Forum Discussion

We hold an annual Christmas and Christmas in July drinks and nibbles nights. The invites are sent out with the accounts, notices put on notice boards and A Frame at front of facility, and in our newsletter. Our kitchen caters with hot and cold finger foods, we have Beer, Red and White Wine, soft drink, entertainment (this year we had a choir made up of staff, family members and volunteers, so cost us only everyone's time for practise), Santa pays a visit and handed out lolly bags for the children. One of our staff is the photographer, I rope in volunteers and staff's husbands to man the bar. We are a facility of 145 residents, with High Care and Dementia area's. This Christmas we had over 200 residents and their families attend, some 4 generations. The night is basically open to residents and families, as we do not have staff to look after residents. These evenings are the highlight of the year for many.

we have 5 care homes ,10 residents per home all in the same area.I started having garden parties every week.Each home takes a turn hosting a party they come up with their own theme.We have beautiful gardens at each home ,raised vegetable boxes fish ponds.Staff and their residents have come up with wonderful themes for their parties.All our residents from all our homes look forward to the afternoon of fun and games.Family and friends also look forward to them.We post our monthly activity calendar and find visitors are always checking to see who hosting the next party.Some of our past themes have been hillbilly hoedown,farmer market,rock and roll 50's..down the nature trail...staff go all out in decorations food is always geared towards theme as well as games.At the end of our summer season as we head into fall we finish with a scarecrow festival .All homes their staff and residents do scarecrow workshops and we display them in our gardens.Great way to end our season and family love it.

Jacqui, We are a small facility each year we have a Grandparents day when grandchildren are invited to come along to visit, with games, BBQ also pets are also invited. We also hold a family fun day which includes a concert, finger food, lucky dips etc. These occasions are really enjoyed by all. Also during the year we use our craft groups to make items that we can sell on these days to fundraise. ie painted plant pots, bookmarks, cards, bric-a-brac stall.

Would like some more ides on theme days, I have just recently put on a BBQ with residents all siting outside & enjoying our beautiful gardens with music playing in the background. Another staff member bought some of her pets & children in all went very well. This left residents talking about this for days. Since than I have put on Hawaiian Day, ParisTrip,Mad Hatters Party next week we are of to North Africa e of our cooks would like to help me out with food being moroccan. Each theme has all the decorations and music to suite the theme.your idea of Western party and going to sound really great so I'm going to do this thank you for all the good ideas I'll let you know how I go .if anyone else has got any other ideas of theme days I would be interested to hear from you

HI All we have several major luncheons each year which takes in 2 Christmas Parties now since these luncheons have become so popular. These luncheons are themed e.g. Valentine's Day; Mothers Day; Fathers Day; AFL Grand Final; Oaks Day etc I work well with our chef and we devise a menu. Finger Food & Drinks (includes red & white wine - sometimes champagne - beer, softdrinks) on arrival and then lunch and dessert plus Tea & Coffee included. I use my budget in hiring an entertainer and let them know what theme we have. I put up posters 6 weeks prior to the day and send out a mass email invitation. I have devised a booking form with details. For numbers family/friends need to book themselves in and I charge a small amount per person to cover the above. We are finding that we now need to cap numbers as they are so popular hence it is first in best dressed !!
Charging an amount helps to not only cover my costs but leave a little extra for Lifestyle too. We also have a monthly Classical Music Appreciation afternoon with wine/sherry plus cheese/crackers/fruit. No charge for this one. This is proving to be an excellent activity - we play a Classical CD and research the composer for information to commence discussions. I now have a volunteer that has taken this activity on board which is a bonus and since she plays the piano will give a live performance every 3 months.
For other themes we had a Chocolate Tasting day that went over extremely well and that included some history of Australian Chocolate companies. We also had a retro afternoon - flashback to 40's 50's & 60's - we made fruit punch too. That was a winner as we reminisced about fashion, movie stars, popular advertising posters etc.
We hold a monthly theme day - and research what is happening in the world PLUS use the suggestions that this site outlines too. Currently we are gearing up for Queens 90th birthday and will hold a special afternoon, complete with a " visit' by the Queen (guess I will be dressing up). We have a clever resident who was an artist so we are making cardboard cut out of a Guard and The Queen together to use as a photo booth, residents just need to put their face in the hole for a photo opportunity and then we will reminisce. Also in May we are holding a Movie Night - with family & friends invited to watch Oddball with us. Residents will help make some sandwiches & muffins for intermission (coincide with supper) with Tea/Coffee. Hope this helps. A big thank you for others who have come up with some great ideas that I will capitalise on too !!! Just love this site and how we all support one another.

I love your enthusiasm Josephine, what fabulous theme day ideas! Your residents are lucky to have you.

Hello all, I am wanting to study my diploma in Leisure and Health, can anyone recommend a college and course in Victoria?
Thanks