Celebrating somebody’s birthday is a great way to honor the elderly, it can help them feel valued and appreciated by those around them. This is especially important for those who reside in a nursing home full time. If you are in charge of activities for a nursing home, you may need some tips and advice for keeping everybody happy. Well, do not worry; we have created this list of tips and tricks to help you out.
If one of your loved ones is in a nursing home, it is important to make sure they are being treated the right way. I would expect every nursing home to at least ask their residents if they want to celebrate their birthday. If your loved one has not even been asked about celebrating their birthday, or if they seem quiet and subdued, make sure you keep an eye on them. Although you should not jump to conclusions, these could be signs of elder abuse.
What does the resident want?
First things first, you need to speak to the resident. Sometimes people are a little bit more reserved than others. Not everybody wants to celebrate their birthday. Our advice here is to provide lots of attention to those who enjoy the attention. And give a quiet but meaningful congratulations to those who do not like the attention.
What parties to do?
If your resident wants to have a birthday party, then you need to plan out all the factors. If they have a small group of family and friends, perhaps a nice high tea or a picnic at the park would be a good idea. If they have a larger group, then perhaps a day trip or a BBQ. If the resident has some mobility issues, plan for the party to be in the nursing home, or in their bedroom if they are unable to get out of bed.
Monthly Parties
If your nursing home is on the large side, throwing a party for every single resident could become quite costly, as well as being time-consuming and stressful to plan and manage. This is why a lot of nursing homes have adopted the monthly birthday party idea. On the first or the last day of the month, throw a party for everyone who has a birthday in that given month. This is a great way to include those who do not want a lot of attention too, as the limelight is not entirely on them.
It is very important to make people feel special on their birthday. Even if you do not have the resources for a party, there are lots of other little things you can do to show you care. Put a handmade sign on their door, blow up some balloons, offer them a birthday badge or invite family members to visit. All of these little things can mean a great deal to elderly residents. Everybody deserves to feel loved and thought of on their birthday after all.
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