Not-So-Newlywed Game

One of the fun evenings in our community is when I host the Not-so-Newlywed Game. I’ve done this a few times and the residents really enjoy getting to know some of our couples better. It is not a program that I do every year. I like to mix it in to the calendar so that it stays fresh. I also have it based on when there are enough fun and interesting couples to participate. It is very important that those who are participating are quick witted, up-beat people, who the community knows and likes. The residents remember the real Newlywed Game with Bob Eubanks, so I make sure to speak to the couples independently and assure them that the questions will not be anything inappropriate. I explain to them that I do realize that unlike a cruise ship, that I know that they have to see the people in the audience for the rest of their lives and that I would not embarrass them.

I find that having four or five couples is perfect in order to make the program move along and stay within the one hour time frame. Here are a few sample questions that I’ve used before. You will need questions for the husbands and questions for the wives. You can find more on the Internet, but many of them I saw were not usable for my community or needed editing.  I found this booklet  from endlessgames.com helpful when I was getting started with this special game night.

I have a volunteer help me the night that I have the program. I give the volunteer the couple's names and a place to record the answers on a score sheet that I created. (You will need to edit it each time, based upon your questions and the couple's names.)  Some questions are worth 5 points, some worth 10 and then the big question is worth 25. In order to be efficient, I also have the volunteer write down all the answers, just in case I miss something while I am running the program. 

I start out introducing the couples and briefly tell the audience how long they've been married, about their family, professions, etc. Then I ask the men to leave the room and ask the ladies to stay and answer their questions.  Then, the husbands are brought back into the room and asked the same questions.  Then it is the wives' turn. I do not have the people write their answers down, they just repeat them out loud after their spouse's answer has been given. If they match, points are given. When determining if the answers match, you will have to use your best judgment and humor in order to make everyone feel good.  

I do give each couple a prize based upon how they score at the show and send them thank you notes afterwards for their participation. It is fun for everyone and a chance for me to have some fun hamming it up like a game show host! 

Check out these other resources that could make your event easier for you and more interesting for your audience!

• Newlywed Game Show Theme Song
• Invitations (Priced right so that you can scan one and use if for your posters, etc.)
• Board Game
• Box of questions for couples

Collection Show

Looking for a good indoor program for your residents this summer? I've done this program with independent living residents two different ways. I will share those ideas with you now.

A COLLECTION SHOW is a great way to have residents share their possessions with the community. There are so many interesting stories that come out of this event! The first time that I hosted this special event, I asked residents to sign up to participate. They needed to tell me what they were bringing and how many card tables or banquet tables they would need. I tried to limit it to one table per person of either size. I then set up a time when the exhibitors could bring their items and get their displays ready. The doors to the event opened shortly afterwards. Residents attending the function walked around to the different tables, looked, touched, asked questions and learned something new about their friends and neighbors.

This program went very well, but there were some negatives. The first is that some collections were not easy to bring to the auditorium. Some of the items were heavy or fragile and were at risk of being damaged. Our maintenance department had the job - if the resident requested help, of getting the items to the auditorium and then back to the residents apartment. The other problem was that some collections were in wall units on "permanent display" in the apartments and residents were not comfortable taking them to the auditorium.

The other way I've done a collection show is to have it as an apartment tour. Residents interested in having guests come to their home to see their collection signed up in advance. I then posted a list of the apartments in numerical order along with the type of collection that they were sharing. There was a specific start and ending time for this event. Some residents who participated in the collection showcase felt the need to offer light refreshments in their home, which was an added bonus for those on the tour. 

I think that the next time I plan this event, I am going to take both of these ideas and put them together. I will promote the homes that have items to share and also set up tables for those who want to display their collections in the auditorium due to space, etc. 

As I said at the beginning of this, I hosted this event with independent living residents, but it can be done in an assisted living setting also. It is taking the "show and tell" idea of speaking about one item to the next level. I don't work in this level of care, but I do think it would be successful.

And lastly, this would be a good staff program for your community. I think that it is a win-win situation when employees are viewed as human beings with real lives, real interests, real personalities, etc., instead of being "the maintenance man," "a housekeeper" or one of the people from the kitchen. I shared my families Kentucky Derby glasses collection the first year I did this and people learned that I love horse, sports and that my husband's family is from the Kentucky/Ohio area.

This is a fun indoor event that even residents who may not participate much in other ways, will probably enjoy. Give it a try!