Getting Residents to Activities

[susieq 0]

While doing my practicum, I have found that getting residents to the activities is a challenge all on its own. I have learned to do "tag along" exercises after a discussion or Spiritual Program. The residents are always willing to participate in this change of pace--I usually limit the exercise to 15-20 minutes.

I would appreciate any other suggestions to help get residents to activities.

[lilbitkuntry 0]

While doing my practicum, I have found that getting residents to the activities is a challenge all on its own. I have learned to do "tag along" exercises after a discussion or Spiritual Program. The residents are always willing to participate in this change of pace--I usually limit the exercise to 15-20 minutes.

I would appreciate any other suggestions to help get residents to activities.

 

A good way to get residents to participate is to hand write a personal invitation to the event.

Example

Mrs. Smith you are invited to join us in bingo today at 2pm. We would love to spend time with you. We enjoy your company and would love to have you in attendance.

This way it's more of a personal invite. Its not just a big calendar that speaks to everyone.

[turtle 0]

Giving your programs creative names helps in enticing the residents to come. Whenever we come up with a really clever name for a program, the residents meet us at the door in the morning asking "What are we going to do today in ------?" My usual response is "Come and find out". Their curiousity often gets the best of them and they will come, even those who may not normally attend. Another good way to get them to come, is to change the routine a little. Our residents often will show up thinking we are doing one thing but we changed the time for the month so they wind up actually attending something else and learn that they actually enjoy that. I try to remember that if I am in a rut, then most likely my residents are too.

[jurifil 0]

To get residents to go to activties, What usually works is that when you walk into the residents room you give a smile for the whole time you are there. Then you compliment the residents. Tell her how good she looks, her dress is nice, the color of her/his clothes is wearing fits him/her. After the compliments you will say something to make resident laugh then you will ask nicely if resident would like to join you in activity program. This always work for me.

Edited May 14, 2008 by jurifil

[belindaklly 0]

While doing my practicum, I have found that getting residents to the activities is a challenge all on its own. I have learned to do "tag along" exercises after a discussion or Spiritual Program. The residents are always willing to participate in this change of pace--I usually limit the exercise to 15-20 minutes.

I would appreciate any other suggestions to help get residents to activities.

 

The way I've gotten residents to attend activites is to give them a ticket to every activity they attended. Then once a month I would have what was called The Country Store. This Store would have all kinds of stuff from stuffed animals to make-up clothes things to hang up in their room. The ticket was their money to spend. They really enjoyed it and looked forward to this every month.

[elisabeth 0]

While doing my practicum, I have found that getting residents to the activities is a challenge all on its own. I have learned to do "tag along" exercises after a discussion or Spiritual Program. The residents are always willing to participate in this change of pace--I usually limit the exercise to 15-20 minutes.

I would appreciate any other suggestions to help get residents to activities.

[elisabeth 0]

Ideally, all staff is on board to help get residents to activities. We aim for a "target" schedule of activities for each individual resident based upon his or her interests. Then nurses and aides are made aware of it so they can plan cares, bathroom breaks, etc. accordingly. They can also help encourage residents to attend activities . . . the more positive reinforcement, the better. This system also allows us to plan our activities to target as many residents as we can, despite their varied interests.