Items and equipment used for this activity include a microphone, a roll of “red carpet”, a backdrop and balloon arch (all purchased on Amazon.com), cardstock and a laminator for the certificates, invitations for the families and decorations for the social held after the event where we served punch, wine, nuts, mints, and Chex mix.
The total cost for this activity was approximately $300.00.
The personnel used for this activity was our Activity Director, four Activity Therapists, Administrator, Director of Nursing, a handful of various leadership team members, and volunteers.
We have a 100-bed facility consisting of four neighborhoods, so we split the activity up into four individual nights and highlighted one neighborhood at a time. We chose to hold this activity in the evening so resident family members and friends could attend. Prior to the activity, our two beauticians and other team members assisted the residents in getting ready by styling their hair and helping them pick out nice outfits. Different team members went above and beyond, even purchasing clothing and jewelry from a local secondhand store to glamorize the residents for the occassion.
Residents lined up in the hall outside of our Chapel (where the red carpet was rolled out) and waited for their names to be read. A team member or volunteer would assist the resident down the red carpet as their lifetime achievements were being read. The resident stopped at a photo opportunity that had been set up and were presented their lifetime achievement certificate (the background of the certificates featured an interest, hobby, or passion of each specific resident). The residents also had their photo taken as they were strolling down the red carpet.
Information on the resident’s life can be garnered from personal interviews, from files, and from visiting with the family. Every individual has lived an active, productive, and fruitful life and this is our way of reminding each and every one how special their life has been and is.
Place posters advertising the Red Carpet event about the facility at least one week prior to the activity. Help staff understand this is a formal event that is very important to the residents. This activity does require considerable planning but is worth every ounce of effort put forth. The residents, and staff, will remember this for a very long time.
