LTC - Volunteer Time

[ICor9:24]

Hi! I have been volunteering at the Nursing Home that I hope to work at after I finish my STNA course. I truly love being around the residents and I get so much enjoyment out of it! I take my daughter and I know its a great learning experience for her also.

I was hoping to get some advice about how to encourage the residents to participate more? IE: I do game night, and bingo, etc and there are a few residents who always want to join in, but most are content to sit and watch tv and when I ask them if they would like to play or join us they just say no, or look away. What suggestions do you have for me? I sometimes feel like maybe I am bothering them, but I also think they would really enjoy the interaction and maybe they are just too used to being pushed aside and left alone.

Thanks for your help!

[Fiona59]

Do they have a recreation therapist on site?

What time of day are you visiting?

I used to try and get my residents involved in those activities until one old guy told me: "honey at home I'd be in my recliner watching TV at this time of day, now go away".

Also some older people have much shorter attention spans than they used to, so sitting quilting or playing bingo just doesn't appeal to them. One woman told me "I never played Bingo and never will".

It may also be that they don't know you well enough to be comfortable with you.

What always seemed to go over well was reading the newspaper outloud with a group having coffee. Just don't have an opinion on what you are reading, let them talk.