2026-06

Many frontline colleaguess face challenges when leading group activities, such as low participation among older adults, unexpected emotional responses, or activities that are either too difficult or too boring. Although the dedication to running a great activity never changes, facilitators sometimes feel a sense of powerlessness. In order to help colleagues overcome these hurdles, JCCPA organised a four-session ” Workshop on Person-Centred Group Design and Facilitation Skills: Dementia Activity Design and Practice ” for frontline staff. The workshop was hosted by our Registered Social Worker Mr. Andrew Lau, who acquired over 15 years of group facilitation experience. Andrew shared his wealth of expertise, covering fundamental principles of activity design for people with dementia, the importance of person-centred care, the “Person-Environment-Occupation” ideas, methods for adjusting activity level, essential companionship skills, and how to respond to distressed behaviours.

Session 1 – [Start with Understanding: Building Warm and Compassionate Care]

Through a series of interactive activities and sharing of personal experience, Andrew explained the underlying theories and guided participants to explore the meaning of care from a “person-centred” perspective. This session helped participants enhanced the understanding on each service user’s identity, life story, needs, and feelings, teaching them how to provide more attentive, respectful companionship and support.

Session 2 – [Through the Elders’ Eyes: Crafting Tailored Activities]

This session introduced two activity design tools to help participants learn how to categorise activities and adjust the levels. Using a “Nostalgic Café” as the theme for group discussions, combined with practical case studies, participants learned how to identify and address the inner emotional needs of people with late-stage dementia.

Session 3 – [Rooted in Cause and Effect: Understanding Their Emotions and Behaviours]

This session focused on how to use person-centred approaches to manage distressed behaviours in people with dementia. Emphasising that “there is always a reason behind every behaviour,” Andrew guided participants to analyse the root causes. By adjusting the environment, reducing instructions, slowing down the pace, and utilising familiar objects, participants learned to replace control with understanding, bringing themselves closer to the elders.

Session 4 – [From Learning Theory to Practising “Person-Centered” Activities]

In the final session, participants put the concepts they had learned into practice by conducting a practicum for the elder members in JCCPA. They designed and led activities across four domains: cognitive, reminiscence, art, and exercise. Throughout the sessions, the elders were incredibly joyful and actively participated in every segment. This hands-on experience showed participants that leading a group is not just about “controlling the agenda,” but rather about closely observing the elders’ emotions, reactions, and rhythm to make real-time adjustments. This is exactly the key to transforming theory into daily practice!