Skip to main content

New Year's Eve

Hi. Now that I've had time to digest the past few busy weeks, I thought that I would share the concerns that I have with New Year's Eve and see if any of you share the same issues.

My community does not allow alcohol beverages to be consumed in the common areas or at any program that the company supports. For New Year's Eve, we do a toast with sparkling cider in champagne flutes. But here is the dilemma. The residents finish eating dinner around 7:00 p.m.  That is the time that I have all my evening programs. I know that if they leave the "club house" area that they will not return if the program was later. So, I have my celebration on 12/31 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  We have a one-man band play dance music, have dance hosts for the single ladies, and have a little more dessert and punch for those who want it. (New Year's dinner is a fancy meal in the dinning room.)  The problem is that some people want to ring in the new year at midnight and others do not.  In the past, when I try to have a program that is from 9pm -12pm, it is just to long to hold their interest. Any suggestions on how to have a grow-up type of New Year's Eve party??

Comments

  1. Why not have a "noon" year's eve celebration? Pass out horns and hats at lunch and do a count down and sing auld lang syne-then instead of having your party at 7p, you could hold off till 9:30-have a couple of hours of dancing and the last 30 minutes could be spent playing a game that would lead you into the new year- maybe play wheel of fortune for some cool prizes- (and some gag ones- like...a trip around the world for two- with the understanding that they have to take the trip immediately- and then pull out a globe-set it on the floor and do-si-do around the globe a couple of times with them. Or let someone win diamond earrings- buy a pair of earrings and tape a dime to the back of card- They get dime-and earrings. Give away a new car- and it is a hot wheels car- ) You could draw 3 or 4 names to decide who would get to play- and you could decorate the wheel of a wheelchair to spin. We had a blast with it. They get their dancing/eating and the last part of the evening when people are winding down you play the game to keep their interest till midnight. Have a balloon with water for a little weight and some glitter all over it- and lower the balloon like the ball at Time Square- do a countdown and sing again. The people who can't stay up past their bedtime get to ring in the "noon" year, and the ones who want to stay up can have a dance and games and a ball drop. I have only tried staying up till midnight with our folks once- only one lady made it and I was exhausted. I know it is easier to modify a celebration in assisted living- even expected- so- it's just a thought. Sue

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Sue. Thank you for the great ideas. I like the idea of splitting the party into two parts (early bird version and typical party hours). My community does not serve lunch as a formal meal.... but I think I could create a "schedule" for the night that would ring in the new year, say at 9pm and then again at midnight so that people could come and go if they wanted to... and like you suggested, add some games to keep them involved. I like the Wheel of Fortune. It is very cleaver as is the ball drop. I've done a balloon drop in the past, but after someone fell and hurt herself trying to step on the balloon, it put an end to that. You've given me some ideas that sound like it means more work.. but I bet, a better outcome than I've had in the past. Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You will also want to read my other posting:
    http://rechargingretirees.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-years-eve-again.html
    THANKS, Martha

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 Styles of Scavenger Hunts

Boy is it hot outside! If you are like me you may still be looking for indoor activities that are fun for your residents to do. This activity that I will share with you can be done for different levels of care in your retirement community. I encourage you to share it with the other activity professionals that work in those other areas within your own community. The activity is the Scavenge Hunt. This can be done in three different ways and I will describe them below: 1)       The Stay Seated Scavenger Hunt v   Ask audience to bring in items they think will be asked for. Encourage them to fill their purses, pockets, bags, etc. and bring it to the event v   Make a list of items that they could bring with them v   Include items that would be funny, that might have a story to go with them, or that people would be surprised someone would actually have. (Green Stamps anyone?) v   See the list I used v   Cut the list into pieces and place them into a basket v   Ask

Super Bowl Party for Seniors

It is almost here! The 46th Super Bowl game will be held on Sunday, February 5 in Indinapolis. Each year, residents in my retirement community want to have a viewing party for the big game. I believe that it is a fun program to make an activity out of, but not something that I must do every year. Mostly, I don't have this each year because there are not to many ways to change it up, so I don't want to have it become boring. (This is where your ideas would be great to hear!!) This year, we are going to have a party and I'd like to share with you the plans for the evening. Residents are now signing up for the program which is set to start at 6:00 p.m.  This time is perfect in my community because we still serve dinner at noon on Sundays and the residents usually like to attend for the food, if for no other reason. (I do charge them a fee for the food.) We will have the game showing on our big screen tv in the auditorium and tables and chairs set up for the residents to eat

4 Pictures 1 Word Game for the Big Screen

Many of you who have played 4 Pictures 1 Word , know that this brain game is available as an app for your computer, tablet or phone for free. That is great, bu it does not allow a team to play and is not audience friendly if you wanted to present it at your retirement community (or other social gathering).  After some time and effort, I made a 4 Pictures and 1 Word game  slide show that you can use in your community. I did use the app for suggestions and the Internet for the pictures. I am glad to share this with you so that you will not have to spend the hours that I did in creating this game. If you get the urge to make one also, please come back to this blog page and share it.  I played this last week with a group of about 25 independent living residents.We did not get through all of the slides due to time constraints..... but I was glad I did not run out of slides in my hour that I had their attention. I will be playing this with them again... and would love to have other