UNPLUG AND RECONNECT WITH THESE AT-HOME FAMILY ACTIVITIES Beyond Board Games
Whether it's kids versus adults or a free-for-all, cooking together (and maybe making a mess) turns an ordinary evening into a delicious adventure. You can even offer bonus points for a judging panel and silly chef hats! INDOOR CAMPOUT Turn your living room into a wilderness escape. String up fairy lights, pull out sleeping bags, and break out the spooky stories. Don’t forget to roast marshmallows over the stove, microwave s’mores, and get the giggles going with a game of Would You Rather? under your blanket fort. DIY MOVIE THEATER Pick a movie, create homemade tickets, pop some popcorn, and let each person take a role: usher, snack stand operator, director of pre-
movie trivia. It’s a great experience, especially if pajamas are part of the dress code!
THE ‘YES DAY’ CHALLENGE Designate a day where each family member gets one “yes,” within reason. Whether it’s choosing dinner, picking a game, or deciding the music playlist for the evening, it’s a great way to give everyone a turn to feel heard and special. STORY TIME WITH A TWIST Pass around a notebook (or take turns typing) and write a progressive story. Each person adds a paragraph without knowing what the next one will be. The results are usually hilarious and fun and make for great bonding experiences!
Sometimes, the best memories happen without ever leaving the house. In a world of busy schedules and nonstop notifications, slowing down at home with the people you love is more important than ever. However, “family time” doesn’t have to mean sitting silently in the same room, scrolling on separate screens. Here are some fun, creative at-home bonding activities that go beyond the usual board game night. FAMILY COOK-OFFS Pick a theme: pizza night, taco bar, or “mystery ingredient challenge,” and split into teams.
A NEW MODEL FOR MEMORY CARE Visionary Founder to Deliver Keynote at Academy Event
A neighborhood-based long-term care model in the Netherlands called Dementia Village has been hailed as a groundbreaking concept for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Now, we are excited to host the founder and senior managing advisor of Dementia Village, Eloy van Hal, as the keynote speaker at our Professional Dementia Academy event on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The Dementia Village has inspired many elder care facilities throughout Europe and Australia to replicate its model of humanizing care. We recently visited Dementia Village, where van Hal educated us on this care model. Many of our professional colleagues were so excited to hear about our visit that we invited van Hal here to share his knowledge in person. The Dementia Village approach, also named the Hogeweyk Care Concept after the Dutch village where it is located, was founded in 2009. It offers shared housing, some medical care, and psychosocial support in a small-scale community setting. The concept marks a radical change in direction, emphasizing autonomy and community engagement for dementia patients over separation and confinement.
Van Hal managed the former nursing home, Hogeweyk, for several years
before its transformation in 2008 into the neighborhood, the Hogeweyk. He was heavily involved in all stages of development, from design and construction to implementation. He has years of experience and knowledge about dementia care.
After a visit to the Hogeweyk, Mark Rutte, former prime minister of the Netherlands and the current secretary general of NATO, said that if he were ever diagnosed with dementia, “this is the place I’d like to be.” The Hogeweyk isn’t the exclusive province of wealthy patients, but works within families’ budgets. We are grateful to all the amazing sponsors who are supporting this event, and we are looking forward to spreading the word about this remarkable innovation.
Stay tuned for our Family Caregiver Academy by Van Dyck Law to be held in Spring of 2026.
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