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Men's Connection with Activities


Yes, males are the minority in my retirement community and they probably are in yours too. Let's face it, as Activity Directors, they are a segment of the population that is easy to ignore when planning your monthly calendar each month. I find that the men who are part of a couple, usually are active with their spouse but I don't see them really get involved independently. And then the men who are single, be them widowers, forever bachelors, straight or guy, seldom want to participate in an activity that is marketed to men only.

I feel like there are men in my community that I really never have gotten to know very well because they are not involved in activities. This article says that men are happy when they go to programs that are cultural in nature, if they feel there is a health benefit for themselves and when they can volunteer to help others.  I don't know about you, but I do not see the men in our community signing up to go to the museum, or other programs that I thing are "cultural," very often.

I have tried men's only lunch trips to sports bars and even to Hooters! No takers. I've tried hosting a men's dinner at the community, where they could come and have an alcoholic beverage (which is something special in my community)..... and that was a flop also. Next we are going to try going to the theater for something that we know most women will not be interested in.... and sell it to the men. We will see what happens!

I know that the idea is to offer something for everyone and let the residents select what they want to do. I just continue to struggle with programming for men! Any ideas for programs for men living in the INDEPENDENT LIVING side of a continuing care community would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments

  1. allenjp@trinity-health.orgAugust 20, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    Best thing I did for my male residents was hire a male staff member. They love to have him eat a meal with the guys or teach them how to play Wii.

    Janet
    Michigan

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 22, 2011 at 8:21 PM

    :-)

    ReplyDelete

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