Many long-term care staff, family members, visitors, and even residents, lack a thorough knowledge of the importance and benefits of activities in a health-care environment. It is extremely important for the Recreation Department to market, promote, and educate others. Hosting an annual “Activity Fair” is a great way to promote the Recreation Department, and boost staff morale, teamwork, and have fun.
- Commit to hosting the Activity Fair each year during National Activity Professionals' Week.
- Months in advance, set up an Activity Fair committee. The committee should be made up of Activity personnel and anyone else that may wish to assist such as Volunteers, Residents, Marketing Department, etc.
- Begin advertising at least a month prior. Advertising may include the facility or corporate newsletter, flyers, posters, send emails, etc. Make sure that all management is aware of the upcoming fair.
- Discuss the possibility of it becoming a Mandatory In-service for all facility staff. Host the event in the largest room available. The more space, the better.
- Create a variety of booths such as: Physical Games and Exercise, Sensory Stimulation, Music, Cognitive Activities, Creative Activities, Adapting Activities, Committees, Leisure Education, etc. Be sure to have an “Interdisciplinary Approach to Quality of Life” booth that demonstrates the CMS Activity Guidance to Surveyors. “
- Each booth may have printed materials, a storyboard explaining the purpose, benefits, etc., sample equipment, and a game or contest.
- Have a “Who’s Who” in the Activity Department Contest.
- Hand out raffle tickets for each contest, game or activity to those who participate. Have a variety raffle prizes such as mugs, t-shirts, pens, etc.
- Make sure that all participants sign in at the door.
- Schedule the event to include as many shifts as possible such as 10:00am-5:00pm. You should even do a smaller one for the 11pm-7am shift if it becomes a mandatory facility in-service.
- Various storyboard materials are available. Just print, cut, and paste! Purchase the Activity Professionals Week Tool Kit today so you can get started!
BOOTH |
CONTEST OR GAME/ACTIVITY |
EQUIPMENT |
Physical Games and Exercise |
Basketball, Bowling, Toss games (create a physical impairment such as blindfolding the participant) |
Display a variety of adapted physical games such as toss games, basketball, bowling, golf, etc, and exercise equipment such as scarves, ribbons, therabands, parachute, etc. |
Music |
Karaoke Contest or Name That Tune |
Karaoke Machine, sample music |
Cognitive Activities |
Trivia Contest, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune |
Display a variety of trivia books, discussion materials, word games, etc. |
Creative Activities |
Craft project, gardening project, etc |
Display various craft supplies and adapted equipment |
Parlor Games |
Bingo, Horseracing, Black Jack |
Display various bingo cards, adapted chips, card shuffler, large print playing cards. Pokeno, Horseracing, etc. |
Sensory Stimulation |
Give a hand massage, have participants guess various aromas |
Display multi-sensory equipment such as bubble towers, projectors, light sprays, aroma therapy, various tactile equipment, etc. Flaghouse provides a free SNOEZELEN CD that can be played. |
Leisure Education |
Play Leisure Bingo, have participants fill out a self-leisure assessment |
Have variety of Leisure education materials such as a list of all the activities the Activity Department offers and the benefits of the activities or create an “Introduction to the Activity Department” Manual” that describes the role of the Activity Department and the various programs offered. |
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