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Tip of the Week: Improving your activities department

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, September 27, 2007

• One department manager created his own exercise videotape. He used the tape on days he could not lead the class "live."
• Use outside professionals to lead four- to six-week special classes. Consider painting, music, sketching, pottery, weaving, or quilt making. We have seen local artists and musicians who are happy to volunteer their time to introduce their craft to residents.
• Solicit your current staff for special talents that could be shared with residents. One housekeeper loved to paint pictures of animals. She held classes for residents one afternoon each week. Every year they held an art show. Involve other departments in monthly theme specials. Food services can prepare a special meal, while other departments can "dress up" for the day or participate in a reading.
• Involve volunteers. A steady core of volunteers can multiply the effectiveness of your department without increasing resources. Just like staff, each volunteer will be able to contribute more to your program the longer they stay with you. Treat your volunteers like your very best customer.
• Plan activities around meal times to increase attendance. An activity scheduled for 11:15 a.m. before a noon lunch is often well-attended and keeps residents busy so your staff can prepare the dining room for lunch.
• Increase participation by "going out and getting" residents for each activity.
• Monitor participation by recording the number of residents who attended each activity on your activity calendar.
• Prepare a second attendance summary using a chart with a list of residents' names down the left side of the page and the dates and activities offered across the top. Put a check mark for each activity attended. This will allow you to see which residents are participating in 90% of the activities, who is attending 50%, and maybe who attended less than 5% of the activities offered.
• Use your events to promote your community. A staff-resident baseball game was once publicized on local television. Resident Olympics were written up in local columns.

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