Nursing Home week

Reward The Gift Of Time

2009-01-26T08:20:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-26T08:19:00.004-08:00

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!

2009-01-26T08:19:00.003-08:00

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

2009-01-26T08:19:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-26T08:18:00.004-08:00

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

2009-01-26T08:18:00.003-08:00

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

2009-01-26T08:18:00.001-08:00

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.

Back In Time

2009-01-26T08:17:00.003-08:00

Since Flag Day is May 16, a patriotic celebration at your facility is fitting. Create a World War II theme, with employees dressing up as characters from that time period, such as Rosie the Riveter, ladies from Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), and soldiers. Hang American flags on the walls and set a bouquet of red, white and blue flowers at each table. Place a Personalized Navy/Sky Blue, or Red/Natural, Mini Tote next to each person’s plate. Put some treats in the plates as well. During the event, play music from the 1940s and serve up some traditional American fare, such as hot dogs and apple pie.

Remember Mom’s Words

2009-01-26T08:17:00.001-08:00

National Nursing Home Week always starts on Mother’s Day. It’s therefore the perfect time to make everyone’s mom’s words of wisdom the focal point of your Nursing Home Week event. Several weeks in advance, ask residents and staff to jot down the most memorable things their mothers told them when they needed extra encouragement. Phrases such as “Sometimes you’ve got to do things you don’t want to do” or “Always keep your sense of humor” might come to mind. People will enjoy sharing their mothers’ precious words at a lunch or afternoon tea. Spruce up the area where you hold your event with items from the “Making A Difference In The Lives Of Others” Decoration Pack. Have staff members wear the Self-Adhesive Ribbons that come in the pack.

Reeling In The Years

2009-01-26T08:16:00.002-08:00

This National Nursing Home Week, recognize your staff for the amount of time they’ve dedicated to your nursing home. Select different gifts for various years of service. For example, give those who have worked at your facility for two years or less “Making A Difference In The Lives Of Others” Lanyards. Pass out “Making A Difference In The Lives Of Others” Deluxe Lunch Bag & Travel Tumbler Gift Sets, to people who have been employed for three to five years, and so on. Present the gifts to employees at a special dinner with the theme “Here’s To Your Years!”

Bright Ideas

2009-01-26T08:16:00.001-08:00

Show your appreciation for residents by surrounding them with items that will brighten each day of National Nursing Home Week. At the start of the week, give each resident a flower in a simple glass vase. The next day, pass out “Our Residents Make Every Day Brighter” Gift-Wrapped Daisy-Scented Candles. Encourage staff members to wear “Our Residents Make Every Day Brighter” T-Shirts, throughout the week. Assign different employees to wear the T-shirt on different days, so several will wear it each day.

Gone Fishin’

2009-01-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

Cast out a net to find employees going the extra mile for residents. During National Nursing Home Week, keep an eye out for staff members doing good deeds, such as spending a little additional time with a resident who needs comforting. Because you can’t be everywhere at once, let employees know what you’re up to. Encourage them to report the extraordinary behavior of coworkers to you. Keep a tally of those who have been caught doing something special, and, at the end of the week, give each deserving employee a “Caught Making Residents Smile” Mini Gift Tote, or Silicone Bracelet, GN-2731V.