This week starts Nursing Home Week. It is a celebration of all the good things about a nursing home. It is usually jam packed of daily activities for the residents and staff of the nursing home.
National Nursing Home Week, or now officially called National Skilled Nursing Care Week, was started by the American Healthcare Association in 1967. It is meant to not only celebrate but also increase awareness of the importance of Skilled Nursing Facilities. This year’s theme is “Tapestry of Life”
A week jam packed of activities
Each year the activity department plans specific activities each day of the week. These activities are usually more extravagant and more involved than the regular daily activities that occur each day of the year.
Frequently these activities are a mix of entertainment themes as well as lots of food. There are no better ways to get the residents going then by feeding them and having a theme party.
Over the years I have had the pleasure to see and enjoy all kinds of different theme weeks. I have seen weeks focused on Hawaiian Luaus to the Roaring 20’s to even Disney themes.
A blessing and a Curse for Therapy
As much fun as this week can be, it can be a very significant hassle to therapy operations. Many times these activities are scheduled during the regular work day and are also more often longer than regular activities.
When trying to work through the caseload more planning is needed during this week to work around the increased activities. It is a great time to increase the use of group therapy this week, as well as being more creative to your therapy approach.
Thinking outside the box can be very helpful during this time. Occupational therapy can focus on feeding goals during an eating activity. Speech Therapy can also be involved in eating activities while trialing different consistencies. Physical therapy can perform functional walking while standing in line and walking through a buffet line.
A good therapist makes it through the week. A great therapist thrives through the week with steadily progressing functional activities.
Community outreach
I have had the privilege to be part of a Nursing Home that strives to not only be a good steward to the small town we are in, but to reach out to those around us. Historically towards the end of Skilled Nursing Care Week we have been host to a community BBQ.
My facility holds a large BBQ in the front parking lot to feed not only the residents and staff, but also to outreach members of the community. They typically will invite local township government, police officers, firefighters, EMS crew, and any family members of the residents. It has always been a great way to culminate the week. They even either have a musician or a DJ to kick it up a notch.
The best example of how much this is an outreach, a couple of years ago there was a tornado that ripped through town the week of the celebration. To help with the cause, a drive through of take out boxes were set up to help feed those with no power. There were even carloads delivered to all the first responders and utility workers that were hard at work getting the town cleaned up. Now that is community outreach and caring.
So Celebrate and enjoy
So please celebrate the day as well as the whole week. As much as a busy challenge as it can be, it is wonderful to see the positive outcomes that last much longer than the week itself. Go have some fun.
