures of fishing boats, pictures of fish, shared fishing stories and quotes, and requests for help, assistance, advice, tips, and personal fishing stories from the residents attending the program. This program was designed with the intention of sparking memories, promoting participation, and providing enjoyment to all residents.
Presentation: All residents were invited, encouraged, and assisted to participate in the 30 minute group or later individually during a one on one visit.
After introductions, the residents were asked by Dawna and Mike to help with a very important task. While holding the large salt water fishing reel out in front of her, Dawna presented the reel and asked the residents to help Mike make sure it will work when he goes out fishing today. We explained that since this is a saltwater reel it needs to be lubricated in order to spin properly, and once the grease is put on the reel, it needs to be spun at least 500 times for the grease to work into all of the crevices. We let the residents know that if we didn't get their kind assistance, we would never get this job done in time for Mike to go fishing, either that or our arms would break, whichever came first.
After a laugh, Dawna went around the circle in one direction asking residents to hold the large saltwater reel with one hand and spin with their other. Each of the residents was asked to spin the reel 10 to 20 times, whatever was good with them, because any help is appreciated. The residents were encouraged to spin the reel however they would like, we let them know that there is no wrong way. At the same time, Mike went around the circle in the opposite direction with a fresh water fishing pole and reel that has a red and while bobber attached to the end of the fishing line. He assisted the residents with a short cast of the fishing line (only a couple of feet out into the middle of the circle) and asked them to hold the fishing rod with one hand and reel in the bobber on the end of the fishing line in with the other hand. All residents were validated with gratitude and sincere confidence building compliments such: "Thank you so much for helping us," "You must have strong arm muscles to be able to spin this reel so well," "It shows that you have done this before," and/or "I could never tell that you have not done this before."
Once each of the residents participated in both activities, Mike and Dawna showed the residents pictures of Mike holding up large fish that he has caught, as well as pictures of the boat he caught them in. Also, each resident was able to view and touch a small clear tackle box with colorful bobbers and safe rubber worm lures inside of it. When the pictures and tackle box were no longer a hit, Mike told a touching fishing story about when he was ten years old and went fishing with his dad. Followed by us asking the residents to share any fishing stories that they would like to share. In addition we told fishing quotes hoping that residents would know them and even finish the sentences for us. Finally, we ended the program by asking the residents for any advice or tips on how Mike could catch the big fish today.
Results: It was obvious from the moment any of the residents saw the fishing gear that they were engaged; as evidence by the interest, curiosity, and enjoyment responses shown, including: smiles, pointing, facial expressions, questions ("what do you have?"), acknowledgement of what we were doing, accepting to assist in our requests, and actively participating in the requests, above and beyond expectations.
Specifics: Each of the residents who participated in these groups held and spun the large fishing reel using both hands and held the fishing pole in one hand and spun its reel with the other. Most residents completed these tasks by themselves, but a few did happily with encouragement and assistance, such as by us guiding their hand to the reel or pole and initiating the spinning motion and by utilizing the hand under hand technique. In fact, most residents knew exactly what to do when the reel was placed in front of them. It was like an automatic response reaction for them to reach for, hold, and spin the reel. Male and female equally, including those who never fished. Many of the residents who said they never fished responded exactly as residents who have fished their whole life, they just mentioned how their father, husband, son-in-law, or other family member fished, and that is how they know how to do it. While the residents were holding and spinning the large reel with Dawna, most of them counted out loud as they spun the reel, some residents spun the reel very slowly and calculated, and other residents spun the reel as fast as they could. All of the residents were engaged, stimulated, and showed enjoyment during and upon completion of their contribution to the important mission. Regarding the task of assisting the residents to cast the fishing pole utilizing the pole and bobber set up, the residents were exciting during the entire activity. Just seeing the bobber reach the top of the pole validated attainment within most of the residents. Many of the observing residents actually cheered on the resident who was reeling; as evidence by their clapped, hooting, and acknowledgement of success when the bobber reached the top of the pole. Several residents asked if they could do it again! Once each resident completed one or two tries with the reels and pole they each actively viewed and responded to fishing pictures. The residents commented to our pictures with responses such as, but not limited to, "Wow!" "Where did you catch those?" "Holy cow, they are almost as big as you!" "I've caught fish that size," and "Yeah, my son-in-law catches those." In addition, each resident actively view, touched, and responded to the tackle box and lures. They noticed and verbalized the different bait options and colors, as well as actually touched the rubber worms and bobbers. A couple of the residents did not want to touch the "gross" rubber bait, but they looked and laughed. Only a couple of the residents shared personal stories and quotes of their own, however they all listened intently to ours when we shared and showed much interest in what we were saying as evidence by their eye contact, facial expressions, head nodding, agreements, comments, and questions. And the advice given by residents on how Mike could catch the big fish today was, "try hard," "fish long," "use big bait!" and "don't take me, I'm not lucky."
Conclusions: Both the lower functioning and the higher functioning residents showed engagement and enjoyment as evidence by their reactions, responses, positive interest, and by the majority of residents who actively participated in all portions of the program. These activities provided our residents with cognitive, sensory, tactile and visual connections and experiences.
Future ideas: To increase program time to accommodate discussion time. Suggestions included adding paper, plastic, or rubber fish to be attached to the end of the fishing line before the resident reels it in and possibly a mini pool for added affect.
We are all always looking for new creative ideas to share with our residents. Do you have any creative activity programs that you too can share? A program that brings nature indoors when we can't get outside because of weather? Did you have great feedback from an activity that connected people from the community with your residents? I am hopeful that you will share any ideas that you have here on this blog.