Hi there If you have a lifestyle budget or are able to charge residents $1 or $2 per bingo day (used to purchase prizes), you could introduce a token system. Each winner receives a token and at the end of your bingo session the tokens are traded for items. I used to have $1, $2 and $5 items (so 1 token equates to $1). Items can include your usual toiletries and chocolates but can also be small potted plants, throw blankets, scarves, hats, gloves, neck pillows etc. Some residents saved up their tokens each week so they could get that $5 trade :) Michelle
We put out a request for prizes in our monthly agency newsletter to the community with ideas of what we need. We go to the Salvation Army and or Goodwill retail shops an buy big bags filled with stuffed animals for 2.00. We also have suggested a donation at Christmas time as families would like to do something for the residents. With that money we purchase postage stamps and put them with a greeting card for them to mail and purchase individual size chips that they do not get here as a part of their meals like Cheetos flaming hot and other hot chips or some that they request. We also get the little cans of pop and hostess pies. Sometimes we cut up fruits and put them into fancy plastic cups and cover them with a little spoon on the side. Everybody loves bingo. We do it twice per week.
We play "Penny Bingo" so our residents get a penny for each Bingo they call off. It doesn't seem like much, but it adds up. When they get 100 pennies then they can turn them in for a dollar. We give them little containers to put their pennies in, but sometimes I have to check their rooms to find them. If they don't turn them in it doesn't really matter anyway.
Hi Sophia, You can ask families/staff to donate their unwanted costume jewelry/brooches/neckties for your gentleman and McDonalds happy meal coupons. jackpot round could win a makeover with a photo shoot and give the photo to the family member for Christmas/Birthday etc. Hope this helps.
An amazing resource for anyone looking for ways to enrich the lives of the elderly. You provide an invaluable resource for anyone caring for the elderly, and I have appreciated every moment of our association.
Here are some ideas
I always used to give out a quarter to the winner
We did not clear the cards until we had three winners
Each one got a quarter
The last game was a coverall and the winner got a dollar
Other members had these ideas
https://www.goldencarers.com/forum-search/?searchterm=Bingo+prizes
https://www.goldencarers.com/comments/8408/
https://www.goldencarers.com/koala-keno/3871/
Let us know if you need more ideas
If you have a lifestyle budget or are able to charge residents $1 or $2 per bingo day (used to purchase prizes), you could introduce a token system.
Each winner receives a token and at the end of your bingo session the tokens are traded for items. I used to have $1, $2 and $5 items (so 1 token equates to $1).
Items can include your usual toiletries and chocolates but can also be small potted plants, throw blankets, scarves, hats, gloves, neck pillows etc. Some residents saved up their tokens each week so they could get that $5 trade :)
Michelle
Thank you for your input
Thank you for this
You can ask families/staff to donate their unwanted costume jewelry/brooches/neckties for your gentleman and McDonalds happy meal coupons. jackpot round could win a makeover with a photo shoot and give the photo to the family member for Christmas/Birthday etc.
Hope this helps.
Costume jewelry is a good idea
Most residents really like that stuff