"How To" Guide

things to consider:

Have some rules volunteers must follow such as not going to residents rooms
Consider using name tags
Food and drinks attracts residents
Have a concert or a talent show or a parade
Conduct some meetings outside during good weather
Make a themed back drop and ask residents to take pictures using props
Ask residents what they would like to do during your time together
Match residents with a specific volunteer to build stronger relationship
Create pen pal programs for those interested
Make this program your own and have fun!
Have a few volunteers and a few residents work together to plane events together

Ice breaker/introductions 10-15 minutes - Go around and have each person (volunteer and resident) tell their name and something about themselves, their favorite vacation, what they did over their summer, or where they are originally from. Or do the fame two truths and a lie. Find some quick ice breaker game so everyone gets to know each other a little bit.
Main part of session: 30 minutes - Can pair resident with volunteer and give them questions to ask each other. Have volunteer find out about the life of the resident. Switch the groups after a certain amount of time if you want. You can also do a craft, play a board game, make a game or many other options. You can play charades, family feud etc as the main event.
Closing - 10-15 minutes-Bring the group back together for a closing. This can be a game you play all together such as a build your own jeopardy you make on line and you can have teams. You can play bingo. You can just go around and talk about what you learned about each other today.

Create fliers/emails to distribute at your school
Create or join a group at school with the goal of community service/working with seniors. “Generations Club” or “Adopt a Grandparent Program” is a great name for your program to attract interested volunteers. If you start or join a club, make it a requirement that volunteers go on-site to the facility to interact with residents.
Let volunteers know the goal is to interact and bring joy to seniors, but also let them know they will get community service for their time. If there are any community service hours required by school or needed for National honors Society (or other organizations), make sure you talk to the faculty in charge and that they agree hours for your program will count. Decide who will be approving student hours and how they will be submitted. (Someone from the facility could approve or students in charge)

Collect student email addresses and send out regular emails
Have students join your Generations Club remind so you can send updates to their cell phones
Create a sign-up genius or some way volunteers can choose when they will be coming to the facility and commit to that date
Let volunteers know what to expect when they volunteer
Have a team leader for each session that plans the events for that session

Have a team leader that plans the session. Have a format for each session that may include: an icebreaker/introduction, some informal talk time with residents and volunteers, come back together for a quick game and/or closing
Celebrate special occasions together such as holiday party, valentines, halloween, thanksgiving etc. Make it fun with decorations, themes, snacks, pets and more!
Consider arts and crafts, games, interview residents and write stories about their lives, take many pictures! Change things up to keep it fun. If safe include pets and/or therapy dogs