JANUARY FACTS
the seasonal equivalent to
July in the Southern
Hemisphere and vise versa.
the seasonal equivalent to
July in the Southern
Hemisphere and vise versa.
OBSERVANCES
& IDEA NUGGETS
Business and
Reference Books
Month
Chilly Month
Crime Stoppers Month
Human Resources
Month
January Diet Month
March of Dimes Birth
Defects Prevention
Month
National Book Blitz
Mont
National Candy Month
National Egg Month
National Eye Care
Month
National Hobby Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Meat Month
National Oatmeal
Month
National Prune the Fat
Month
National Retail Bakers
Month
National Soup Month
National Volunteer
Blood Donor Month
National Wheat Bread
Month
National Yours Mine
and Ours Month
Prune Breakfast Month
Thyroid Disease
Awareness Month
Whale Watching Month
FAMOUS WEEKS
Week 1
Braille Literacy Week
Diet Resolution Week
National Law
Enforcement Training
Week
Silent Record Week
Universal Letter
Writing Week
Universal Week of
Prayer
Week 2
Cuckoo Dancing Week
Healthy Weight Week
International Printing
Week
International Toy Fair
Manwatcher's
Appreciation Week
National Book Week
National Bowling Week
National Pizza Week
National Word
Processing
Transcriptionist Week
Printers Ink Week
Someday We'll Laugh
About This Week
Week 3
International Printing
Week
Jaycee Week
National Thrift Week
Worldwide Kiwanis
Week
Week 4
Celebrity Read A Book
Week
International Green
Week
Mozart Week (Austria)
National Activity
Professionals Week
SEE: 30 Ways To Honor Your
Staff During National Activity
Professionals Week
National Cross Country
Skiing Week
National Glaucoma
Week
National Handwriting
Analysis Week
National Meat Week
& IDEA NUGGETS
Business and
Reference Books
Month
- Take the opportunity to
invite someone from the
reference section of the
library to talk about
reference books. Perhaps
a demonstration of some
references regarding a
subject of general interest
to the residents would be
interesting.
Chilly Month
- This chilly means cold (not
soup). [Chili Month is in
October] How about
sharing some icy season
events or activities with the
residents? Maybe you can
share remembrances of
snow storms, frozen rivers,
childhood memories,
traditions, snowman
building, ice skating, skiing,
snow sledding, warming
foods and drinks (share
some hot chocolate).
Crime Stoppers Month
- E-mail Submission: Have
the police Crime Stoppers
person come in and give a
presentation on safety and
security for both residents
and staff. Have them bring
pamphlets and giveaways.
Do they have a video
presentation suitable for
residents? Make sure they
are aware of the ages and
are sensitive to their
abilities and needs.
Human Resources
Month
January Diet Month
- Start a weight watchers
club or a walking club.
Have weigh-ins, talk about
nutrition and choices
residents can make
regarding their diet. Talk
about eating disorders,
diabetes, heart disease,
etc. Encourage new year's
resolutions.
March of Dimes Birth
Defects Prevention
Month
- Discuss the March of
Dimes and birth defects.
Let the residents recall birth
defect experiences. Set up
a collection or a means to
raise awareness and make
a donation to the March of
Dimes in the name of the
residents of your facility.
Invite a speaker who is
knowledgeable about the
subject.
National Book Blitz
Mont
- Get your residents an a
book reading spree. Have
a contest to see who can
read the most books during
the month. Have rewards
for first place, second
place, third place and
participation. Bring in a
librarian to discuss new
books at the library.
National Candy Month
- Here is the chance for your
residents to make candy
and share it with the staff,
family and other residents.
Perhaps you can
encourage your volunteers
to make candy and have the
residents sample it and
award prizes. Maybe you
have a candy store or candy
manufacturer near your
facility who can supply you
with seconds (usually they
consist of several pounds
of candy...all free). Maybe a
candy expert can come in
and talk about the history of
candy, how different candy
is made, etc. (My theory:
You will never go wrong
with chocolate.)
National Egg Month
- Have an omelet night. Mix
up the batter. Let the
residents choose their own
ingredients (bacon bits,
ham chunks, green pepper,
onion, tomato, cheese,
spices, etc.) and cook to
order. Get volunteers to
bring in lots of electric fry
pans. How about a
breakfast for supper meal
and serve fried eggs to
order? Also, you can look
for someone in your area
who makes eggshell art.
Invite them in for show and
tell. How about sampling
eggs other than chicken
eggs (e.g.: duck eggs,
ostrich eggs, quail eggs
etc.)
National Eye Care
Month
- This is an opportune time
to schedule eye exams for
residents and staff. Bring
in someone to discuss
proper eye care and the
importance of safety
measures and nutrition.
National Hobby Month
- Open season on hobbies.
Have volunteers come in
and talk about their hobbies
and if possible give
demonstrations to the
residents. This could be a
good opportunity for the
residents to touch, examine
and talk about a wide
variety of different items
from sculpture to sewing
projects to collecting rocks
or arrow heads. The
possibilities are endless.
National Hot Tea Month
- Tea Time! How about
tasting a wide variety of tea
flavors. Of course one
must also provide
crumpets. Also, how about
the ladies wearing old hats
to make the occasion
special.
National Meat Month
National Oatmeal
Month
- Oatmeal cookies, hot
oatmeal...try many different
oatmeal recipes.
National Prune the Fat
Month
National Retail Bakers
Month
- Breads, donuts, cookies,
cakes, rolls...yummy! How
about inviting a specialty
bread store in to talk about
their products and pass out
samples. (I love that
specialty bread with
pumpkin seeds and
herbs.) Perhaps your
facility bread man could
work out a deal with you for
samples (Check with your
dietary manager).
National Soup Month
- How about a Sample the
Soup day? A variety of
home made soups would
be great...but a dozen
different Campbell soups
will work. Each resident
gets a sample of each
soup (maybe an ounce of
each soup...you work out
the math). After everyone
has a chance to sample the
soups, open up the
remainder for first come
first served. Also, you can
discuss various recipes
used at home. Most
everyone has made soup
from scratch at one time or
another.
National Volunteer
Blood Donor Month
- Have a facility blood drive.
Call your local blood donor
agency and schedule a
time for staff, volunteer, and
family members to donate
blood.
National Wheat Bread
Month
- Maybe you can work this in
with National Retail Baker's
Month activities.
National Yours Mine
and Ours Month
Prune Breakfast Month
Thyroid Disease
Awareness Month
Whale Watching Month
- Share a film about whales
like "Free Willie", "Moby
Dick", etc. If you are
fortunate enough to have a
salt water aquarium nearby,
invite an expert in to
discuss whales.
FAMOUS WEEKS
Week 1
Braille Literacy Week
Diet Resolution Week
National Law
Enforcement Training
Week
Silent Record Week
Universal Letter
Writing Week
Universal Week of
Prayer
Week 2
Cuckoo Dancing Week
Healthy Weight Week
International Printing
Week
International Toy Fair
Manwatcher's
Appreciation Week
National Book Week
National Bowling Week
National Pizza Week
National Word
Processing
Transcriptionist Week
Printers Ink Week
Someday We'll Laugh
About This Week
Week 3
International Printing
Week
Jaycee Week
National Thrift Week
Worldwide Kiwanis
Week
Week 4
Celebrity Read A Book
Week
International Green
Week
Mozart Week (Austria)
National Activity
Professionals Week
SEE: 30 Ways To Honor Your
Staff During National Activity
Professionals Week
National Cross Country
Skiing Week
National Glaucoma
Week
National Handwriting
Analysis Week
National Meat Week
PEOPLE BORN IN
JANUARY
January 1st
January 2nd:
January 3rd:
January 4th:
January 5th:
January 6th:
January 7th:
January 8th:
January 9th:
January 10th:
January 11th:
January 12th:
January 13th:
January 14th:
January 15th:
January 16th:
January 17th:
January 18th:
January 19th:
January 20th:
January 21st:
January 22nd:
January 23rd:
January 24th:
January 25th:
January 26th:
January 27th:
January 29th:
January 31st:
JANUARY
January 1st
- Dana Andrews, 1909
- Barry Goldwater, 1909
- J. Edgar Hoover, 1895
- Betsy Ross, 1752
- J. D. Salinger, 1919
January 2nd:
- Alan Beckwith, 1952 (Actor
and aerospace engineer,
born in Tyrone PA and a
graduate of Penn State
University.) - Roger Miller, 1936
- Sally Rand, 1903
January 3rd:
- Victor Borge, 1909
- Dabney Coleman, 1932
- Jean Dixon - born January
3, 1918 (Died January 25,
1997) - Jean Dixon Museum: www.
waysideofva.com/jdml - Mel Gibson, 1956
- Ray Milland, 1907
- Victoria Principal, 1958
- Steven Stills, 1945
January 4th:
- Louis Braille
- Dyan Cannon, 1937
- Maureen Reagan, 1947
(Speaker, Activist, daughter
of former President Ronald
Reagan.) Born January 4,
1941. Died August 7, 2001
from Melanoma. - Tom Thumb
- Jane Wyman, 1914
January 5th:
- Robert Duvall, 1931
- Diane Keaton, 1946
- Pamela Sue Martin, 1953
- Walter F. Mondale US Vice
President and Minnesota
Senator - Born January 5,
1928 in Ceylon, Minnesota.
Served as Vice President
under President Jimmy
Carter 1977-1981.
January 6th:
- John Zachary DeLorean
(auto industry), born
January 6, 1925 in Detroit,
Michigan. He died March
19, 2005 at the age of 80 of
complications from a
stroke. www.delorean.com - Bonnie Franklin, 1944
(Actress, well-known for TV
sitcom: One Day At A Time.) - Gabrielle Reece, 1970
- Carl Sandburg, 1878
- Joan of Arc, 1412-1431
- John Singleton, 1968
- Vic Tabak, 1930 (The owner
of the Mel’s Diner in the TV
sitcom, Alice.) - Danny Thomas, 1914
- Loretta Young, 1913
January 7th:
- Nicolas Cage, 1964 (Actor)
- David Caruso, 1956 (Actor)
- Katie Couric, 1957 (TV
Personality) - Millard Fillmore, 1800 (12th
US Vice President; 13th US
President 1850-53.) Died
March 8, 1874 at the age of
74.) - Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy,
1966 (Died July 16, 1999 at
the age of 33) - John
Kennedy Jr.'s wife - Kenny Loggins, 1948
(Musician) - Terry Moore, 1929 (Actress)
- Paul Revere (of Paul
Revere & The Raiders),
1938 (Musician)
January 8th:
- Don Bendell, Author - born
January 8, 1947. www.
donbendell.com - David Bowie, 1947
- Bob Eubanks, 1937
- Sarah Polley, 1979
- Elvis Presley - Singer,
Musician - Born Elvis Aaron
Presley on January 8, 1935
in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Moved to Memphis,
Tennessee in 1948. Died at
Graceland in Memphis, TN
on August 16, 1977. Official
Web site: www.elvis.com - Larry Storch (TV actor - "F
Troop) - Soupy Sales, (real name:
Milton Soupman)
January 9th:
- Joan Baez (singer)
- Bob Denver, 1935 (actor,
Gilligan of Gilligan's Island) - Crystal Gale, 1951 (singer)
- Dave Matthews, 1967
January 10th:
- Stephen Ambrose, 1936
- Pat Benetar, 1953
- Ray Bolger, 1904
- Jim Croce, 1942
- George Foreman, 1949
- Frank Sinatra, Jr., 1944
- Rod Stewart, 1945
January 11th:
- Naomi Judd, 1946
January 12th:
- John Hancock, 1737 (died
October 8, 1793) - Rush Limbaugh, 1951
January 13th:
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 1961 -
Actress and Comedian -
Various films and TV
shows including cast
member of Saturday Night
Live from 1982 to 1985 and
the role of Elaine on the TV
sitcom, Seinfeld. - Richard Moll, 1943 (Actor)
- Charles Nelson Reilly,
1931 (Actor, TV Personality
- The Match Game and
more) Born January 13,
1931. - Robert Stack, 1919 (Actor -
40 films and well-known for
his role as Elliot Ness in
the TV series The
Untouchables and as host
of Unsolved Mysteries)
(Died May 14, 2003) - Rip Taylor, 1934
January 14th:
- Benedict Arnold -
Revolutionary War Major
General was born on
January 14, 1741 in
Norwich, CT. He died in
London, England on June
14, 1801. Web site: www.
benedictarnold.org - Faye Dunaway, 1941
- Brandon Tartikoff, Born
January 14, 1949 (Died
August 27, 1997 at the age
of 48)
January 15th:
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
(born January 15, 1929;
assassinated April 4,
1968)
January 16th:
- Aaliyah (Haughton) R&B
singer and rising film star,
born January 16, 1979; died
August 25, 2001 in a plane
crash. - Debbie Allen, 1950
- Jim Berry, 1932 (Comic
Strip Cartoonist, "Berry's
World") - Dizzy Dean, Baseball
Player. Born Jerome Hanna
Dean on January 16, 1910
in Lucas, Arkansas. Died
July 17, 1974 in Reno,
Nevada. Baseball Hall of
Fame 1953. www.dizzydean.
com - Kate Moss, 1974
January 17th:
- Mahammad Ali, 1942
- Jim Carrey, 1962
- Benjamin Franklin, 1706
- Born in Boston, 15th of 17
siblings, son of a candle-
and soapmaker - Inventor of the bifocals, the
Franklin stove, the
lightening rod. - One of America's Founding
Fathers, helped to draft the
Declaration of
Independence and was the
only person to sign the four
key documents that created
the United States: The
Declaration of
Independence, The Treaty
of Alliance with France, the
peace treaty with Britain, the
US Constitution. - Died at the age of 84.
Nearly 20,000 people
attended his funeral. - James Earl Jones (Actor),
1931 in Arkabutla,
Mississippi - Shari Lewis (actress,
producer, writer,
ventriloquist, puppeteer, TV
personality. (We best
remember her from her TV
show in the 60's with her
puppet "Lambchop.") She
was born on January 17,
1933 in New York City. She
died August 2, 1998 from
ovarian cancer at the age of
65. - Maury Povich (actor,
producer and TV talk show
host), born January 17,
1939 in Washington DC. - Alexandra Scott, 1996. Died
August 1, 2004 at the age of
8 from cancer. She ran
lemonade stands to raise
money to fight cancer when
she was only 4 years old
and helped to raise over
$700,000 before she died.
www.alexslemonade.com.
January 18th:
- Kevin Costner, 1955
- Cary Grant, 1904
- For information about Cary
Grant, see The Ultimate
Cary Grant pages at: www.
carygrant.net - Oliver Hardy, 1892 - born in
Harlem, Georgia. Died
August 7, 1957. Official
Web site: www.laurel-and-
hardy.com - Cuckoo Dancing Week is
observed the week of
January 18th, celebrating
Laurel and Hardy movies.
Source: www.irish-cream.
com/laurel-hardy.html - A. A. Milne, 1882 (Creator of
Winnie The Pooh)
January 19th:
- Robert E. Lee (born
January 19, 1807; died
October 12, 1870) - Dolly Parton, 1946
- Edgar Allen Poe (Author) -
born January 19, 1809 in
Boston MA. He died on
October 7, 1849. He is
buried in the yard of
Westminster Presbyterian
Church in Baltimore,
Maryland. www.
poemuseum.org - Jean Stapleton, 1923
January 20th:
- Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin, 1930
(Astronaut) - David Lynch, 1946
- Jackson DeForest Kelley
(born January 20, 1920;
died June 11, 1999) Actor,
best remembered as Dr.
Leonard 'Bones' McCoy in
Star Trek. Born in Atlanta,
Georgia, WWII vet. For bio,
see: www.trekweb.
com/tos/crew/kelly.html
January 21st:
- Geena Davis, 1957
(Actress) - Stonewall Jackson, born
January 21, 1824 - Jack Nicklaus, 1940
(Athlete, Golf)
January 22nd:
- Linda Blair, 1959 (Actress)
- George Byron, 1788 (Poet)
January 23rd:
- Richard Dean Anderson,
1950 - Princess Caroline of
Monoco, 1957 - Ernie Kovacs, 1919 (Died
January 13, 1962 in a car
crash in West Los Angeles
at the age of 42) Actor,
Comedian, Game Show
Host, Radio Disc Jock,
Variety Show Host, Edie
Adams' husband
January 24th:
- John Belushi (Actor), Born
January 24, 1949; Died
March 5, 1982. (Actor and
Comedian - probably best
know for his role on
Saturday Night Live.) - Neil Diamond, 1941
(Singer) - Mark Goodson, 1915 (TV
Game Shows)
January 25th:
- William Colgate, 1783
(Colgate founder &
philanthropist) - Edwin Newman, 1919
(news commentator) - Virginia Woolf, 1882 (author)
- Lee Taylor-Young, 1945
(actress)
January 26th:
- Anita Baker, 1958 (R&B
Singer) - Ellen DeGeneres, 1958
(Actress-Comedienne) - Wayne Gretzky, 1961
(Athlete - Hockey) - Eartha Kitt, 1928
- Douglas McArthur, General
- Born January 26, 1880 in
Little Rock, Arkansas. Died
at Walter Reed Army
Hospital on April 5, 1964 at
the age of 84. - Paul Newman, 1925 (Actor)
- Eddie Van Halen (Musician)
- Bob Yukor, 70 (Sports
Broadcaster)
January 27th:
- Bridget Fonda, 1964
(Actress) - Wolfgang Mozart, 1756
(Composer) - Donna Reed, 1921
(Actress) Born January 27,
1921 in Denison, Iowa.
Died January 14, 1986 in
Beverly Hills CA from
cancer.
- January 28th:
- Alan Alda, 1936 (Actor)
- Nick Carter, 1980
- Ernie's Birthday (of Bert &
Ernie) - Joey Fatone, 1977
- Elijah Wood, 1981
January 29th:
- Edward Burns, 1968
- Heather Graham, 1970
- William McKinley, 1843
(25th US President.) He
died on September 14,
1901 after being shot on
September 6, 1901 in
Buffalo, NY. - John Raitt (Actor, Singer)
Born January 29, 1917.
Bonnie Raitt's father. Died
February 20, 2005 from
pneumonia. - Tom Selleck, 1945
- Oprah Winfrey, 1954
- January 30th:
- Richard B. (Dick) Cheney,
US Vice President during
George W. Bush
administration 2000 to
present. Born in Lincoln,
Nebraska, on January 30,
1941 and grew up in
Casper, Wyoming. Married
to Lynne V. Cheney. For bio,
see White House Web site - Gene Hackman, 1931
(Actor) - Vanessa Redgrave, 1937
(Actress) - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1882
(32nd US President)
January 31st:
- Minnie Driver, 1970
(actress) - Garry Moore, 1950's TV
Personality - born Thomas
Garrison Morfit on January
31, 1915 in Baltimore MD.
Died November 28, 1993
from Emphysema. Source:
www.who2.
com/garrymoore.html - Jackie Robinson, 1919
(Athlete, Baseball) - Justin Timberlake, 1981
- January 1 is New Years
Day. The celebration of this
holiday begins the night
before, when Americans
gather to wish each other a
happy and prosperous
coming year.
- Epiphany (from Greek
epiphaneia,
“manifestation”), Jan. 6.
Falls on the 12th day after
Christmas and
commemorates the
manifestation of Jesus
Christ to the Gentiles, as
represented by the Magi,
the baptism of Jesus, and
the miracle of the wine at
the marriage feast at Cana.
One of the three major
Christian festivals, along
with Christmas and Easter.
Epiphany originally marked
the beginning of the
carnival season preceding
Lent, and the evening
preceding it is known as
Twelfth Night.
- Eid al-Adha, Check
calendar for date. Eid al-
Adha, or the Feast of
Sacrifice, commemorates
Abraham's willingness to
obey God by sacrificing his
son. Lasting for three days,
it concludes the annual
Hajj, or pilgrimage to
Mecca. Muslims worldwide
sacrifice a lamb or other
animal and distribute the
meat to relatives or the
needy.
- Martin Luther King Day:
The Rev. Martin Luther
King, Jr., an African-
American clergyman, is
considered a great
American because of his
tireless efforts to win civil
rights for all people through
nonviolent means. Since
his assassination in 1968,
memorial services have
marked his birthday on
January 15. In 1986, that
day was replaced by the
third Monday of January,
which was declared a
national holiday.
- Chinese New Year, (check
calendar for date) is the
most important celebration
in the Chinese calendar.
Chinese months are
reckoned by the lunar
calendar, with each month
beginning on the darkest
day. New Year festivities
traditionally start on the first
day of the month and
continue until the fifteenth,
when the moon is brightest.
In China, the New Year is a
time for family reunions. In
the United States, however,
many early Chinese
immigrants arrived without
their families, and found a
sense of community by
celebrating the holiday
through neighborhood
associations.
- Muharram, Check calendar
for date. The month of
Muharram marks the
beginning of the Islamic
liturgical year. On the tenth
day of the month, many
Muslims may observe a day
of fasting, known as
Ashurah.
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| ACTIVITY DIRECTOR TODAY |
| EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE... 1900's 1910's 1920's 1930's 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's This site has a lot of information about the births and deaths of prominent people. They are listed year-by-year through the decade. |
| NATIONAL ACTIVITY PROFESSIONALS WEEK (The last full week of January) SEE: 30 Ways To Honor Your Staff During National Activity Professionals Week |
ACTIVITIES
Start a Hobby Club
(Submitted by Linda Lucas, AD)
January is National Hobby Month.
What a great opportunity for you to
start a new monthly activity for your
residents...a Hobby Club. This can
be organized in two forms: 1) a mixed
gender group, or 2) a separate
Ladies’ or Men’s group.
Things you need to consider before
you get started:
I am sure that the number of hobby
items to be presented is limitless;
but here are a few ideas to help get
you started:
Remember to keep it light, happy,
interesting and a lot of fun.
Start a Hobby Club
(Submitted by Linda Lucas, AD)
January is National Hobby Month.
What a great opportunity for you to
start a new monthly activity for your
residents...a Hobby Club. This can
be organized in two forms: 1) a mixed
gender group, or 2) a separate
Ladies’ or Men’s group.
Things you need to consider before
you get started:
- A room which is the right size
for the group. It would be best
if the room was free from
distractions like staff walking
through, intercom
announcements and pages,
etc. - Invite staff members, family
members or volunteers from
the community to share their
hobby with the residents. You
need one volunteer per month. - Have the presenter bring a
display of their hobby items. If
possible have the presenter
demonstrate how they create
their craft or art items. Let the
residents examine the items
and make comments. - Finally, provide refreshments
for the residents and
volunteers who participate.
I am sure that the number of hobby
items to be presented is limitless;
but here are a few ideas to help get
you started:
- Crochet
- Quilting
- Polymer clay crafts/sculpting
- Oil painting
- Water coloring
- Electric trains
- Coin collecting
- Stamp collecting
- Scrap booking
- Stamping
- Fly tying
- Beading
- Candy making
- Photography
- Computing
- Doll making
- Doll collecting
- Woodworking
- Musical instruments playing
and/or collecting - Glassware collecting
- Ceramics
- Cartooning
- Book binding
- You name it
Remember to keep it light, happy,
interesting and a lot of fun.