On our program we run a cafe an coffee/tea and biscuits activity.Once apone a time it attracted quite a few residents but is now only engaging 3 residents.I need help in how to make this activity more interesting and get better participation. We run trivia an current affairs down there.Any ideas would be great. Thanks Rachel
Hi Rachel, it is really disheartening when the numbers drop in any activity. Have you tried to involve clients’ family in the activity? Invite relatives so they may combine a visit with the activity. Another idea is to announce a Quiz Tournament. Divide participants into two groups and offer a choice of two quizzes, e.g. a Geography quiz or a World’s Capital quiz. The winning group will be serenaded by the loser group with some known song. Make it fun and they will be back. All the best.
Here are some other ideas Do an informal survey Ask residents why they are not coming Is it the food Is that the drinks Is it the activities provided Has there been a decline in the residents condition Depending on the results maybe you want to have cold drinks instead of hot maybe serve some different type of food maybe you want to have a cooking activity where the residents can eat what they make or you can demonstrate how to make something and have the residents eat it Maybe you can have some kind of entertainment Maybe you need to have less often Susan
Everything has a beginning, middle and end. Often specialty activities run their course and interest wains. Perhaps it’s time to mix it up and add something or do something a little different. Whatever engages your elders.
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Saskia Badenhorst Activities Coordinator South Africa
On our program we run a cafe an coffee/tea and biscuits activity.Once apone a time it attracted quite a few residents but is now only engaging 3 residents.I need help in how to make this activity more interesting and get better participation. We run trivia an current affairs down there.Any ideas would be great.
Thanks Rachel
Do an informal survey
Ask residents why they are not coming
Is it the food
Is that the drinks
Is it the activities provided
Has there been a decline in the residents condition
Depending on the results maybe you want to have cold drinks instead of hot maybe serve some different type of food maybe you want to have a cooking activity where the residents can eat what they make or you can demonstrate how to make something and have the residents eat it
Maybe you can have some kind of entertainment
Maybe you need to have less often
Susan
Thanks Rachel