**PLEASE SEND PHOTOS FROM YOUR EVENTS THIS WEEK...WE, AT THE GOODMAN GROUP, WOULD LOVE TO SEE!
National Assisted Living Week
September 7th-13th 2008
This year's theme: Filling Life with Love
Ideas/Activity Suggestions for the week:
Sunday, September 7th: National Grandparent's Day-Host a Grandparent's Pancake Breakfast. Send invites to the residents encouraging them to bring their grandchildren, and their families, RSVPs needed. Serve heart shaped pancakes, which advertise and officially kick off the theme for the week, have a harpist playing background music, door prizes, etc. All residents and families are welcome regardless if they have grandchildren. Collaborate with your Marketing Dept. so that resources can be maximized and prospective residents welcomed as well. (this could be your family event for the week)
Monday: Photograph Frenzy- There's no better way to show how one's life has been filled with love than to share favorite photos. Encourage residents to bring a favorite photo, or 2 to share with the group. After every one is done sharing take a photo of the group and have copies made for everyone who participated (place them in nice frames) emphasizing new friendships and memories that are being created at your facility.
Tuesday: Fill your Life with Love Bake Sale-Many of us show others how much we care by baking goodies and sharing timeless recipes. Advertise weeks ahead of time asking families/staff to volunteer by baking an "ever so loved" family dessert, as well as, gather a group of residents and decide up 4-5 of their favorite desserts which the activity team will assist them in making for the bake sale. Instead of selling these items have those who come to enjoy a treat wear a heart shaped sticker for the rest of the day which says, " (insert facility name) is SWEET on me!" (or something like that :))
Wednesday: Valentine's in September-Who doesn't smile when they receive a card? Give all residents a brown bag, or shoe box (depending on how many residents you have), write their name and room number on them, display them in the lobby or common area, leave out cards, markers, etc... encouraging residents to create a Valentine card for a neighbor or 2. Leave the bags out for the day, and have the residents pick up before they go to dinner. The activity staff should make sure that all residents have a card in their bag before the event is over. Watch the smiles unfold at dinner.
Thursday: For the Love of Books-Host a local day care or school age group. Have the class divide into small groups, ask for resident volunteers to read a short book or 2 to the children. Depending on the size of the group, have a take away, purchase small books at a local store for the children to take home and share with their family. Have a resident inscribe a short message inside each book's cover, reminding the child how important it is to read.
Friday: Music of the Heart Marathon-For so many of our residents music has played a big role in their lives. Talk to your favorite musicians, and inquire as to if they would donate a half hour of their time to play for the residents. See how many back to back musical events you can line up. Integrate in a sing-a-long incorporating favorite melodies that everyone likes to sing, a patriotic program focusing on Veteran's in your facility, as well as a spiritual program (perhaps a hymn sing led by a volunteer church group or a chaplain).
Please let me know if you need any assistance planning events, I would be more than willing to assist you. Also, for a complete planning guide go to: http://www.nalw.org/
