Grace Place Alzheimer's Center is structured with our participants in mind. Studies show that boredom can lead to wandering, anxiety, and other behavioral changes in dementia. As a result, our trained staff change activities every 30-60 minutes, ensuring our participants remain engaged and active throughout the day while taking their emotions into account.
Below is a "A Day in the Life" of a participant at Grace Place. The timeline below follows our standard schedule, with activities subject to change based on partner and staff availability. For a detailed monthly overview, please see our Monthly Calendar!
As always, please feel free to call us at 210-735-5115 or complete the form found at the bottom of this page for more information on Grace Place Alzheimer's Center.
Opening Time and Early Mornings!
The Grace Place Alzheimer's Center opens at 7:30 a.m. Our morning activities include Coffee and Conversation, Fun Walk, and Reading Roundtables, providing a calm start to their day while also warming up the mind and body. Our trained staff is also available for caregivers to discuss any changes or questions they may have from the evening or weekend prior to the start of the day.
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7:30 a.m.: Opening Time and Greetings, alongside reading some magazines and newspapers
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8:30 a.m.: Coffee and Conversation, giving participants time to catch up on their evening activities with their families
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9:00 a.m.: This Day in History and Pledge of Allegiance
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9:15 a.m.: Fun Walk, helping our participants warm up and enjoy some sunshine (weather permitting)
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9:30 a.m.: Reading Roundtable and Bible Study, ensuring everyone remains mentally stimulated
Late Mornings and First Small Group Activity!
Our first Small Group Activity starts at 10:00 a.m. These activities engage the group in smaller sections, allowing for care and attention. Our group activities have the same energy as our early morning activities, as we work closely with community partners to ensure pleasant, calm activities. Our activities include Hymns with Maureen, Music with Bobby, Twyla on the Keyboard, Spa Days, and Music & Dancing, all on a constant rotation.
To see what your loved one is doing today, please refer to the Monthly Calendar found here!
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10:00 a.m.: Small Group Activity
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11:00 a.m.: Morning Movement, including some dancing, sittercise (a special seated exercise program), or a visit from our friends at Fire on the Mountain Cloggers.
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11:30 a.m.: Trivia right before lunch, giving participants a chance to exercise their brains and team participation
Lunchtime at Grace Place!
Lunch is served at noon and is provided by Meals on Wheels San Antonio. Did you know our kitchen team arrives at 4 in the morning to prepare meals for our homebound Meals on Wheels clients and our Grace Place participants? These meals are specially curated by our in-house dietitian to follow nutritional guidelines and are heart-healthy and diabetic-friendly. They are also diverse, from Beef Tamales with Spanish Rice and Charro Beans to General Tso's Chicken over Vegetable Fried Rice with Steamed Edamame Dumplings and a Green Bean & Carrot Medley. If your loved one has any special dietary needs, please discuss them with a staff member so we may adjust accordingly.
We follow this meal with some relaxation and bingo before proceeding to our second Small Group Activity of the day.
To see the Grace Place Lunch Menu, please click here!
Early Afternoon and Second Small Group Activity!
After lunch, we begin more physical activities. We start with our second group activity, which can range from arts and crafts and exercising to two of our more popular activities: Fun with Food! and a visit from Happy Tails!
Fun with Food is organized and hosted by our in-house dietitian, who develops activities that engage participants' motor skills and thinking, including baking their own bread from scratch, making fluffernutter sandwiches, and crafting charcuterie boards with mocktails. Pictured to the left is our dietitian making ice cream in a bag with one of our participants!
Our other activity is a visit from our friends at Happy Tails, scheduled every other month. Each time they bring along an exotic friend, from Ranger the Wallaby to Rebel the Hedgehog to Duke the Ball Python! Our participants can pet them and take a photo, giving them something fun to take home and show their loved ones!
Late Afternoon and Closing Time!
Our late afternoon activities help wind down the day. Before one last exercise through Music & Rhythm, where we dance or sittercise to some fun melodies, we have Conversation time. This encourages discussions and critical thinking between participants as our staff engages in conversations.
We also continue the Conversation as participants are picked up by their loved ones. Fewer individuals at Grace Place allow staff to have 1:1 conversations with participants to check in on how their day went and whether they have any concerns.
Grace Place Alzheimer's Center closes at 6 p.m., but we look forward to seeing our participants again!
