Tishanne 0 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 :-? I am the Activity Director for a health care facility that has been in a small town for almost 40 years. For most of those years we were the ONLY nursing home. Now there is another one and Corporate wants us to step up marketing to our small community (less than 5,000). Most of the townspeople had their parents, grandparents, etc. here and are well aware of our facility. I am now part of the "marketing team" and would like some ideas for use in our town (and some small surrounding towns.) At present, I have invited the Senior Citizens for a Bingo Bonanza (next Thursday), met with area preachers, left colored newsletters in area businesses/hospitals/clinics, and visit hospital patients. The local Senior Citizens business was very negative about me calling their Bingo, but have accepted Bingo prizes and Birthday gifts from our facility. Next year, we want to hold a city-wide "health fair" with free flu shots, games, pet therapy demonstrations, etc. We are not prepared for that big of a show yet, but look forward to getting it organized for next year. Thank you in advance for any advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_Gayle Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Is there an entertainer that would come put on a "special show" for your oldest resident's birthday, Ground Hog's Day, the Holidays and you could invite the community - make it a fund raiser for the Activity Department for Christmas presents for residents, extra outings, Department supplies. Have the dietary department make cookies, cake, punch. Have Residents make theme name tags, corcages.buttonaires for guests. Get an article put in the local paper advertizing the event and then one covering the event. Corporate like free write up in the papers. On LTC in Fl. got ahold of Bobby Vincent (I think)in Las Vegas, as he was a resient's dream wish (meeting him) He didn't come to FL. but he did send a tape they used. He had a table set up in the front row of his show and mentioned the woman, sang a song to her and then sent a bottle of wine with the tape. The LTC got a lot of air time from local TC stations. Plan a event with school children and your residents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StacieO 0 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 We are just finishing a REALLY neat marketing tool that our social worker put together & will give to potiential residents, families, local hospitals, & any other facility that we may get residents from. It is a nice folder w/ indexed tabs of what our facility offers. Included in this package is a disk/cd that has a really cool presentation of our facility on it. It has pictures of residents, staff, family, volunteers (all gave permission) & has backround music & some really cool quotes. Again, this highlights what we offer & generally shows our residents & their lives here. It's about 7 - 8 minutes long. We are trying to market our facility as a comfortable home. She had checked w/ area places that put together these types of things & was able to do it on her own for a fraction of the cost. And the cd can be changed over time. The residents & staff truely enjoyed being involved in this project. Our community is about 3,500 people, but almost every community w/in a 40 mile radius has a LTC, so competition is FIERCE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinm 2 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 Marketing! I highly reccommend that you get involved with your local Chamber of Commerce. Go to their monthly meetings, and get involved with what they are doing for their/your community. The merchants society as well. I have been attending the local c of c meetings regularly, and I have been amazed at just what a little involvement in the community does for a good "rep" for your facility. I have volunteers coming from the city council, local buisness donating items to our facility, and building a good voulnteer base. You get mentioned in the "Chamber News" that all c of c's put out, and I'm sure you have a local community paper. Get to know those folks on a first name basis, get all the good press you can, stand out amoung the others. After all you were there first! We are also the only nursing home in this town, and folks really appreciate when you are active in the chamber. The community as a whole is much more willing to provide support for you and yours if you show some support of the community as well. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.