Ideas for Community Outreach

Facilitate Worship

Try to cultivate relationships that will foster regular contact between community members and those who live and work in your facility. Invite them to your scripture studies, bible or other holy book readings, hymnal sing-a-longs and other spiritual events. Or, host a monthly prayer gathering, focused mission or other community service activity. Do it on a regular basis. Set up a forum for seniors and youth groups to talk about spirituality or host a discussion or video series in the residence to encourage ongoing religious discussions between the generations. Spark memories by asking, “What is your favorite religious time of year?”

Schools/Colleges

Seek to become part of a school curriculum whenever possible. Remember to contact local schools early so that they can include you in their planning.

Pre-school level: Start an intergenerational program with a local day care center. Another option is the shared site plan intergenerational care program. The shared site model brings children and their families into relationships with senior adults, fostering a family environment.

Elementary and/or middle school level: Use National Nursing Home Week as your starting point for getting school children involved. Try an “Adopt a Class” program that runs for the full school year to foster relationships among students and senior adults. Also, encourage teachers and school administrators to invite people who live in the residence to serve as class speakers on subjects the children are studying. Another great idea is to set-up “pen-pals” with young children and residents. Use this week to match residents and start the letter writing, the children and residents will form relationships that they may never forget.

High school, vocational level: Invite English or journalism classes to write stories about nursing facilities and their patients for class assignments and papers. Offer to send professional staff to speak to classes whenever appropriate. Offer your facility as a site for an adult education class to the people who live in the facility, who may be granted free tuition in exchange for use of your common areas. Invite health classes to work rounds with your staff so that they can learn the caring that comes with nursing. This is a wonderful time to hand out copies of Considering a Career in Long Term Care (catalog No. 435) to teach the students that this is a career where they will be making more than a living; they will be making a real difference.

Community College level: Many offer health care training courses. Invite a class in to learn about working in long term care. Offer the use of your facility for a lecture, and have one of your staff speak about their experiences.

Hospitals and Physicians

By building relationships with hospitals and their staff, you can advise patients of their options, and promote your facility as a resource for people who require nursing facility care. Visit social workers, discharge planners or case managers and invite them to visit your facility. Be sure to leave your brochure at their offices.

Give your local doctors an opportunity to become familiar with what nursing facilities offer. Volunteer to speak to a local physicians’ organization. Visit local offices and ask if you might schedule time to speak to the physician(s) about how you can help them. You may even want to encourage physicians to visit your residence for lunch and a tour–and make it meaningful. Leave the physician with pamphlets about your facility, and AHCA’s Consumer Guide series.

Banks, Businesses

Often people seek guidance from those who oversee their financial matters. Be an informative source for them. Schedule a meeting with the head trust officer to explain the features of a nursing facility and what you offer. Provide the head trust officer—and other trust officers—with printed material about your residence. Invite them to give a lecture about financial matters. Visit and write them periodically to keep yourself and your residence fresh in their minds.

Local businesses—retail stores, cleaners, restaurants, florists, and insurance companies—are part of your community. Many of your residents served as leaders and businesspersons that helped the community thrive and grow. Remind businesses of the services and contributions nursing facilities provide to families. During National Nursing Home Week, encourage them to come to your residence as friendly visitors or as volunteers to complete a specific project. Schedule a luncheon and invite local businesspersons to tour the facility to become familiar with the residents, staff and services. This might also be an opportunity to invite several local artists, and suggest that your facility host a judging or sale at your residence.

Speaking Opportunities

Join a local civic organization or social club such as the Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce and be an active participant. This is a sure way to connect with key people in your community and to be seen as a valued community resource.

Your local Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, veterans organizations, Lions, Elks, Moose, Masons, Knights of Columbus, senior citizen groups, and other such organizations, are always looking for new programming. Team up with staff members to serve as speakers for these groups. Your presentation will be especially effective if people who live in the residence, family members and volunteers speak about why they chose your residence and what life is like there.

Hosting Activities

You may also want to pitch some ideas to local clubs and organizations to offer your Residence as a site for a meeting or activity. The following types of groups may be open to holding events at your residence or conducting activities for those who reside in your residence:

Veterans of Foreign Wars – discussions or lectures

American Legion

Boy and Girl Scouts—discussion or games, help them earn their badges

Book clubs—open for residents and the community. (Ask your local library for ideas.)

Arts centers—visual, dance, theater and music

Garden clubs

Quilting clubs—regular quilting projects

Antique car clubs—weekend displays and rides

Fishing groups—sponsor fishing contests