The Activity Programme Assistant is Ireland's first step by step guide offering detailed instruction for a wide variety of activities specifically aimed at activity within care home settings. The manual holds an abundance of ideas for art and craft sessions, fun group games, tasty baking activities, relaxation and individual time; keep fit classes, great knitting and croquet, garden fun and much more. This manual will be of great assistance and benefit to all activity leaders and carers enabling staff to fill their unique activity programme with fun and variety. Additionally the manual offers tips on group organisation and inclusion, fully prepared activity programmes and all the activity related HIQA regulations in an easy reference section. All activities are also supported by a series of clear photographs and instructions.

The Activity Programme Assistant is a tool full of ideas and information presented in clear easy to follow instructions for all activities. The Activity Programme Assistant can be used solely as a handbook for activity leaders or shared between carers running activity sessions as there is a communication section where handover information can be easily accessed.

The Activity Programme Assistant has been written with a view to improving the standard of activity programmes across the country and supporting activity leaders while using the resources currently available to us in this recessionary time.

All the activities included in this manual have been run successfully within care home settings here in Dublin. I hope you have great fun incorporating these activities into your activity programmes and enhancing further the life quality of residents living in care homes across the country!