A lot of planning and effort go into organizing activities in an aged care setting. However, getting residents to actually attend can sometimes be a challenge. If you are an activity coordinator or aged care staff member looking to boost participation, here are some practical, time-saving tips to encourage your residents to join in the fun.
1. Keep Everyone Informed with Calendars and Reminders
Visibility is key when it comes to daily events. Print out a monthly or weekly calendar and leave a copy in each resident’s room so they can easily see what is planned. You should also display a large, easy-to-read calendar in common areas like the lounge or dining room.
For daily updates, use a whiteboard in the dining room to highlight today’s activities and their start times. Decorate the board to make it eye-catching! Additionally, going door-to-door just before an activity starts is a wonderful way to offer a personal reminder and gently encourage residents to head down to the lounge.
2. Capitalize on Natural Gatherings
Timing your activities around existing routines can significantly increase attendance. A great time to host a quiz or trivia session is straight after lunch. While residents are still sitting at their tables enjoying a cup of tea or coffee, they are usually relaxed and eager to shout out answers to your questions.
For special theme days, go the extra mile by sending out personal, eye-catching invitations to everyone. Clearly display what the event is and what time it starts to build anticipation.
3. Use Food as a Drawcard
Food is always a fantastic motivator. Plan activities that inherently include food, such as cheese tasting, chocolate tasting, ice-cream days, or mocktail-making afternoons. Alternatively, you can offer an activity with the promise of something delicious once it concludes, like a fresh piece of cake with a nice cup of tea or coffee.
4. Create a Reward System for Participation
Incentivizing attendance can turn participation into a fun game. Many activity coordinators offer one raffle ticket for every activity a resident attends. You can draw winners weekly or monthly, offering small prizes like chocolate bars, small packets of crisps, scratchies, or inexpensive trinkets.
Another engaging idea is to print fake dollar notes for residents to accumulate. Give them a dollar for every activity attended, and offer “double your dollar” bonuses for special groups. Hold a regular pop-up shop or small auction where residents can spend their earnings. You can stock the shop with toiletries, small items from discount stores, or unwanted items donated by staff and friends.
5. Make Activity Titles Exciting and Inviting
The way you advertise an activity can make all the difference. Try to make your activities sound exciting rather than clinical. Instead of a standard “Exercise Group,” call it “Tone Up with Wonderful Toni.” Swap out “Hollywood Quiz” for “Hollywood Movies, Glamour and Glitz Quiz.” Rather than “Arm Chair Travel,” invite residents to “Jet Off to an Exotic Destination.”
By combining clear communication, tempting treats, fun rewards, and exciting titles, you will see a noticeable increase in resident engagement and enjoyment.
