The 'A' List

Within nursing homes, volunteers are a limited commodity. Everyone needs them, but to have a vast amount of people volunteering on a regular basis is often unheard of. How do you get volunteers?  Here is a way you can gain volunteers and keep them coming back!

There are so many people who really would like to help out your facility, but have a regular list of excuses. 1- I don't like nursing homes. or 2- I don't have the time. How do you get around this thinking? There is a way!

The key things to remember when asking for volunteers are: keep their initial volunteering times to a minimum, make sure they know exactly what they will be doing, and where in the facility they will be working, and lastly, make it as easy as possible for them to sign up.

Time is Everything
Volunteering is beneficial for everyone. It makes the volunteer happy to have given back and it makes the recipient happy that they have help. A win/win situation. So why is it so hard to get people to volunteer? The first problem is that people just do not have a lot of extra time in their lives to commit to something weekly or sometimes even monthly. Take this into consideration when asking for volunteers. Show them that volunteering can work into their schedule. Is there a place in your facility for someone who can only work two times a year? My guess is most of you will answer "the more the merrier! " When asking volunteers to help, make sure they know that any time they can give is helpful to you. Maybe they have time to help with a yearly party. Maybe there is monthly paperwork, or copies to be made that they can help with. Just because they aren't able to help more than a few hours a year, doesn't mean you should turn them away. Just the opposite! Welcome them in and praise them for helping.

Set Clear Expectations
When you are searching for volunteers, know that oftentimes their fear of the unknown is what will drive them away. How will it be at the nursing home? Will I be scared of the elderly? What am I getting myself into? These are the questions that you must address to a potential volunteers. Make sure that the volunteer knows what specific job they will be doing, how much time it will take, and what exposure to the residents will they have. All of these answers will help alleviate fears, making it easier for them to commit their time to you.

Here is an example: If you post a sign at the local library that says "Volunteers Needed at your local nursing home." this will attract a few people who are looking to help in this type of setting. If you instead posted up something that said "Volunteers Needed- 1 hour a month to help with light secretarial duties in the office." you will get more people calling to see how they can help. Just by answering a few questions right up front, you will pique the interest of more potential volunteers.

Breaking Down the Barriers
When thinking about volunteering, you need to think outside the box. How can you get people into your facility? Many people have a fear of nursing homes, for various reasons. It is not that they don't want to help, but they are fearful of helping. Take some of that fear away by trying to attract people for secretarial duties at first. Many people really want to help, but don't feel comfortable around residents at first. By getting people to come into your facility and do paperwork, or answering the phone, they can become familiar with the residents and get over their initial fears. After helping in this way for a while, then you can ask them if they would like to move to other volunteer opportunities that more heavily involve working with the residents. You will find that after people get used to coming and have calmed certain fears, they are more open to trying new things. Some people will not ever want to do this type of work, and that is fine, but the majority will take that next step.

Make the Process Easy
Make it as easy as possible for your volunteers to start working. There is typically paperwork, a TB, and other requirements volunteers need to be completed before they can work at the facility. These are things that will stop some people from becoming a volunteer.  Why?  Because what may seem like a simple thing for us, might be too much of a hassle for them. 

Often, when you find someone who wouldn't mind volunteering, any extra step gets in the way.  These are necessary steps, but ones that people would rather not have to do.  For instance, the extra step of making an appointment for a TB test, getting the test, and then having to come back to have it checked is too much work for them. Making it an easier process will help them not fall through the cracks and be left out of volunteering.

If you find a potential volunteer, do everything you can to walk them through the process.  Take any task they have, and make sure they do them.  If you can send them the paperwork in the mail, do it.  This simple step helps limit the time they have to take to come to the facility, fill it out and drive back home. In just a simple stamp, you have eliminated one barrier to getting volunteers.

As far as the the TB testing, try and set this up for them. Make sure that you get two or three days and times of the week that work for them, and then offer to schedule that appointment for your potential volunteer. Call the doctors office and set up their appointment, and then call them back to give them a specific time they need to be there. If you know of a facility that would work with you exclusively to do this for your volunteers that is a great idea. Taking this step will bring you one step closer to having a volunteer. If you take a more active role in helping them complete these, you will see your volunteer list expand by leaps and bounds.

Where To Ask For Volunteers
Now that you know how to get the volunteers that are willing through the process, how do your find these willing people?  The top ways to find volunteers are through fliers, online, word of mouth and philanthropic groups.

There are many places that you can post a flier asking for volunteers. Your local library, grocery stores, and college campuses are good places to start. Just make sure that in your flier you include a few options for volunteers.  Remember your flier should give details, and contact information.

There are also many places online that offer matching programs for volunteers and people who need them. This is a more long term way of finding volunteers.  Don't expect to get a lot of volunteers right away from this method.  It is just good to always have the post up and keep it fresh depending on your needs.

Find local philanthropic organizations, or local groups who you would like to speak to. Ask them if you can speak at their monthly meeting. You can share what you do at your facility, and what specific volunteer opportunities you are looking to fill.  People within these organizations are very willing to use their time for the betterment of others.  That is how they became interested in the other organization in the first place.  This is a prime spot for new volunteers!  If you are not a speaker, ask if you can host a table before the meeting starts. Set up your table with volunteer opportunities listed, a place for them to sign up, and pictures of your facility. This will give you a more one on one approach. Use this as a great time to let them learn about your facility and then ask, ask, ask! 

It has always amazed me that when you ask someone something directly they typically will help. It has been studied, and determined that if you ask a group of people to help, you will not get as many respondents as you would if single one person out and ask them directly. Don't forget this key point. It will come in handy either when you are talking to someone at a table set up at a meeting, or when you meet someone at a party!

Once you have mastered this process you will find your volunteer list filling up. Long gone will be the days of "I wish we had more people willing to help!" Believe me, they are out there! By using these tips you will now be able to find them, ask them and get them to say "Yes!"

There are so many things in life that make us smile, but one thing that will almost always make us smile is the sight of a baby.  Most residents light up when a baby is around!  It makes their day to see little ones, and is a reminder of when they were parents or just when they were younger.

It is often a rare occurance that a child or baby would come into the facility.  This is where you come in.  :)  There are two things you can do to help residents who love babies.

For higher to mid-fuctioning residents:
See if there is a local Mom's Group in your area.  There are so many groups around that most areas have at least one group in their area.  You can check out Mothers and More or MOMS Club to start.  Then see if they would like to have one of their playdates at your facility.  All you need is a group area where they can all be on the floor and play.  When you are scheduling this event, see what the group requires.  Most of the time a few goldfish, and juice boxes, and you are set to have a great playdate.  See if they have toys they bring, or if this would be something you would need to provide. Most of the time, they have toys they can bring, so this won't be a big issue.   Once you have the time worked out, just get the room ready for kids to play on the floor.  While the children are playing, the residents can come by and visit.  Moms Groups are always looking for a new place for a playdate, and most groups have a philanthropic idea around them, so this is a perfect fit.  Some playgroups might be reluctant to come, but if you assure them of a clean and welcoming environment, it will assure them that you are also watching out for their children.

For Dementia Patients:
There have been a few studies done with play dolls and advanced dementia patients.  In one study they found that having an area where there is a baby nursery can be comforting to patients with this advanced stage of the disease.  This area should have an area where they can take their "babies."  This area can have a changing table, diapers, wipes, and a crib.  Any additional things you can provide to make it look like a baby's room works well.  Toys, Clothing. etc.  Each person participating in this activity will get their own baby, so they can carry it around with them wherever they go.

You will find that these babies will make not only the residents smile, but will also put a smile on your face too!   

When most people hear the word Montessori it is often associated with preschool and children.  Maria Montessori was a pioneer in her field.  She started working with children with special needs and then in 1907, was given a classroom of 'normal' children who were poverty stricken.  She observed how they learned and came up with a way in which they could learn in the most supportive environment.  Her success in teaching these children was so amazing that even today her methods are used in schools around the world.

Just because she started with children, does not mean that her methods are ONLY good for children.  Applying Montessori methods to your facility can make an amazing change in your residents.  One of the basic Montessori philosophies is to let children do things for themselves, which in turn makes them more responsible.  This is a great philosophy for seniors who often find themselves losing some of their daily responsibilities, just as children do.  Doing things for yourself is a good feeling, no matter your age.  This is why this philosophy is great to incorporate into your daily routine.

There are many web sites with Montessori materials.  I would stick with the Sensorial or Practical Life areas.  Sensorial is the area where you train your senses.  It can be anything that involves the senses.  Practical Life is an area where you learn or practice things that we use in daily life, such as pouring.  There are just so many amazing things you can do with Montessori!

Here is one example: 
Using the knobbed cylinders;  Have the resident take each out and put them one at a time on the table.  Then they replace them into their proper place.  This is a simple but complex activity that residents of varying abilities can use.  An activity like this not only helps with coordination, but also relative size, orientation of objects and memory.

Using simple Montessori style activities can help your residents achieve goals, even simple ones.  It is those goals that will give them confidence to try other things. 

It is often hard to find activities for the men at your facility.  Most activity sites are directed to arts and crafts or other things that typically women like.  Here is something that the men will really get into.  Host a car get-together!  You can make this simple or more complex depending on the time you have to spend on it.  You could also make this into a fundraiser for your facility.

Search the web for local car groups in your area.  There are so many groups of people, with different makes of cars that gather at a certain place different times of the month.  Check this site for antique car shows, and other information to begin your search. Once you have found a group, give them a call and see if they would like to come to your facility.  Most gatherings consist of people driving to one location, having all of their cars there, and then just chatting about things.  This would be an easy event to host, and it gives your residents a chance to see the cars too!  When you talk to the group leader, ask them what their meeting usually consist of, and offer a room in your facility if they'd like to do a coffee or gathering there. 

After you have your date in place, all you will need is an area for them to park their cars.  You could put them close to the doors so that residents could go out in groups to look around and see the cars.  This is a great activity for smaller groups.  You can take each group out for 15 minutes or so, and then bring another group out.  If you have time or the staff to do it, you can obviously make this longer.  This event helps residents have a reason to get outside and get some fresh air, meet new people, and also see some great automobiles!

People get excited when visitors come!  It is always nice to see a new face, or new interactions during the day.  So why not host an event that will attract people to the facility?  This event can be as simple  or involved as you would like, but either way it will be one that will be a memorable for everyone. 

Host an egg hunt for a local preschool or elementary school.  All it takes is a few dozen eggs and a few bags of candy. 

After you pick a date and time, your next step should be to contact a school.  Ask them if you could pair up with them and host an Easter egg hunt for their children.  A local school that is affiliated with a Church would be a good place to start.  After you find one that agrees, you can print up a flier advertising your hunt.  On the flier make sure to include a date and time, and anything else you plan on doing while the children are there.  If you are lucky enough, the school might just print it for you, or put it in their newsletter, so you don't have to do a flier.

Then you can schedule some egg decorating time for the residents.  Have several dozen hard boiled eggs, and let residents dye them in bright colors.  This time will lead to some great discussions.  Talk about their past Easters, or how fun it will be when the children come to visit.

You can take this visit a step further and have the residents help with set up for the event.  Helping make decorations, or hiding the eggs are good activities.  Anything you can do to help them have excitement for the future will be beneficial!

Other things you can do in conjunction with the egg hunt are; games for the children, photo opportunities, egg races, crafts, etc.  All of these other activities will only enhance your egg hunt, they are certainly not necessary.  If you have higher functioning residents, they can be in charge of certain activities with the children.

Once the children come and hunt for the eggs, you will know that all the work was truly worth it by looking at the smile on residents' faces!  Enjoy!