Forum Messages

I have been doing the following for the past 19 Christmas seasons and this was going on way before I took over the activity position.  I send a letter out to all the resident families (usually one letter per family unless their is a specific problem) around Nov 10th and of course I am late for this year. Anyway, I ask them to send me one wrapped gift with their loved ones name on it for a Santa party on Christmas day. they must have their gift to me no later than Dec 17th. We are a 68 bed facility. If i don't have all the presents by Dec 18th, I go out and purchase gifts that can be used by anyone male or female.  I usually get those warm blanket throws and you can find them rather cheap. The most i have ever had to buy for was 7 or 8 blankets and even then, by Christmas eve, most of the families had brought something in for santa to give to them. So, I just save them for next year in case I need them. I plan my christmas party with Dietary and  I am not out much money from my budget.  I put a double spaced resident roster on my wall with the name and room number of each resident. As the gifts come in, I write what the package looks like wrapped nexxt to the residents name so that if one gets lost, i know what to look for. It also lets me know who did not receive a gift. This works very well for me.

as for the gifts for the residents, I am extremely fortunate to have a local bank that provides gifts for everyone,   They put a giving tree in all their branches and the customers bring in wrapped gifts which they deliver about a week before Christmas.   The gifts are wonderful, new sweaters, watches, pj's, nightgowns as well as blankets, fuzzy socks etc., in addition a local hair salon does the same and we generally get twice the amount needed so we fill our bingo prize tubs for the coming year!!!!  Maybe you could contact some of the local businesses and see if they would do this for you.  Party ideas,  We do a Christmas Cookie Baking with the staff just prior to the party so that we can serve all the homemade cookies...(My dietary department supplies the dough and we just roll out, cut and decorate....Generally speaking we have the same issues you have had with staff not coming through at the last minute but they seem to enjoy helping make the cookies )  For the Party I have a santa suit which I have one of my staff wear (if you don't have anyone appropriate maybe maintenance will help) we pass out the cookies (no cost) hand out the presents ( no cost) sing Christmas Carols ( again no cost).  Residents have a great time, get great gifts and cost to my budget  zero dollers!!!!!    Believe me I know your frustration when you are depending on the staff to help make a program a success, I have been doing this for 25+ years and totally understand your frustration.  I generally do Not plan anything that depends totally on staff for success that way I am not disapointed yet again!!!! 

wow......I haven't even tried half of your ideas!  last year we did a couple of things that were cost and staffing efficient as I too am all by myself.  I purchased a Christmas sing-a-long dvd, served hot chocolate, gave out candy canes and which ever staff could come and sing-a-long great! and if no one came we were ok anyway because we had the dvd.  I have also shown a Christmas movie with popcorn, hot chocolate etc..........not a big showy party, but definately homey.  I found that the sing-a-long was lots of fun, and it didn't single out those residents who's families were absent.......we sang as family would.....had lots of laughs over old fashioned hot chocolate. 

Last year our craft group made out of felt and felt glue, small stocking and wrote everyone's name on them.  We put candies in them and placed them at everyone's place setting christmas morning.  One year we gave money clips, christmas key chains, etc. in the stockings too!

Good luck with your ideas!

In regards to staffing, I've reminded the fellow department heads that our annual events such as: National Nursing Home Week, Halloween Festival, Thanksgiving Luncheon (for residents, visitors, and staff), and our Resident Christmas Party, are not just "activity" events but facility ones. It is mandatory that all department heads and facility staff assist in those events. Weeks prior I actually do a detailed program procedure and sign-up sheet which I take to the morning meeting for the dept. heads to sign up for tasks.  

We are going to play (what someone people call) "Chinese Gift Exchange".  YOu have wrapped gifts, every person picks a number out of a hat. Person with #1 Picks a gift, opens it.  Person #2 can take #1's gift or open a different gift, person with #3 can take #2 or #1's gift OR open a new gift, and so on. I am thinking all I would need is about 30 gifts that are from the dollar store or donated (no "gag" gifts, although that would be funny) wrapped up and numbered (so unlike the normal version, they won't be able to pick their gift, the gifts would be numbered. #1 would be handed #1 gift, if #5 takes #1's gift, #1 would get #5's gift and open it. THEN, we would count down, all the way back to one again.  THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!!!!! AND best yet, everyone will get a token for their participating and for their laughter....  Can't wait!

This year we are doing a holiday auction..

LOVE this idea. Wouldn't work at this facility (residents purchasing a gift....) but it sounds like a lot of fun. I am going to do my idea this year, but if it doesn't go over well, next year I will use this idea. (also, my facility isn't allowed to do fund raisers, so I would have to figure something out as far as the $$ exchange, but I still like the idea....A LOT.)

We are all tight for money. I would ask your local community organizations, Lions Clun, Kiwanias, Churches, Family members have a 55 50 Raffle 

I know its tuff