Editor's Pick
Feb 11, 2015
Getting your community engaged is one of the best things you can do for your residents and your facility. It can boost your volunteer program and put smiles on the faces of your residents.
So how do you engage?
1. Share your story
In order for the community to become involved, they have to know who you are. Get the local paper to do a profile on you and your residents' stories, and if you can get the permission, their pcitures. This is a great time to mention that you are looking for volunteers or list any events coming up ie: open houses, BBQs or even church services.
2. Open your events to the community
Having a special event? Don't limit it just residents who can attend. If you have the space, allow community members to come as well. It gives them a chance to interact with your seniors and brighten their day.
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Articles
Dec 10, 2014
Although the bulk of activities occur during the day, it’s important to have activities scheduled for the evenings and weekends as well. Rather than have your residents go to their room after dinner, encourage more socialization and connection.
If you have a co-ordinator who only works during the day, it can be hard to plan activities at night. But remember, you don’t have to only have activities that need to be supervised.
Why don’t you create some clubs in your facility? Do you have a group of knitters? A Sunday afternoon knitting club can be added to the roster. Literary-minded folk can have a book club.
Dec 1, 2014
The image you want to project of your care facility is one of comfort and warmth. You want to be able to put your residents and their families at ease and welcome all those who walk through your doors.
So what does your facility lobby need?
Cozy Chairs
A sitting area in the lobby is a great way for residents to sit and see the comings and goings throughout the day. It’s also a great meeting spot for friends and family and helps to convey a familial atmosphere to potential residents.
The key word here is cozy. Uncomfortable chairs don’t encourage people to sit and relax.
Look for furniture that complements your facility design. Also make sure there is enough seating. Depending on the size of your building, there may not be space for a lot of chairs and couches but ensuring that there’s space for more than one or two residents will lend to that cozy feeling.
A warm, inviting lobby is a great marketing tool for attracting future residents.
Nov 24, 2014
Getting your money's worth out of conferences and seminars
Conferences can be great learning experiences but sometimes they can be overwhelming. We’ve all been to conferences or seminars where we are given a boatload of information in the span of an hour or a few days and are then expected to not only remember but retain it for future use.
Separating the most important information from the stuff you don't need can be the toughest part of attending these events. Now of course, some of this is dependent upon the presenter. The better the presenter, the better chance you have of retaining what you need the most.
So how do you come away from a conference with the right information you need?
Dec 1, 2014
Fall and winter is birthday season in my family. Right from the beginning of September and well on through to March there’s a birthday or two happening every few weeks. Some of those people are reaching major milestones, 65, or as us Canadians unofficially call it “Happy pension cheque day.”
It’s supposed to be the sunset time in life; you hang up the suit and dress shoes, pull out those investments and start “retiring.”
But what if you’re just not ready to hang up the suits and withdraw from working? Well, there’s always volunteering.
Dec 1, 2014
At the end of the day, you pack up your bag; perhaps grab some files to work on later and head to your home for the evening. A home is a place for you to relax. It's a place that provides you with security and safety.
Imagine living without it.
More and more seniors are doing just that; facing incredible odds without a home to go to.
Dec 1, 2014
It started with a simple fall in the snow.
Several years ago, Executive Director Brendalee Piironen was leaving work one winter day. It was 7:30 in the evening and freezing cold; roughly minus 30 outside. Something caught her eye as she was leaving the grounds and she realized it was one of her residents.
The 90 year old resident had fallen in the snowbank near his car. Fortunately, two nurses were coming out with a wheelchair because they had seen the fall occur from the solarium on the second floor.
