blessed1 0 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) no prize bingo... is there such a thing? i work in a mostly alzheimers nursing home. my residents love bingo (of course), but i am tired of giving them crappy dollar tree prizes. (God bless dollar tree by the way) i am also very limited as to what the prizes can be due to: food restrictions, residents drinking things that should not be drunk...perfume, shampoo, etc, no breakables...you get the idea. i'm pretty much limited to scarves, gloves (great in the winter only) stuffed animals, bags and holiday items. we just closed our resident store due to a lack of interest, so bingo bucks are no longer an option. what i'd really like to do is have a form of bingo with a "reason to play" other than prizes. anyone have ani ideas??? Edited December 30, 2009 by blessed1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkc 0 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 How about stars instead of bucks. Works the same way as bucks did but stars on a sheet they can always see? Or just stars in general. Maybe it would be a better seat during a musical performance? OR a balloon they could take back to their place something shiny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen 0 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 When I was in a memory care community, I gave soft drinks in cans as prizes, made sure everyone had one, & then served everyonewe with soft drinks & snacks. It worked well & they were happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwoods2933 0 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 We are going through the exact same thing at the SNF where I work. I am thinking about only doing prize bingo once a week. ( we play bingo 3 times a week per resident request) and the rest of the time using a scoring system that would allow the winner of the most bingo's for the week, month or whatever time period is decided on would be the recipient of something special like a special dinner from anywhere they wanted, or special seating at the next bingo or a social gathering in their honor. i'm still tossing it around and have yet to present it to the Resident Council. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrsarandreajr 0 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 no prize bingo...is there such a thing? i work in a mostly alzheimers nursing home. my residents love bingo (of course), but i am tired of giving them crappy dollar tree prizes. (God bless dollar tree by the way) i am also very limited as to what the prizes can be due to: food restrictions, residents drinking things that should not be drunk...perfume, shampoo, etc, no breakables...you get the idea. i'm pretty much limited to scarves, gloves (great in the winter only) stuffed animals, bags and holiday items. we just closed our resident store due to a lack of interest, so bingo bucks are no longer an option. what i'd really like to do is have a form of bingo with a "reason to play" other than prizes. anyone have ani ideas??? Maybe instead of "bingo bucks" for use in a resident store, bingo bucks could be used instead for a resident auction. At my facility we intertwine different activities... for example, we may use finished arts and crafts projects and recently made baked goods as items in an auction. The residents love the idea of being able to bid on many of the items. We designate certain items that can only be purchased with the fake money that residents win during other games such as bingo and horseracing. It becomes a whole new activity in itself that they all really enjoy. Just an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fablous 0 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Bingo prises are fun at times hae you tried grage salse for items. Have you tried making them double the bang for your buck. My facility has not had bingo prises for years however there are special ociagtions that I will add them for April first Silly or joke prizes. Christmas the island of lost toys. That would incorprate a ctaft project as will buying used toys and making them in to unusual toys. It will give you and others a chance to look into there minds besides A little humer never hurts. Try to work with your curent clientels likes and dislikes this will incurage people to take part in more things. I try to make them feel more useful. Working like this can also help depershion. Our faviorite game is Farkle a Cheap dice game. You can have your guest make up the rules themselves. If want to use it is the game 10,000 you can look up the rules on the net and buy a packege of six dice you will might have extra that is good role it out on a colored serfus that your guest can see. Goog Luck & Have Fun! I'd love to have some fresh new ideas. If you wish to contact me here is my e-mail jll@usa.com. Jenny Livingston Activity Cooridnatior Siena Care Center 11600 Education St 95602 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelkat 0 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 I have just started a new idea this month to take place of a country bucks store and other treats for attending activities. On my calendar I have a number in parenthesis beside certain activities throughout the month. If they attend the activity from beginning to end they recieve the number of tickets corresponding to that activity. For instance I might have Bingo (3). After each activity their name is written on the tickets. We then put in a box and have a weekly drawing. We are also going to have a monthly drawing and then start the box over the next month. The prize for the drawing is a choice of a few things. A nice type of candy, puzzle books, reading books, stationary, etc. I do not have as much in this as I did the Country Bucks Store. Our monthly drawing will be for a $10.00 gift card to WalMart. I think this will also help me get some to more activities. If I definitely want to see a large turnout for an event, I put a number beside an activity. They then know they will receive tickets if they come. I'll let you know how it works after our trial run in January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrandon15 0 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 At the facility where I work, we use actual money for bingo prizes. Dimes and Quarters are given to winners of the regular games, and the dollar bills are given out to winners of the "cover all" games. They love it, because they can turn around and go on the shopping trips with the money they won. This would obviously be dependent on your budget, but they enjoy getting that shiny money as a prize! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmmusgrave 0 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 What if you passed out "smidgets" for each prize? Smidgets are very valuable and must be saved in a very special ziplock bag so they don't get lost! Then, every Friday after Bingo you gather your smidgets and spend the money you are already spending on "crappy dollar tree" prizes and have a social and serve pizza or some other (appropiate for their diet) snack. Or purchase new wii games or cd's or videos...? They still get a prize, and you can use your money for stuff that will be appreciated. (smidgets can be any small token). Millie no prize bingo...is there such a thing? i work in a mostly alzheimers nursing home. my residents love bingo (of course), but i am tired of giving them crappy dollar tree prizes. (God bless dollar tree by the way) i am also very limited as to what the prizes can be due to: food restrictions, residents drinking things that should not be drunk...perfume, shampoo, etc, no breakables...you get the idea. i'm pretty much limited to scarves, gloves (great in the winter only) stuffed animals, bags and holiday items. we just closed our resident store due to a lack of interest, so bingo bucks are no longer an option. what i'd really like to do is have a form of bingo with a "reason to play" other than prizes. anyone have ani ideas??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpdimples 0 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 I was once in the same situation and had to resort to something totally different. Have you ever seen those coupon books that you give to a mother, father, or friend on a birthday? I took that idea and applied it to prizes for bingo. I made a bunch of cut out coupons that had rewards, ideas, events or things they get to do. For example.. "Everyone has to tell me something nice today that walks by me", "I control the remote for a day", "I get to play my music down the hall", "I get to help in the kitchen", etc...really though you can base them on activites that you are doing in the week or allow special deserts. I would always like the special reader and singer in your room coupon. Hope this helps and gives you some ideas that can make it fun to incorporate different staff and activities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandkciuffini 0 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Hi all, We have been doing the activity drawing at the end of the week, with a box of goodies to pick from. The residenst seem to like it. We go to dollar store and also ask for donations. About the Bingo we have a black out bingo every Friday. We start with $5.00's One dollar games, play four and on the fourth one don't have them clear their cards. The last game is played with calling 52 numbers, after 52's are called they are playing for a can of pop. Every week add a number, 53, that you call and a dollar to the pot. We are up to 24 dollars and alomost everyone in our facility comes to play even those that don't generally attend. Good luck Korina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaRee 0 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Hi. We've never had a problem with bingo. My folks love it and get money for bingo prizes. Why not try switching things up some and play a different type of bingo game that you won't have to give prizes for. My residents love playing "ZINGO" You can buy it al Wal-Mart. It's fast paced and alot more fun than regular bingo. I even made up a "staff" bingo with pictures of staff on the card. It really helped our residents with recalling staffs names. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandiie13 0 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 We like to use dollar bucks and stars..when we play bingo we have prizes as well as bucks n stars..when the resident wins it is his/her choice to pick if they want the buck/star or if they want an actual prize that we got from the dollar store or walmart..now if they choose the bucks/stars then when we have food and soda pop sales they are more then welcomed to use their bucks/stars to make a purchase..We do this for them because not all residents have a trust or a family member to come in and give them money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musgrav8 0 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 I have a grab box with all kinds of prize from socks to candy. I also ave crafts that residents made. Now they can all have some that they all can have nd enjoy. The residents and i paint pictures, frame them and sell them to raise money for the Activity Dept. and to buy for the grab box. Also have staff and family members to donate when able to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcySchroeder 0 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 A co-worker of mine occasionally plays Bingo without physical prizes. Instead, she gives away imaginary prizes such as: Trips around the world, a million dillars, a yacht, a sportscar, a personal jet, a tropical island, etc. The residents really love to play for these prizes, and even find themselves trading prizes with one another after the Bingo game is over. Sometimes, the imaginary prize is large sums of money which the residents have to give to their favorite charity. Again, the residents love to hear what each other's favorite charity is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jledoux 0 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 At my facility we hand out money for prizes. It doesn't cost much and the residents love it and look forward to it all week long. We do two 25cent games, two 50cent games, 75cent four corners and $1.00 blackout game. Its very cheap and a lot of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abidlack 0 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 I understand what you mean about a "waste" of bingo prizes. For rewards I give out quarters and most of the residents give it to their families or use it to by the grandkids a pop. However, the quarters can get lost and cause turmoil. What I have done recently is offer a donation box where they can put their quarters. The newest donation destination is Haiti. Many residents enjoy this and it allows them to feel as if they are helping the cause as well. Another idea is that recently I had someone donate almost 300 lottery tickets. We have been using the lottery tickets as bingo prizes. Now that the tickets are gone, I have went and bought more and residents can buy them for $1 that they save up from their bingo winnings. You would be amazed at how many residents want lottery tickets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanw11777 0 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 no prize bingo...is there such a thing? i work in a mostly alzheimers nursing home. my residents love bingo (of course), but i am tired of giving them crappy dollar tree prizes. (God bless dollar tree by the way) i am also very limited as to what the prizes can be due to: food restrictions, residents drinking things that should not be drunk...perfume, shampoo, etc, no breakables...you get the idea. i'm pretty much limited to scarves, gloves (great in the winter only) stuffed animals, bags and holiday items. we just closed our resident store due to a lack of interest, so bingo bucks are no longer an option. what i'd really like to do is have a form of bingo with a "reason to play" other than prizes. anyone have ani ideas??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaciozenne 0 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 hello, what about if you find a company who sells wholesale t shirts, and give them as only blackout prizes ,and give the bingo bucks as the prize for the regular games. you know bodywash and perfume they all need those things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patkiely 0 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 no prize bingo...is there such a thing? i work in a mostly alzheimers nursing home. my residents love bingo (of course), but i am tired of giving them crappy dollar tree prizes. (God bless dollar tree by the way) i am also very limited as to what the prizes can be due to: food restrictions, residents drinking things that should not be drunk...perfume, shampoo, etc, no breakables...you get the idea. i'm pretty much limited to scarves, gloves (great in the winter only) stuffed animals, bags and holiday items. we just closed our resident store due to a lack of interest, so bingo bucks are no longer an option. what i'd really like to do is have a form of bingo with a "reason to play" other than prizes. anyone have ani ideas??? I love the coupon idea that was given previously. If you want to get totally away from prizes how about resognition. You can keep track on a poster board the # of wins each participating resident has. The top 3 winners may have their picture put up on the board later and put in some location for recognition. Pat Kiely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceciliacurtis 0 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 (edited) no prize bingo...is there such a thing? i work in a mostly alzheimers nursing home. my residents love bingo (of course), but i am tired of giving them crappy dollar tree prizes. (God bless dollar tree by the way) i am also very limited as to what the prizes can be due to: food restrictions, residents drinking things that should not be drunk...perfume, shampoo, etc, no breakables...you get the idea. i'm pretty much limited to scarves, gloves (great in the winter only) stuffed animals, bags and holiday items. we just closed our resident store due to a lack of interest, so bingo bucks are no longer an option. what i'd really like to do is have a form of bingo with a "reason to play" other than prizes. anyone have ani ideas??? i think it would work well just to pass refreshments to everyone. then the winner would get bragging rights. perhaphs to make a large board to keep track of the winners. Edited April 13, 2010 by ceciliacurtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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