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I used to send out announcement flyers in the monthly bills that went out from the business office. Is that possible?

I do a Family Night for my residents once a month. I usually have entertainment with cookies and punch or some sort of snack. I send out a memo in my newsletter a few weeks in advance. My residents seem to really enjoy this.

I used to do quarterly family nights in my old facility. I would do a different type of theme with different types of entertainment and different food every time. For example:

End of Summer Boardwalk Bash - had homemade carnival games, played beachy music, served funnel cake, snow cones, hot dogs, boardwalk fries, and frozen drinks.

Fall Festival - This was to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. We had an entertainer play music, served an assortment of little snacks like mini hot dogs, quiche, cheese & crackers, hot apple cider, wine, etc.

Holiday Parties - Usually had an entertainer and dancing & served dinnery foods without it being a sit-down event. Full bar every time.

Valentine's Day Dance - One time I had a dancer come in and teach the residents and families different types of dance moves like for the salsa and tango. Another time I had an entertainer play 50's style music and made it more of a Sock Hop.  Served more dessert types of foods: chocolate fountain, heart shaped cookies, etc.

Mother's Day Brunch & Mother's Day Tea

Father's Day BBQ

Culinary Cook-off - Our chef's were the entertainment and each cooked their favorite dish in front of the guests. Then everyone got a sample size in a cup and got to vote on their favorite.

etc. etc.

We always sent out invites 4 weeks in advance. I would get paper from staples or paperdirect.com. We had people RSVP, and our evening receptionist would call all families 4 or 5 days before the event to remind them and confirm if they were coming.  When I first started doing the parties I would get maybe 15 guests for 75 residents.  When word spread that the parties were fun, we got a lot more.  My last event, the culinary cook-off had about 80 guests, and it was in the early afternoon.

I always tried to change up the times when I would do it. Sometimes on weekends, sometimes afternoons, sometimes weekday evenings. Then if someone can't make it on weekends, they can possibly make it on their way home from work, or in the evening.

Don't let it discourage you.

Our weekend events were never that widely attended, as we live near the Jersey Shore and the Pocono mountains, and most families went away to one of the two on the weekends. I don't know if you live in an area with a popular vacation spot nearby, but that may be effecting the turn out if you're planning things for weekends.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights are great. Families don't have much else to do, so theres no excuse that they can give to their loved on about why they aren't coming.

I also had a special events budget, so I never had to get volunteer entertainers. We were always able to pay them, and because the events were at night and usually 2-3 hours in length, we would pay them even better than during the day (around $250), because most of our entertainers performed in nightclubs, and we would be taking away from the money they would make there.  If you can't get entertainers, then I would suggest something where an activity is the main entertainment, like a craft, or the cook-off we did, or a carnival with handmade games.  That way, there's so much other stuff going on, you don't need someone there playing music too.

We do mail invites to families. We usually have a theme. Staff dress up, have live music. All dept. heads should be there and we have a happy hour before. Theme Ideas: Wizard of OZ, Western theme or holiday theme