Working at an Independent Senior Living facility that has 276 apartments gives us many residents to entertain. Since this is their home for 365 days a year and not a cruise ship vacation for only 7 days... we need to keep our events and entertainment fresh and new all the time. This can be very challenging!
So here are some of our events. Have you had a successful event that would be suitable for seniors? I would love for you to share it with me.
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Who needs an occasion to throw a party?How about a BLACK & WHITE party?
Sounds good to me!
We had 100 guests attend our BLACK & WHITE party
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Who needs an occasion to throw a party?How about a BLACK & WHITE party?
Sounds good to me!
It was a huge success!
We hired a Mime to come and entertain
We had a jars of Black jelly beans on every table for guest to guess how many
We dressed up our water bottles with Black & White paper
Had Black and White dessret
Black & White gift bags where filled with Oreos
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Pay It Forward
Here is one of our newest programs that is paying off BIG!
We call it our RAK program
(Random Acts of Kindness)
These goodies above went out to our local Police Department
Here we are putting together Craft Cups filled with Candy
and Hand made Get Well cards
All for our kids at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
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Cinco De Mayo
we Celebrated Cinco De Mayo with a low key Party.
MENU
Cinco De Mayo
we Celebrated Cinco De Mayo with a low key Party.
MENU
- Chips
- Salsa
- Beans
- Nacho Cheese
- Pinata Candy
- Moch Margaritas
Our decorations were simple. We stood three tables on end (as pictured)
and draped Fiesta party colors over the front of each.
Don't forget the Mexican Music!
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A couple times a year I plan an event for couples only. I think you'll see why this one was a huge hit...
We provided to go containers for everyone to fill and bring home.
I was bummed to realize we forgot to take pictures of the pizza table. We had gotten Pizza from Costco for only $9 each. I made small clear drink cups that had ranch in them with celery & carrot sticks coming out of them...so cute!
As ALWAYS...
I take off the water bottle labels and make my own to go with the occasion.
Small work for a Big impression!
We played the "Not So Newlywed" game and everyone had a blast!
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This event will always be on my list of Beautiful Disasters!
I found a cake decorator to come in and do a cupcake decorating demonstration for our couples. We served Olive Garden salad and bread sticks and the cupcakes were for dessert. Sounds like fun doesn't it?
So a few days before the event our cake decorator had to cancel. Having the mentality of "The Show Must Go On", and having just enough cake decorating skills of my own to be a bit dangerous... I stepped up to the plate and pulled it all together. We ordered our UNFROSTED cupcakes from SAM'S CLUB (they're a bit larger and better for decorating). I purchased two cupcake decorating books and had my frosting pre-made and bagged by our local grocery store bakery.
I had several things go wrong with this event. The biggest mistake was not having the frosting out long enough to get to room temperature. I also ran into bagging issues due to changing tips.
I would do this again, however, I would defiantly keep it much simpler!
The event actually went on as a huge success...
to this day the seniors still are talking about it!
The funniest thing that no one ever found out was that I had a full on panic attack after the last guest left. My co-workers wanted to call 911. No Joke!
I try to never let them see me sweat!
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TREASURE SEEKERS
This is my favorite event to do over and over again
Antique Road Show
We brought in a few antique appraisers and held our own Antique Road Show.
It was such a big success that we have since had another show.
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Veteran's Events
We host a veteran's breakfast or event every other month.
At this breakfast we got a group photo and then took individual photos
These we sent in to have prints made and gave them as a gift to our veterans.
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COUPLES SWEETHEART PARTY
A couple times a year I plan an event for couples only. I think you'll see why this one was a huge hit...
I was bummed to realize we forgot to take pictures of the pizza table. We had gotten Pizza from Costco for only $9 each. I made small clear drink cups that had ranch in them with celery & carrot sticks coming out of them...so cute!
As ALWAYS...
I take off the water bottle labels and make my own to go with the occasion.
Small work for a Big impression!
We played the "Not So Newlywed" game and everyone had a blast!
________________________________
Couples Party
Theme: Cupcake DecoratingThis event will always be on my list of Beautiful Disasters!
I found a cake decorator to come in and do a cupcake decorating demonstration for our couples. We served Olive Garden salad and bread sticks and the cupcakes were for dessert. Sounds like fun doesn't it?
So a few days before the event our cake decorator had to cancel. Having the mentality of "The Show Must Go On", and having just enough cake decorating skills of my own to be a bit dangerous... I stepped up to the plate and pulled it all together. We ordered our UNFROSTED cupcakes from SAM'S CLUB (they're a bit larger and better for decorating). I purchased two cupcake decorating books and had my frosting pre-made and bagged by our local grocery store bakery.
I would do this again, however, I would defiantly keep it much simpler!
The event actually went on as a huge success...
to this day the seniors still are talking about it!
The funniest thing that no one ever found out was that I had a full on panic attack after the last guest left. My co-workers wanted to call 911. No Joke!
I try to never let them see me sweat!
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TREASURE SEEKERS
This is my favorite event to do over and over again
Treasure Seekers was put together as a Spiritual Encouragement program. When I first introduced the program we had only four ladies sign up. Now only two years later we have over 75 men and women that are part of the Treasure Seeker program.
Every three weeks I copy a page from "Psalms Today"
I type it up all fancy with beautiful clips from google images and put a small treasure with it and place it in their inner resident mail boxes.
Two times a year we put on Praise Parties with a speaker, food and door prizes. It's a great time and always promises to pack the room with residents and their guests.
Here is a small peak at our Thanksgiving Party...
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| We served Pumpkin Pie, Apple Cider and Nuts |
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| Gift bags are fun to make according to the seasons and events. |
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| I will often make a custom BINGO card for an "ice breaker"... This one is filled with items that one may find in their purses or walkers. As I called items, if they could produce it they were able to mark it off. |
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| click here to subscribe to GRACE MAIL or visit Calvary's Bookstore |
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TREASURE SEEKERS
Easter Party
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| We served iced tea with an orange slice and some table confetti. |
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| I put together a beautiful tri-fold program for the event. |
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| The cupcakes were donated by a local mom & pop bakery |
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| Centerpieces where made with fresh flowers and were given as door prizes |
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| If you look real hard you can see some name place holders... these were used for some cute scripture cards I purchased on the Oriental Trading Company's site. These were also give-a-ways at the end of the event. |
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| Our attendance for this event was 92... Another great success! |
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Antique Road Show
We brought in a few antique appraisers and held our own Antique Road Show.
It was such a big success that we have since had another show.
Veteran's Events
We host a veteran's breakfast or event every other month.
At this breakfast we got a group photo and then took individual photos
These we sent in to have prints made and gave them as a gift to our veterans.
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Let's Have a Picnic!
So it just seemed like a good idea.
We ordered our 6' subs from Walmart. We decorated the tables with bins of chips, Juice boxes, Pickles, cups of mayo & mustard and of course I can't do anything with out table favors. Here I ordered pin wheels and magic tricks from Oriental Trading Company.
Cupcakes where ordered from Sam's Club as well.
I love ordering our cupcakes from them because they have the cutest decorations to match each of our events.
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| These just happen to be two of my most loved volunteers... My Mother, Ronnie Sinatra & Daughter, Daryn Bartlett |
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| The whole Activity room was set to accommodate 100 residents ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ON THE LAST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH WE
THROW A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS
THAT CELEBRATED BIRTHDAYS IN THAT MONTH.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
BALLOONS
DOLLAR PRIZES FOR EACH BIRTHDAY PERSON
AND OF COURSE... CUPCAKES!
THE CUPCAKES ARE THE BEST PART.
HERE ARE A FEW SAMPLES
WE ALWAYS GET THEM TO MATCH OUR DECORATION THEME FOR THAT MONTH.     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
NEW YEARS PARTY IDEAS
On a very small budget I always try to decorate in a big way.
New Year Eve Party 2011
For 2011 we put yellow paper on the tables and scattered crayons all over the table for them to color with. I started "tic tac toe" games all over the tops of the tables to get them going.
I chose balloons because they're a festive and inexpensive way of adding color.
I threw silver and black lais, beaded necklaces and party hats on each table. These I purchased at Orental Trading Company.
I added nuts, candy and a pretzle bowl to each table.
We entertained over 100 residents at our New Years Eve Party.
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NEW YEARS EVE 2012
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| Once again I purchased my table clothes at Oriental Trading Company on sale. Balloons are cheap, colorful and festive. I purchased a large bag of noise makers from Oriental Trading to throw on each table I also purchased colorful candy to throw on each table. |
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| Everyone had a great time! Once again we entertained and served over 100 residents! |