Reward The Gift Of Time

While you’re honoring staff and residents, don’t leave out your cherished volunteers. They fill a special niche at nursing homes. If you’ve got events planned for the week, send a copy of the schedule to volunteers in “Making A Difference In The Lives Of Others” Greeting Cards. Also, fit in a special presentation for volunteers. Honor them at a luncheon for your whole staff or organize a special volunteers luncheon at which you hand out “We Love Our Residents” Deluxe Lunch Bag & Appreciation Snack Pack Combos.

Think Antique

Help residents relive some fond old memories with a National Nursing Home Week Antique Show. Invite staff to bring in any reasonably-sized antiques (no dressers or sofas!) for display in a common area. If they can provide information about their pieces, have them make up little tags to place next to the antiques. Put the antiques out Monday morning for residents and employees to view throughout the week. Decorate the area with “Making A Difference In The Lives Of Others” Posters, and Balloons.

Let Them Shine!

Your employees bring sunshine into the lives of residents. Recognize this by giving National Nursing Home Week a star-related theme. Decorate your facility with yellow crepe paper, paper cutouts of stars, and yellow flowers. At the end of the week, pass out “Great Staff, Great Team” Spinning Star Key Tags, or “You Make Each Day Brighter” Night Lights, to staff members.

Take Your Pick

Hold a drawing for gifts every morning and afternoon of National Nursing Home Week. Put each employee’s name in a basket and have a different resident chose one name at each drawing. Whenever a name is drawn, make an announcement over a loudspeaker, letting everyone know who won and who drew the name. Give lucky winners personalized Contour Grip Water Bottles, or Stainless Steel Travel Mugs.

Medical Specialty

Take a day during this year’s National Nursing Home Week to focus on employees with medical backgrounds, such as nurses and nursing assistants. Ask their coworkers to nominate a Nurse of the Year and Nursing Assistant of the Year. Hold a special luncheon on the selected day, and present winners with “We Love Our Residents” Double Pocket Tote Bag & Umbrella Gift Set. Give each nurse and nursing assistant a Lapel Pin stating, “Nursing Rocks”, LP-1214L, or “Nursing Assistants: Caring, Compassionate, Committed”, LP-1365L.

Appreciation On The Go

Let your staff know your appreciation follows them wherever they go, by giving out gifts that they can take everywhere. Provide each staff member with a “We Love Our Residents” Spinning Heart Key Tag, and a “We Love Our Residents” Compact Umbrella With Case, VP-1757. Encourage employees to use the items regularly.

Enjoy Fun Through The Ages

Invite the grandchildren and great grandchildren of your residents to participate in a rewarding activity with their elders during National Nursing Home Week. Send out invitations to this evening event, asking those who will attend to RSVP. On the event night, provide staff with Buttons saying, “Making A Difference In The Lives Of Others”, and “We Love Our Residents”. Have the youngsters and elders work together to create picture frames. Meanwhile, recruit a staff member to walk around, taking digital photos of everyone smiling as they work. The photos can be put in the frames.