My mother is in a nursing home. I was showing my mother some pictures of recent cakes I've made and the activities director noticed. She asked me if I'd do a demonstration at the nursing home next month. She asked if I could bring in a cake and decorate it there and tell how I do it, bring in pictures, and at the end everybody gets a piece of cake. She had been looking for an activity for July 3, so she asked if I'd do a 4th of July type cake ... and keep it simple.
Frankly I don't know how people can watch me do it unless they gather around the table; and with wheelchairs and walkers ... hah! If they had a tv in there I could rig up a video camera focusing on the cake and projecting onto the tv ... but the don't have one in the dining room. I'll have time to figure something out.
I saw the activities director a couple of hours later, and she said she is so excited about it and has already been telling everybody!
Do you have any ideas how do decorate a cake in front of a crowd who prefer to be sitting down?
My sister is in a nursing home and they have a TV that is on a wheeled cart that they can take into any room they need to. Maybe call the activities director tomorrow and ask her if there is a way she can have a TV available for you that day so you can bring in the video camera and hook it up so they can watch it on the TV from the comfort of their chairs and not have to be all crowded around a small table and half of them not be able to see. 
I would check with the director before planning on cupcakes. Some people in nursing homes would not be capable of holding a decorating bag and you wouldn't want them to feel left out.
See if the nursing home has one of those overhead demo mirrors where there is an overhead mirror angled so that it catches what you are doing on the table, and the audience can see what you are doing in the mirror. Every time I do a demo at schools, they have one of those and it works well.
If there don't have anything, each time you do a step, just hold the cake up at an angle and show them what you've done. Explain what you're going to do ..... do it ...... then show/explain what you just did.
I have done several demos at nursing homes, and frankly you're not there to teach anything, you are there to talk and be some different form of entertainment. It really won't matter what you take or make, just talk alot and tell them what you are doing or how you are doing it and then listen. Many of the ladies will have been former decorators or will have at least made a certain cake for kids or grandkids and they will love to have someone they can relate that memory to that can apprecate what they could do. Some of the residents will probably not be able to come up and stand to watch anyway so don't worry about it. Main thing is to remember to speak loudly, clearly and SLOWLY. My grandma is always complaining about how fast this young generation talks, of course she's talking about my mother! LOL!
Just have some fun and they will too! HTH -Lori
I work at a nursing home and I agree with Lori. Most of the activities are not really to teach, but for them to observe. They truly enjoy the fact that someone takes time to come and share an art with them. Now, where I work, the residents attend activities on their own free will. Most of the time, it's only the residents who are basically able to do things with their hands. Those that are bedridden or what have you usually don't want to go.
That being said, you could do flag cake and decorate with stars and have those who want to participate follow along on cupcakes. They would really enjoy a hands on activity.
Last but certainly not least, you will be blessed for taking the time out to spend with these people. I hurt so bad for the residents that don't get family visits. It seems as if they are just thrown away. God bless you for taking up time with them.
My aunt is in a nursing home and she has Alzheimer's. She loves watcing people come in to do demonstrations but she could not do the activities herself.
I vote for making the cake and just showing what you have done. Have fun and I know everyone will enjoy your demonstration.
Thank you for sharing your talent!
Last but certainly not least, you will be blessed for taking the time out to spend with these people. I hurt so bad for the residents that don't get family visits. It seems as if they are just thrown away. God bless you for taking up time with them.
Cassandra: You are so right about people not getting visitors. my mother is fortunate that five out of six of her children live in this state and she gets never less than two days a week of visits. When I went to pick her up for Christmas (she is able to be taken out of there), I said to the nurse, "I bet this place is going to be practically empty toda.?" She looked sad to tell me that for most residents, it's just another ordinary day.
The residents of the nursing home will be delighted to see a new cheery face come in the door. Some of them might not have the best short term memory anymore, but they always remember what happened in their lives 50-60 years ago. While you decorate, you can talk about your childhood memories of birthday parties etc and everyone will be able to relate to you. You will bring them joy and happiness, not just dessert!
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