You get what you give! Don’t you find that when you smile while walking through the lobby in your retirement community that most of the time someone will smile back at you? How about when you say, “have a nice day”? Most people respond with thanks, some to you, or something like that. I know that it makes me feel good if someone wishes me a good day, just as I’m sure that it makes them feel good when I say it to them. A simple hi or “hello ladies” goes a long way when you are passing a group of residents. To acknowledge their presence for some gives them a lot of pleasure, which as active, productive adults, we can not fully understand. Yes, it might seem like a standard line to say, but I really believe that taking a few minutes to greet a resident is a win, win situation for you and the residents in your community. Of course, if time allows stop and talk! That is usually another win, win situation. The things that I have learned from residents over the past 24 years is priceless. I think that I am a better person because of the residents who have shared with me. Also, what you can learn that benefits you in your position of activities director is enormous. How else can you learn that a person might be interested in volunteering, have a talent to share, know of others that are to shy to share about themselves, but would get involved if you asked them, or so many more good things. Yes, we are all busy, but trust me, it is worth it to stop and say hello!
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
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